The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-01
UNFAIR TO RAILROADS..
Continued From First page.

Continued From First Pare
bought policies In assessment companies
from out Of the state were under the Inn.
preston that they were old line rolicIcs.
The next witness WINS Representative
Bird Of Rocklaud, who told of the trouble
experienced In his section arising from
the Misrepresentation of the agents Of
assessment companies.
MIR. George NJ. Barney of Portland.
state agent of the Travellers insurance
company. was the next speaker. He ex-
plnined the situation much as had the
previous witness.
Dir. J. Z. Stevens, Mr.. Gorge c. Can
nell aud Assistant Commissioner Fletcher
testified In the sarne line. Mr.. Fletcher
said. be thought some such bin as that
proposed would be n protection to the
public. This view of the case was taken
by Insurance. Commissioner Carr.
MIR. Paul Luce OF Portland took the
same ground. aF
81 Judge George q. Wing OF Auburn rep
rssentiug the Maine Benefit company,
said that as the representative of the as
sessment companies, ne believed In state
supervision, but he did not believe that
IL was the business of the old line agents
tn protect the dear public. He dill not
believe that MIR. Soldiers was retained by
by the people. Judge Wing argued that
1t was manifestiy unfair TO label one
kind of an insurance policy and not label
another. He said the fact that the hold /.
ers OF assessment policies did not know
about the assessment features showed
that they could not be greatly appre.
ciated.
Judge Wing said TINT he would su ggesl
an amendment to provide that assessment
companies which had reserve charged
against them as liability should be sx-
empt from the operations of the law. /
Treasurer Harris Of the Maine Benefit
spoke briefly of the extent of its business
outside ths state and then Mr.. Seiders
closed the case, arguing that this WAS the
case of the people, not the agents, and
that surplus was guarantee Of finan.
cial standing OF such value that 1t was
worth what 1t cost. 1t gave the policy
holder assurance that his money would
be paid.
The COMMITTEES on legal affairs was con-
fronted by platoon o; fourteen matters
for hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
An act relating to the privilege of re-
building old Warehouse wharf in Port.
land lower harbor, Clement Staples OF
Cape Elizabeth appeared. He said that
the original wharf was the first ore built
In the vicinity of Portland and was con.
struoted by the early settlers who at first
found their business interests centering
there. Later all the business went to the
place where the present city stands The
wharf is now the property of the Loveitts,
who want the privilege of rebuilding and
adding twenty feet. Mr.. Staples was
armed with old charts, Drowned with age.
showing plots OF the original grants to
settlers. He explained the early rights at
some length.
connected with the road that must extend
from the wharf. Mr.. Staples believed
that the wharf would be general con
venienoe for summer guests, steamboat
landing and for the residents in the
neighborhood Of Simonton's cove.
Hon. G. F. Libby stated that no cree
ton would be made in tide waters with
ont consent of the secretary of war. Mr.
Staples had previously stated that hi
reason for coming to the legislature Wa.
to get the right to extend the wharf.
A. NJ. Spear Intercepted Mr.. Staples
in regard to the title to the property,
asking questions as to the validity Of tn,
Loveitts' title.
Mr.. Chase of the committee asked Mr.
Staples II he would show that live parties
owned the property.
Mr. Staples replied that he had not tn,
papers with him. He claimed that BY
terms of the deed the wharf had reverted
to the original proprietors and their
heirs, and through this means tn,
Loveitts came into possession.
MIR. Spear stated that his side claimed
that the Loveitts had no title OF record
and even If the Loveitts wouId clear VI
this matter, there would still be valid OBJ
jsctions to uphold tho remonstranta.
Captain Woodbury. WAS called by Mr.
Spear and said he could find no recors
title In the petitioners that goes as far a
the wharf. Wharf had been town landin,
since i7s5, and no one had laid any CLAIM
to IL. He went back into the matter 0
the old deeds tracing than from l79s
covering the land adjacent to the wharf
revealing some minute details OF tn,
ancient history 'longshore in that section
Chairman Reynolds interrupted to sa.
that he didn't believe the committee room
was a proper place 10 try aquestion o
title.
Seiectman Haskell of South Portlan,
said that he appeared on behalf of tn
p,opie of the town TO demonstrate agains
any action. He claimed that the plac
had been abandoned as public landing
for more than one hundred years an,