The Portland daily press., 1895-05-28
DrunsWiek's Important Action at a
Lively Meeting.
MIR. CORBETpS CONTRIBUTION TO
THE ENTERTAINMENT.
His Spirited Defense of the Peoples God
Given Rights, With Some Remarks On
BrunsWick's History.
Brunswick's History.
special to the Press. !

lopecldl TO the PreSS.
Brunswick, May Mr. George S. Cor
bett, like another man of the same name
when he goes into a battle, fights to a
finish, although the struggles of Mr..
Corbett of Brunswick are parliamentary
rather than pugilistic. Mr.. Corbett has
led the opposition to the construction of
the sewers in this village, and at to-
nights town meeting made things, ex-
ceedingly lively. Last year the Bruins
wick village corporation voted to issue
$40, 900 of 4 per cent bonds, and to COM
mence the introduction of system of
sewers. Messrs. R. W. Eaton, Stephen J.
Young, A. Lyon, Thomas S. Melcher and
Barrett Potter, were made committee
to have charge of the work. Mr.. Ernest
Bowditch, the eminent civil engineer of
Boston, laid out the sewers, and the
work SO far done has been performed
under the contract by Mr.. j. Fl. Flanna-
gan of Portland AS the result of this
wise action, the town now has nearly
four miles of sewers. These underly the
streets in the center of the village, in the
district bounded by Union and Federal
streets, the railroad and the river The
railroad bridge. For the large mains
1S-inch pipe was used, with smaller sizes
for the branches, all being furnished by
the Portland Stoneware Company.
The matter of extending the sewers
has been burning question here for
he hoe tod !,
great const itutional problem stated by
Mr.. Corbett, who claimed that the village
charter was unconstitutional in itself and
moreover, had never been legally adopted.
That charter originally permitted citi-
zens of the village who had not been nat
uralized to vote in village affairs Last
winter the legislature passed an act strik-
ing out this provision and thereby hangs a
tale, for it is said, the opponents of the
sewer suppOsing that the French resi-
dents would vote in favor of the extern
sion, urged the passage of the act. AS a
matter of fact, the French people who,
expected on the sewers, would have this
time voted against them.
When Moderator Chapman called the
meeting to order at Z. 30 this evening, the
spacious town hall was well filled, every
seat being occupied and many standing.
The frSt article to be acted upon was
one to see if the town would raise money
to pay the interest due on the outstand-
ing bonds. Mr.. Ira Borhers moved that
$1,000 be so raised.
CORBETT TOOK THE FLOOR
and the fun began. Mr. Corbett is tall
man, with smooth shayen face and bushy
black hair. He looks a little like Daniel
Webster, and is fluent talker His
speech was written, covering large
number Of foolscap sheets. Mr. Corbett
at the request of the chair, went down
front where he could hear and at once
went to the point of his argument by
declaring that the village charter in that
it permitted aliens to vote, violated both
the national and state constitutions. 1t
was he said, violation of the sacred
rights of American citizens Mr.. Corbett
then declared that even if the alien resi-
dents could vote under the charter they
had no right to vote for it's acceptance
thus comforting the right of suffrage on
themselves And at that first meeting no
check list was used, thing clearly
illegal to Mr. Corbett's mind.
1t was evident that Mr.. Corbett had