Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-22

library, to which was referred an order in
reference to the purchase by the State
librarian Of 50 many copies of debates and
journal of the constitutional convention
of the State of Maine of 1919 and
1920, not exceeding in all 100 copies, as
may be required for the State library, re-
ported ought to pass.
The order was then read and passed.
An act to relieve the Inhabitants of the
town of Cape Elizabeth from the ineaual.
tiles of the burdens imposed by chapter
2I6 of the Public Laws of 1898.
Mr.. Cole Of Cape Elizabeth moved that
the bill be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Larrabee OF Portland said that this
bill was introduced for the purpose of
correcting inequalities in taxation In the
town Of Cape Elizabeth which grew out
of the passage of the law in 1898 by which
school districts were abolished in town.
In the old town of Cape Elizabeth which
you have this winter divided, the incqual-
ity of taxation caused by the passage of
that law was so great that in some of the
school districts parties actually exper-
fenced rebate on their taxes excel ding
the amount of the school tax in that par
ticular district while in other school dis
tricts in the town the tax ran above per
cent and the rebate was Insignificant.
The judiciary committee made inquiry rs
to the expediency of passing any general
law which might correct any evils exist
ing from these inequalities of taxation
and they were unanimous in their deter
mination that no such general law ought
to be passed because these inequalities
would in the future be all wiped ont from
the fact that in the school districts where
the tax was now heavy, in the future the
towns would have to build the school
houses and they would be re-
lieved from further taxation, so
that in the years to come the
matter would equalize itself, and there
was no occasion or necessity for passing
any general law relating thereto. But in
this town of Cape Elizabeth composed of
five or six villages upon the western side
where it TANKS Portland harbor, these vii
lagos forming almost a single continuous
village, the part of the town which you
have this winter set off and to which you
have granted city charter,-that part of
the town contains all the expensive and
large schoolhouses that existed in the old
town before it was divided. The other
ooNh WhiSh - Inv Sapo AhAHaptthy tiiO
part which you have set off from these
villages, comprises a farming community
and its inhabitants are entirely devoted to
agricultural pursuits, barring a few sum-
Iner residents who have built cottages and
houses along the shore. Now these large
and expensive schoolhouses which stand
in the village portion of this town, were
built, some Of them, by taxation upon the
citizens of the whole of the old town. I'm
der the law of 1898 you levied an assess
ment upon all the inhabitants of the old
town and made these agricultural resi-
dents, now the residents of Cape Eliza
beth, you made them pay again for those
very schoolhouses which this village por-
ton, this prospective city, by division here
this winter, have taken possession of and
control. The object and purpose of this
bill is to return to the farmers
and the agricultural residents of
the old town of Cape Elizabeth, the part
which they have contributed to these
large and expensive school houses in this
prospective city, which is now separated
from them, and from which in the future
they have no power or right to draw any
money to build any new school houses
which may be required when the old ones
decay. 1t is matter which appealed
particularly to the sense of right and
Justice Of every man upon the judiciary
committee. This bill is hero today with
the unanimous report of that committee,
and it should have passage.
Mr. Cole of Cape Elizabeth said that in
the part of the town he resided in, South
Portland their excess of taxation was
$4,000, and in the part to be set off it was
$4,000; so that it affects the whole town,
not only the part which is set Off, but the
part which remains.
The question being on the motion to
indefinitely postpone, the motion was
lost.
On motion OF Mr.. Larrabec of Portland,
the rules were suspended, the bill was
read the third time and was passed to be
engrossed.
Resolve in favor of the director Of the
director of the Maine agricultural ex-
pertinent station.
On motion of Mr. Adams of Bowdoin,
the resolve was passed to be engrosscd.
Resolve, agricultural experiment sta
ton.
Majority and minority reports, com
mittce on judiciary, relating to lands
conveyed to European and North Ameri-
can Railway Company
| Mr. Keegan of Van Buren,, said he sup
posed it is familiar history that once upon
IL time the State of Maine was the owner
| of large quantity of land, about "a
townships of land, and this land, today,
would be worth somewhere about three or
/ four millions of dollars. What is the
situation? Way back in '63 a certain mum
Der of individuals laid their plans to get
the State lands of the State of Maine for
nothing. Not only that, they knew
that the State of Maine had good claim
against the general government for a
large sum in common with the State OF
Massachusetts, and they decided not
only to get all the public lands, but
more than that, that at the same time
they should get that money from the gen
eral government which belonged to the
people Of Maine So under a title of " Re
solve for the better protection Of the north
eastern boundary" they went to Wash
ington and got the sum of 500, 900 in
cash. In order to protect this frontier
they decided that a railroad ought to be
built from Bangor to st. Johns river.
What happened? Up to the present hour
that corporation never built a railroad to
the St. Johns river In the act granting
these lands in ga, they were granted sub.
.o.t s., ,ortn;,, conditions tn.onv rfhoy