The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-24
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.I

| ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Augusta, February 23-Several Deer
ing matters were considered by the COM
| mittee on legal affairs today.
| City Solicitor FREQ V. Matthews of
| Deering. presented the matter OF amend
ments to the charter of Deering to the
COMMITTEES on legal affairs this after
| noon. The changes were explained. A.
r. Moulton and Mayor Mitchell Of Deer
ing spoke in favor of the amendments.
There was no opposition and the hear-
| ing occupied but a short time.
Thomas g. Harris introduced the
matter of department Of public works
| in Deering, and Mayor Mitchell said that
the city had sixty miles of street, and
that tho frequent change of street COM
missioners under the present arrange
m ents practically prohl bited any definite
policy in the care of the streets. He said
that with two experienced men always
on board in charge there should be a
| first class administration of the affairs Of
| the public works.
| A. II. Moulton told the committee Of
the provisions of the bill relating to re-
moyal of members of the board, comp en-
sation for them, etc., all of which have
been given in the PRESS, hut with
which the committee had not become
familiar.
Scott Wilson spoke of the bad con-
dition of the streets and sidewalks in
Deering, and said that some change was
generally desired. Mr.. Wilson said about
the only difference of opinion about the
| matter in Deering was as to just how
certain details were to he managed ana
that those who were not quite sure of the
provisions of the amendments had voted
| for them at the public Meeting held to
discuss the matter. He said thu matter
had never been brought up In the city
council but that it's members were
present at the public meeting by invita-
tion of the committee Of twenty-one,
having the matter In charge, and that
there was no opposition from that
quarter.
| A. f. Knowlton in presenting an act
| to amend the law regarding damages for
right of way for streets, said that
Forest avenue in Deering was in an un-
| finished condition because by the present
| law Its construction cannot be continued
until the court has made decree OIL an
appeal made by certain rich man who
was not satisfied with the damages
awarded him by the county commission
ers. The amendment provides that the
question of the location of a highway
shall be closed as soon as the county COM
missioners have awarded damages, not
| withstanding any appeals to the Supreme
court for higher damages. The object OF
| this is to allow the construction of high
ways without waiting to find out whether
some one is to get more or less for the
| land taken for the road.
| The law now says person may have
| one year in which to remove wood or
lumber from land to be taken, and the
bill under discussion amends SO that a
period "not exceeding one year" shall be
allowed for this purpose. The exact tiue
| is to be decided by the county commis-
sioners according to whether there is any
wood or lumber on the land, and other
circumstances.
In executive session the COMMITTEES
voted to report ought to pass on the
amendment to the Deering charter; act
relating to the sale of land for taxes;e
act authorizing Frederick A. Staples to
maintain a wharf in Eliot, and ought
| not to pass on bill to authorize Winter
port to purchase franchise of Winterport
Water company.
| The Judiciary committee in executive
session today voted to report ought to
pass on the bill providing bodies for
educational purposes; bill to change the
name of the Alonzo Wing library to the
Wayne library, act providing liens on
| buildings acs to extend the charter OF