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

the Senate nOn-cOncurred with the House,
and refused to receive this petition, on
the ground that it related to private legis-
lation.
Committee Reports.
Committee on financial affairs, to which
was referred resolve providing for expenses
of board of State assessors in the perform
ancc of their duties rs required by law,
reported that the same ought to pass.
Report accepted Resolve printed.
Committee on pensions submitted its
final report.
Committee on ways and bridges sub
mitted it's final report.
Committee on agriculture submitted
its final report.
Passed to Be Enacted.
An act to authorize appeals from as
SCISSORS of taxes to the supreme judicial
court.
Resolve in favor of Edgar c. Wakefield
of Gardiner, Kennebec county, Maine.
Senate document No a36, reports A and
b of the York county delegation on bill
an act to call a special meeting of the le-
gal voters of the county of York to vote
upon the removal of the county buildings
from Alfred to Biddeford or Saco, spec
tally assigned for today, was taken from
the table. Report A reported bill in
new draft, and that the same ought to
pass, and report B that legislation was in
expedient.
Mr.. Prescott of York: beg to move
the acceptance of report A, and I wish to
ask the indulgence of the Senate for
,l,c 4;
under difficulties as l am far from well at
the present moment, but will try to pre-
sent my views as concisely as possible.
There are two reports on this bill from
the York county delega alton, each signed
by eight members.
Report "A" recommends the passage
of bill under the title of An act to call
special meeting of the legal voters of
York county to vote upon the removal of
the county buildings from Alfred to Bid
deford or Saco" This report is accom-
panied by statement of facts and is
signed by seven representatives and one
senator.
Report "B'' declares legislation in
expedient, and is signed by six representa-
tives and two senators.
The title of the act submitted with re-
port "a" clearly sets forth the object of
the bill. 1t simply provides for the hold
ing of special election to allow the
voters of the county to decide for them
selves whether Or not they desire change
in the location of their shire town. The
only question this Senate is called upon
to decide is this: Is there sufficient
demand on the part of the people of York
county for this change, to warrant the
holding of special election to settle the
matter by popular vote. The Senate is
not called upon to take any further re-
sponsibility than to settle this If given
the opportunity, the people will pass upon
the more important part of this matter,
and who can better decide whether they
want change or not, than they them
selves.
The present county seat Alfred, was
selected in 1909, 90 years ago, because it
was geographically the center of the
county, and for no other reason. AS long
ago as 1924, many prominent mon Of the
county discovered mistake had been
made and a vigorous movement, led by
the late Judge Bourne of Kennebunk, was
made to change it. The newspapers of
that time were filled with articles regard
ing it, but no legislation on the subject
was asked.
Again IN 1907 the question OF rehnoVai
to Saco came up, anu legislation was
asked for, and granted, without even SUD-
mlttlng the question 10 vote OF 1he PEG
pie, removing the january term OF the
supreme judicial court to that city.
From that time down TO the present the
removal OF the county scat has been
periodically discussed. NO longer ago
than 1857 petition for removal signed
by large number OF the lawyers OIL the
county, was presented Tor the considera-
ton OF tho York bar, at the annual BAN
quet, held IN Saco IN January OF that year.
This movement was mace unaer the dl-
rection OF large commlttee the chair-
man OF which was Hon. John M. Good
win OF Biddeford. The newspapers OF the
next day show that there was a protracted
and very animated discussion OF the sub
lect participated IN by nearly all the
prominent members OF the par from all
parts OF tho county IL has been discussed
by the newspapers more or less ever since.
-Four years ago, and again two years
ago, petitions were presented TO the Legs
lature, asking TO nave jan workhouse
located at either BldQef0rd or SaCO, ana