Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-23
Orders OF the Day.


Mr. Hurd of North Berwick moved to
take from the table Senate document No.
236, which was reports "A" and "B' of
the joint special committee on taxation In
relation to removal of county buildings,
in York county.
Mr.. Howe of Milo called for the regular
order
A division was called for and the mo-
ton was carried by vote of 81 to %.
Mr. Hurd moved that the House concur
with the Senate in saying that legislation
thereon was inexpedient.
Mr.. Wells of Wells said that this was a
matter which pertains to the people of
York county alone. AS sou are aware,
the Senate has already passed upon this
question. They have taken a position
upon it. BY what means they have ar
rived at this conclusion, by what thought
and reasoning, l am utterly unable to
state to this House today, but it will not
be the first time in the history of this
session that this House has seen fit to ex-
press its opinion Independently of what
ever might be the action of the other
house. Now who has asked you or
who has placed this matter before
you? Who comes here with the requestg
l simply say in answer to that, that 5000
taxpayers of York county, representing
more than one-eighth of all the voters
of that county are here asking that they
be allowed to settle the matter in their
own way. 1t is a well known fact that
the right of petition is a sacred one. Any
man in any town has "a right to petition
that that town shall have the right to de-
eide any question. Certainly we have come
here with a much larger number than
that. We could just as well have come
here with 1000 or 5000 If it had been
deemed necessary, but gentlemen, we be-
lieved that this expression was sufficient
to demand your attention and careful
consideration. We believed that the
voice of 5000 of the taxpayers
of York county would be heard by
this Legislature, and that this question
might be allowed to be submitted to the
people of York county. We claim that
this proposition is an eminently fair one.
We only claim the right of expressing our
opinion upon this matter mt the ballot
box. That is sacred right and one
which must be respected by this body.
What do we ask in this matter? Have we
come here and asked you to change this
shire town? No, we do not do that We
don't ask you to erect any new buildings
or tear down any old ones. We only ask
that the people of York county should
have the right to decide matter which
pertains to themselves alone in their own
way and after their own man
ner. We have prccedents already
N this House. A short time ago Wash
ngton county come up here and asked
hnt CHI ,iyb 1,a oil <~ ido
natter which pertained to her interests
'olely, and this House with great unanim-
ty granted that privilege. The great
county of Aroostook came here and asked
The same privilege that we are demanding
hardly dissenting voice. Now l want
20 ask the gentlemen of this House what
N the name of heaven has York county
lone that she should be made IN exception
20 this rule What reason have you for
not granting it +? Is it because you fenr
We are not honest in old York county and
wouldn't give this matter a fair con-
alteration ? DO you fear that we are
Incompetent to settle this matter for
which we must bear the expense and for
which we must bear the blame II there be
my blame? Look at the case and see the
ley from the city of Biddeford, and that
S all. Does that look as II Biddeford
vas running York county? Not by any
means. Biddeford does not ask for this
my more than any other section of the
county. l protest here upon the floor,
What have done once before, that alto
ycther too much cheap talk has been in
lulged in against one of the smartest and
most thriving cities in the State OF
iaine. They have French population,
tut what of it, We have French
III over the State and many OF them
re good citizens. If Alfred had such
population, there would be no question
bout moving the county buildings The
nen who have come here in favor OF this
Measure have been spoken sneeringly OF
n the Senate ! say, gentlemen, that the
men who have come here have come
through purely disinterested motives,
hat is, as far rs politics were concerned.
here is no politics in this measure at the
resent time. They compare favorably
nth any class Of men that car be pro-
uced in the State of Maine They are
entlemen of high standing and charac-
er. / can say the same OF the
cntlemen who have come from Al
Continued on page 8.