Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-27

| nave not city charter and have a valua-
ton of SO, 900, 600 to raise one-fourth OF
| one per cent, it is going to work a hard
ship on those towns. l hope this amend
ment Will be adopted.
| Mr.. Libby of Chester said that the peo-
| pie in his section did not want this bill
and the majority of the people of the
State did not want it. They have in
serted an article in their warrants, ask
ing the towns if they would raise their
money for roads. In q majority of cases
it is voted down. Then they put their
heads together and framed this bill to
push it through this Legislature, and
force it on towns that don't want it. The
bill will work injustice and l hope it
will not pass.
Mr.. Parlhurst of Bangor said that in
discussing this particular measure | have
the advantage or disadvantage of coming
from city, and cities are exempt. 1t
seems to me, however, that there are two
good reasons why it should not pass. 1t
applies to only II portion of the State, and
furthermore it advocates u doctrine which
should not be, it seems to me, introduced
here. One-quarter of one per cent. may
DC more than we need in our own
cities, nevertheless, the quarter of one per
cent. is just as hard to pay in the country
rs in the city. Applying only as it does
to portion Of the State it works an in
! justice to that portion 1t says that they
must raise SO much money and that they
must spend it in particular way. We
as o State owe great deal to the men
who have received their early training
in the management of town affairs l
don't believe, as citizens of the larger
| places, we should impose upon those
| smaller towns this measure, and compel
them to yield to the State control any
part of their local affairs. We should
leave it to them. They should have the
privilege to raise as much money as they
need and spend it as they please. l hope
the bill will be indefinitely postponed.
| Applause.
! Mr.. Merry of Arson said he represented
four country towns and he had taken
pains to send Il copy of this bill to them
and asked an expression in regard to it
in their town meetings, and had laid ii
before his own town personally, and all
the towns had instructed him to vote for
the bill, except one section where it says
| that rs per cent of the taxes provided for
shall be expended on the highways prior to
the 18th day Of July, and / wish to
! OlIcE an IcutiCiiis5 10 w po POI
cent. instead of rs.
Mr.. Bishop of Sangervillo said that
this bill struck u blow at the agricult-
ural interests of this State. Has there an
agriculturalist come to this Legislature,
asking for any legislation in this matter?
I know not one. Who has asked for this
legislation? 1t is the Wheelmans Club
that asks for this legislation. 1t seems
/ l. oh of
falls heavily upon the poor class of PEG
pie. | hope, gentlemen that this blil
will not receive a passage.
Mr.. Fairbanks of Bangor said that this
bill seems to be ill-advised. 1t seems to
me to be safe thing to let it go over I'M
til the next Legislature.
Mr. Daigle of Madawaska said that
from remarks that had been made, it
seemed that Aroostook county doesn t
want this bill towns having a population
less than 1900 don't want it-and be
lieve it; towns having valuation of
over 81, 600 900 don't want it believe
it also; cities don't want it believe it
also. Who in heavens name does want
it in the State of Maine?
Mr. Hurd of North Berwick said he
hoped the bill would not be voted down.
In my town we tried it two years and then
the class of people that want to work out
their tax objected to it and voted us down.
and now we follow the old system. pay
n large tax and am willing to do so if it
can be expended judiciously, but to have
1t worked out and see no benefit from
it | object, and l hope this
measure will receive "A passage.
Mr. Wells of Wells said our roads had
been complained of from time immcmo-
rial, and this bill is step in the right
direction. In many towns We may be
able to get road commissioner one year,
and then through some dissatisfaction we
have to go back to the old system. 1t has
been said that this forces certain towns to
raise money for their highways. ARGOS
took is going to raise very large sum
fora railroad-why should they object to
raise something for highways? The old
system is not business like, it is not up
with the times.
Mr. Howe of Milo: 1t has been said that
the taxpayers want this bill. If the tax
payers want this bill why don't they avail
themselves of it under the present law
which gives them that privilege. The
fact is you are forcing upon the towns OF
the State what the towns don't want.
Let the towns vote to suit themselves.
Mr.. Leayitt of Limestone said that all
we ask for of these city members is to let
the rural towns take care of themselves.
The cities have exempted themselves
now let us exempt ourselves.
Mr.. Dodge of Windhain opposed the
| bill.
Mr.. Reynolds of Brooks said he was
satisfied if the towns had chance to
vote on this matter, they would IN
definitely postpone the bill. Gentlemen
of the cities. you have no right in here
at all. The bill is directed to the towns.
The father Of the bill is from the city
of Lewiston. We are improving i'll the
matter Of roads under the present system.
The arestion being on the motion of
Mr. Packard of Blanchard that the bill be
indefinitely postponed. the yeas and nays
were ordered on motion of Mr.. Gilbert of
Greene.
yr.s-Abbott, Bailey Of whitefeld, Barton