Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-17

Ation. The selectmen II BIrnham were
present and urged the passagesof a bill
legalizing the doing Of that town in the
matter of selling certain land for taxes.
In executive session the committee
voted to report ought to pass on the
bill making the confirmed habit Of us
ing opium a sufficient ground for d.
vorce: ought to pass on the bill amend
ing the laws of 1889. relating to insol-
vent debtors; leave to withdraw to the
petitioners that certain tax deeds given
by the town Of Burnham be legalized
and ought not to pass on the bill incor-
porating the Fort Fairfield Water
Company. The other matters were
tabled.
The committee ON railroads was
broken up, Thursday afternoon. by the
absence Of several members, and did
not transact much important business.
Senator Grindle appeared in behalf Of
an act Incorporating the Bluehill &
Bucksport Railroad Company. Repre-
sentative Porter of burlington, adj
dressed the committee on behalf of an
act reviving and extending the charter
of the Passadumkeag Railroad Co.
Commissioner Chadbourne explained
the bill which makes the decision of
the railroad commissioners final as to
the crossing of highways by railroads
unless an appeal to the supreme court
is taken within IA days. No action was
matters or upon those previously heard
and still Enacted upon.
The committee on financial affairs
had four hearings and voted to report
on one other matter. One of the most
interesting hearings was that on a re-
solve in favor of Francis keefe of
Eliot This is to recover $l22.75 ex-
pended by Mr.. keefe in gaining his
seat in the House. Hon. George NJ
Seiders of Portland. appeared for Mr..
Keefe and argued that 1T was in the
interests of good politics to allow this
bill, as it would give less chance for
fraud in elections, giving man cheat
ed out of his seat courage to fight for
it. Mr.. Manley said as this involved a
matter of equity it should be fully in
vestigated and upon his motion it was
referred to a subcommittee consisting
of Senator White and Representative
Powers.
On the resolve in favor of the city of
Biddeford. Hon. +. w. Hovey appeared
for the city. He stated that in the four
years for which the city claims the re-
bate on the taxes paid. the Biddeford
water works were valued by the State
assessors at 100000 while the valua-
ton as compared with the works of
other cities was only $4,000. hence the
city's asking for the $4,000 rebate which
was the amount over the just taxes.
Chairman Pottle explained that the
State assessors made this valuation on
the returns from the, local assessors.
In executive session the committee
voted ought to pass on a rebate reckon
ed on a basis of s15O,O0O as the valua-
ton. giving the city $35s7.5O. This was
done on recommendation of the State
assessors.
On an act to permit the city of Lew
jston to issue bonds to an amount not
exceeding s51 900 to meet outstanding
bonds which will mature in 1899, Sen
ator White explained the matter. and
the committee voted ought to pass.
On the resolve regarding the care of
the monument and cemetery lot Of the
late Gov. William King, the committee
voted ought to pass. This carries no
additional appropriation but merely
changes the conditions of expenditures.
On an act to authorize the city of
Bangor to raise money by loan or