Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-03-18
STATE SOLONS.
Doings of the Law Nakers-GoSsip
About the State-House

ms been presented in he House
The committee on taxation, on petition
praying that soldiers who have lost ley
or arm be exempted from paying a poll
tax, reported that the petitioners have
leave to Withdraw.
The bill to increase the efficiency of the
Eden board of health has been reported
favorably by committee.
The farmers of Maine are a unit in petit
tioning for he passage Of law requiring
State inspection of grass seed.
In the House Thursday it was voted
after warm debate, to indefinitely post
pone the. resolve in favor of soldiers
home at Newport. The vote stood u to
56. The resolve would easily have passed
If the G. A. II. itself was but united on
the question.
The resolve in favor of Bluehill acad-
envy passed the House to be engrossed last
Wednesday.
The question of establishing a new
normal school in Maine was referred to
the next legislature by the committee on
education.
CLANS AND LoBsTERs
Clam and lobster We're on the menu for
the committee on seashore fisheries,
Tuesday of last week. A. f. Moulton,
OF Portland, appeared for petitioners Who
ask for close time on clans during three
or four months of the summer Two
Scarborough canning factory owners
were present to urge the necessity of a
close time to keep up the clam supply.
No one appeared to oppose the proposed
close time
{. II. Wood, of Bar Harbor, was present
to speak for Washington county pc
tltloners, mostly fishermen, who ask hat
that county be exempt from the working
OF the present lobster law, from the mid
die of April to he middle Of June They
say that New Brunswick poachers and
dishonest fishermen constantly evade the
law, and from the nature of things are
out OF reach of punishment, and they
want to catch the shorter Holsters hon
estly and legally.
Senator Mccullough also appeared for
the petitioners, and was followed by c. $.
Hlnkley, of Jonesport, superintendent of
the Underwood canning factory. Sena-
tor Walls, of Knox, appeared for the re-
monstrants. The hearing WIS continued
to a later date to give other remon-trHnts
a chance to be heard.
SWANS ISLAND INCORPORATION.
In the Senate last Thursday, on motion
of Senator Chamberlain, of Lincoln
county, the bill to Incorporate swans
Island plantation as II town was token
from the table. Mr.. Cham berlain said;
his matter came before our committee the
committee on towns in the usual way wilma
petition Tor the Incorporate Of TINS i5ana.
At the hearing, representatives from the island
were present on either side, and | think all the
facts bgarIng upon the case were presented to
us fully.
This island is about six miles in length and
four mics in width, containing about 100
acres. There are other islands around it which
would naturally be included if it was incor-
poratcd As Il plantation or town.
At the present time, about 800 people live
upon these islands There are two po,t-oi1ices
three chu che-, several stores and good dwell
ing. This island supports a ply stefan. There
are lSj polls, and the estates in 1896 amounted
to sl24 $50. There il IA town debt of S6IG and
the rate of taxation last reported was on, Two
hundred and fifty scholars are reported,
IA of whom attend school. There was eX.
pended last year $l,245 for schools upon the
island.
It appears that there are in the county of
Hancock of the thirty two towns fourteen that
have less pc, uation than this island, aid it has
at the present time double the population of
spV q thp.
Island appear to be greater than that OF thir-
teen towns OF the county.
1t seems strange that this town has main
tanned form OF government for many years,
has voted and paid taNcs, maintained schools
and supported its poor ana that there has
been no record form of government. Th- was
brought out in the evidence by tine petitioners.
1t was claimed by the remonstrants that there
was Il prescriptiye governm mt that would
be ending in anything that mig hit occur,
and would be sufficient at the present time
for them.
The people very intel igent and progre7-
Si>e, ana in the past have been We y pros porous.
At one time they were largely Interested IN
navigation and in the fishing business and
even now, in the depressed condition at both
these industries, they ar active in the pur-
upon the main land or other Islands that dot
our coast.
mi, i-la nd has future before it. Aui for
all THESE reasons The committee Thought 1t best
for the se people that they should at least have
-u,nr form ot government. thc-e people
should not be deui d lhe ri. Int to vote. q If
thry have ut the pre- eat time no form OF
go,crum,nt, Il, IN cords in the secretary of
-tatr- otliee hpw there mi ShJ become in future
elections Il serious question as 10 the rlSht "i
thr-e p, ople to participate, We feet there Is no
injustice to be practicod upon the people of
swans island by asking them 10 assume the
lig aity OF Il town at the present time.
Senator GrIudie, OF BluenuI, sa ID:
1t appears TO me that the people there should
have some voice IN deciding matters OF this
kind aud it is Il reasoha 4c thing that we give
to them this right and privilege. They have
voted on this question, aud quite It large mum
Der have vo ed against ucing Incorporated. We