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

almost twice that OF ArOOsUOh-o.e
stands third in population In the State.
This bill provides, IL the people by tneir
votes approve of the removal, iof an eA
nenditure of but $4,000, the eatlzehs Oh
Saco having already given bond 10 1ur-
nish s35, 600, as gift, the balance necessary
to make up the s75. 900, to which amount
the bill limits the whole expenditure.
Now. Mr.. President, let us sec for
moment how much Of this $4O, ooo these
towns-vhose representatives have signed
the report against this bill-wlil nave 10
nav. If the tax is assessed according 10
the last valuation these 10 towns VIII
have to pay exactly sig, 217.02 OF the &c.,
600. and the other towns the balance.
This Sl2. 2l7. OF, if raised on per cent.
bonds. would cost these Is towns all TO-
eether only s4SS year in interest. an
average annual expense to each OF them
of but $50. So.
The present Jail is the best part OF the
county buildings, but it is made Iuate'
improperly heated, unsafe and unhealthy
Good looking photographs OF these
buildings have been shown to try to de-
ceiye those not familiar with this matter
into thinking them of great value, but
senators will remember that in photo
graphs even painted canvass is made to
look like marble and stone. These views
show nothing of the positively dilapidated
condition of the interior Of these build
ings.
All we ask is that the voters OF the
county have an opportunity to record their
opinions upon this subject by their bal
lots. What can the members OF this body
who have never visited Alfred, know OF
the situation, except what one side or the
other tell them here? How much fairer
and more honest in every way, to let the
people of the county, who are we'll ac-
auainted with all the conditions which
bear upon this question, have a chance
to vote upon it?
The people can be relied upon to settle
it. and settle it right, and their verdict, L
am sure, will be accepted by the whole
people rs final and put at rest this ag1ta-
ton. It cannot be done in any other way.
If YOU refuse them this-if You send us
back without granting them the privilege
of settling their own business, you VIII
only add fuel to the flames of dissatisfac-
ton which are now sweeping over the
county. You will force the matter into
the politics of the next State election
when every candidate for county and
State office will be first scrutinized as to
his attitude on this question. We ask
that you allow us to hold special election
for no other purpose than to decide this
one matter.
The time fixed by this bill for this cleo
ton is September-six months away
when it will best accommodate the farm
ers of the county. Mr.. President, l can
~; vii fhpcp
people of York county an opportunity to
say whether or not they will accept this
bill, with the accompanying gift OF
$500
Mr.. Mitchell of York: Those of us who
have had the honor and pleasure
IF membership in this Legislature
for the past three sessions have
heard of the requirements for legislation
at our hands by the Queen city of York
county, and in each and every case it has
been for extraordinary legislation. We
have been compelled to exercise our most
offensive partisanship, in order to stand
up and support the measures which nave
been enacted for the benefit of Biddeford.
Four years since they came here and re-
quested the delegation from this county to
report bill for the establishment of
work Jail at Biddeford. Two years ago
they renewed the request. These requests
were refused and at each attempt We an
ticipated this move, the removal of the
county buildings. This was emphatically
denied by them, but today our predictions
are verified.
Now, Mr.. President, it seems to me
that we should pause moment and con-
slider the condition and value of the
property we are to condemn, the require
nents of business in the courts and
county, and the demands of the people in
the county.
Alfred was made the shire town in
1906. York up to this time had been the
shire town of the Province of Maine and
of York county for AZ years. The fathers
located and builded WELL and it behooves
lis to protect their work unimpared.
The present Jail was built in 1878, and
cost the county $40, 900. 1t has answered our
purpose for nearly quarter of century
and our county has no larger population
at the end than at the beginning of this
period. For five years there has been ex.
pended for granite curbing, brick side
walks, lightning rods, etc, $1,000 Is il
natural to suppose for an instant that if the
interior of our Jail was in the condition
that certain members of the third House.
who, like the poor, are always with u.s.
would have it, and it is infested with bats |
and rats, molcs, and other creeping things
as certain press dispatches have indicated,
that the board of county commissioners
all honorable men, one of them a resident
Of Biddeford, would have expended this |
money for ornamentation and outward
What does the present jailor, Mr.. Geo. |
H. Wentworth, who was high sheriff of
our county the past two years, say about
these reports? He says:
Certain reports, so utterly without |
as to show their malicious in |
tent, have been given to the Associated |
Press by an irresponsible reporter concern
ing the Alfred Jail.
1.-The inspectors of prisons, who officially |
inspected the Jail on the last day of Febru- |
airy, pronounce it one of the best managed |
jails in the State, and particularly COM
mended it's cleanliness They similarly |
informed the reporter of the Biddeford |
Times, in which paper the commenda-
ton was printed
The county commissioners at their |
sessions have been in the habit of