Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-03-07

1t is said that Sorrento will not now
have so large voting population as WIN
ter Harbor. 1t has, however, larg'
valuation. Its valuation is larger thar
that of 100 towns in Maine, and has more
voters than several towns in Maine.
May it not be said that favorable con.
dition for good municipal government ano
prosperity is, in fact, n large Valuation
and comparatively small number OF
voters
/. The division of Sorrento leaves no bur
den on the old town. There is no debt.
The bill is fair, and even generous in all
its provisions as to paupers State ana
county taxes, and town property.
The petitioners ask to take nothing
from the old town that it had when Sor'
rento began to develop. They ask to be
allowed to become town by themselves,
believing that as such they can better
secure those conditions which will induce
the wealthy of other states to come and
build homes there, making employment
for the residents and adding wealth to the
county and State.
Now, Mr.. President, the proposed town
of Sorrento is not the only one Incorporated
with a small number Of inhabitants. The
town of Dyer Brook, created in 1891, had
only 200, and the town of Hersey, when 1t
became town in 1870, had only 1O7 souls
within it's limits. So we see we are adopt
ing no new policy, taking no new step.
Mr.. Frank Jones has been brought into
this discussion-Mr Frank Jones, the
brewer. If we are to deal with Mr.. Jones
in matter of politics or in matter OF
morals, will stand in the front rank of
this Senate in the use of all honorable
means to thwart his desires and his
schemes, but if we are to deal with him
in purely business matter, l for one
shall deal with him on a business basis,
and he shall have justice at my hands
Mr.. Jones does not ask to establish brew
cry at Sorrento-nothing of the kind, and
pray tell me why his brewery should be
dragged in here? / submit, Mr. Presi-
dent, it is for the purpose of prejudicing
the minds of members, and for no other
reason. Are we to be frightened from
doing what we believe to be for the best
interest of the State because Frank Jones
the brewer happened to own an interest
in the land company at Sorrento? | be-
lieve not.
If we are, if we are to consider the pri-
vate business of every man who petitions
us for some act of legislation even though
his business is beyond the limits of a
state, let us understand it so at the begin
ming of every session and act accordingly.
Let us say to Mr.. John G. Moore, who is
the head and front of the land company
at Winter Harbor, let us say to him, you
are stock gambler in Wall street and
you need not come here to ask any legisla-
tion from us.
Mr.. Penney of Piscataquis: There were
seven members of the committee on towns
present at the hearing on this matter. On
the majority report which is before you
today are the names of six of the seven
who heard that evidence. On the minor
ity report is the name of one member who
was not in the city at the time of the
hearing.
When this matter was before the COM
mittee in executive session. a motion was
made to report ought to pass on it, and
only two voted for that motion and six
against. A motion was then mnde to re-
port ought not to pass, and six voted for
it and it was not doubted. The question
was asked if the minority wished to make
a report. The reply was that they did not
care anything about it, not being present
at the hearing. The petition was given
to the gentleman whose name appears on
the minority report, with instructions to
report next morning The report was not
made, for reasons that the senators no
doubt understand. / will say for the
gentleman who heard very little of the
evidence, that he came to me and asked
leave to make a minority report, and l
said that didn't care to exercise any au-
thority over him.
1t would have been to my personal in
terest to have this town divided, but the
evidence as brought out at the hearing
would not warrant such report.
Gouldsboro had an acreage of 40, 600
acres, population, 1900; and Winter Harbor
took off IL, 900 acres, 600 population and
1856 polls.
Sullivan's S acreage is 12, 600, her popula-
ton is 1890. polls 337, and Sorrento wishes
to take off 1000 acres, III population and
35 polls.
1t has been said that the petitioners had
a grievance against the town of Sullivan.
Nothing was brought out at the hearing
to substantiate the statement.
Mr.. Penney then referred to the state
mcnt of the town clerk, which was on the
desk of every senator, and pointed out
that Sorrento had been treated generously
in every way by the town of Sullivan.
Concluding, he said: would say that
l have no personal interest in this matter
The case was decided in the executive ses-
sion of the committee on the evidence
brought out at the hearing, and on that
alone.
Mr. Simpson of Hancock: My purpose
is to treat this question of division on a
purely business basis as founded upon
facts principally elected at the hearing
of the case before the committee on
towns.
claim to be somewhat familiar with
the policy OF the State of Maine in re-
ference to the division of towns and l
claim that the policy of the State has
been uniformly against the division of
towns except for the following reasons:
1st. When the boundaries of said
divided parts would make it more con-
venient for the people.
I'd. In cases where there were, by rea-
son Of prejudice and unfair or unkind and