Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-21

MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Cd page.

interior OF the court house, which made IL
comfortable, and that all the repairs that
were now necessary or desired would not
cost more than $4,000. He pointed out
that the two wings of the court house
were of brick, and absolutely fire
proof, and that the slight additions that
were desired to the court house at Alfred
could be made at a very slight expense.
The jail, he said, was in perfect condition,
and was managed as well as any Jail in
the State.
Continuing he said: Now it has been
suggested by my friend and colleague,
Mr.. Mitchell, that these buildings, if this
change is to be made, will be abso-
lutely thrown away. They will be, and
for what? just to please two cities
that desire to contain within their limits
the county buildings. That is all there is
toit 1t is just the desire Of these people
of Saco or Biddeford to enlarge their
cities Is it altogether for the accomoda-
ton of the people of these cities? Why,
at the very last term of the supreme court
in Saco there was just one civil suit tried,
and at the previous terms held in Alfred
there were very many more, and they
were cases of more importance. 1t is not
true that it is for the benefit of the ma
jority of the people of the county. The
only reason for this change is
the inordinatc desire of these
cities to get away from the country places
all that they possess at the prcscnt-tme
Alfred is centrally located. She is upon
a line of railroad and is easily accessible
| claim that know from large experience
that great number of the people who
Al. III
teams, and they would do the same if the
court were held in Biddeford or Saco, the
only difference being that they would
have to drive longer distances.
claim that the accommodations are
adequate, and that there is no necessity
for this change, that there is no public
demand for it, and that this sentiment
is all manufactured for tn, express pur-
pose of taking away from Alfred the
county buildings for the aggrandizement
of these cities.
Now Mr. President, it is said here, and
think very adroitly, that the city of Saco
has said that she would subscribe to the
building Of these new county buildings,
if they can be located in the city of Saco,
the sum of $685. Mr.. President, the
county of York is abundantly able to
build it's own public buildings when public
necessity demands that they shall be built.
This offer of the city of Saco is thrown
out here as a bait, as an inducement, /
will not say as bride, but with the idea
that they will compete with their sister
city of Biddeford. This is an auction
between two cities as to which shall hold
the county buildings. 1t is nothing more
than an auction of the right to have the
county buildings, to go to the highest
bidder.
Now. what does this bring us to? Has
it been claimed here that by reason of
danger of danger of destruction from fire
there is an immediate necessity for this
change? 1 deny that anything of the
kind exists. / say that even If there were
any necessity for the change iG is not i'm
mediate, and say that We, as the repre-
sentatiyes of York county, are not aware
of any such necessity. Why should we sub
nit it to the people if there is no necessity?
Why have this special election? II there is
no Immediate necessity it can easily wait
till the regular election comes, and then
let the people vote upon it. do protest
against this special election in an OIL
year 1t has been said that there would
be a largo amount of political enmity
arising out of this matter at the
next regular election IL this
bill were not passed. / do not
anticipate anything of the kind. be-
lievc it would be far more dangerous to
submit question of this kind to the
people ut u special election than it would
Mt regular election. Submit this
proposition to the people of York county
at u regular election, and l have con-
fldence that they will condemn this
movement. When it is submitted
to them at regular election, as
it ought to be, they will speak
in no uncertain voice, but ] do pro
test again and again against this move
ment to call this special election without
any pressing, immediate necessity for 1t.
certainly hope that the motion OF my
friend, Senator Mitchell, will prevail.
Mr.. Prescott: just want to say word
In reply to the charge that this movement
comes entirely from Biddcford and Saco
| have here eight petitions from these two
cities, aud IS petitions from towns outside
of them.
NV friend also says that he takes excep-
ton to this statement OF facts, and he
say that certain parts of it are absolutely
false. That statement was deliberately
signed by eight members of the YORK
county delegation, and in my opinion IS
strictly true in every respect.
/ wish to ask the Senate to consider TINS
point, viz, that all tho towns who are OPP
posed to this change will be called upon
to pay only $4,000 ont of the whole
amount called for by this bill, which is
$4,000.
1t has also been said that Biddeford
and Saco would outyote the country as
tricts that pay the taxes. ana
control the expenditure OF the
taxes of tho county. find that
while Biddeford and Saco have only one
fifth of the voters of the county, they come
within $4,000 of paying one-half OF the
whole county tax. The average per voter
paid into the county treasury is higher IN
Biddeford than it is in any other part OF
the county. 1t is $4.2S in Biddeford, anu
only Sl.65 in Kittcry. In these towns
which are in favor of this measure, the
average per voter is $3.65, and in those
which are opposed it is only $l.9s.
Mr.. Mitchell said that the town OF Kit
terry paid taxes at the rate of A mills up
on a fair valuation.