The Portland daily press., 1901-02-21
Camden Citizens Invade
the Capital.
Lead by Band and Fire Com
panies In Uniform.
rsrrcrAL TO THE rREss.l

Augusta, February 21-The picturesque
occurrence In this session OF the Maine
Legislature was that Of today when headed
by the local band the Camden cohorts
marched through the streets OF the
capital and invaded ths state house in
their quest for pure water. With the
band came the uniformed members Of she
Camden nre department and the
msrchers carried big plaoards announcing
that they would tell the law makers all
about the Camden water supply. W.
Howard Gardnsr, tine oaief apostle OF the
municipal ownership bill. besides being
man who In place of an ovsrooat In zero
weather wears q dainty pink in the but
ton hole OF his coat and wards oil pneu-
monia by vigorous exercise with walk
ing stick. the size Of an Indian war club
is also more or less of q poet, and the
Camden forces sang 20 the time of Kip.
une's Mandalay his latest effusion en-
titled "Camdsn's Cry for Water" OF
which the following are some stanzas!
."rhey are weary now OF waiting, but
the Trust It holds them down
And the fires go on q burning, just as
once they burned the town,
For the RocklAnd Trust IL holds them,
holds them firmly by the throat
While IL takes their hard earned ooliars'
and relief seems quite remote
Yes relief seems quite remote as 1t holds
them by the throat, =.
/ For Trust Is hard TO conquer Wnen III
| hold you by the throat.
But the time Is coming near, Will the
| Legislature hearY
What they ask for at Augusta is Ior
| water hri zhC and clear.
"rbere's Sid, BIRD and A. F. Crockett
and Fred richards, yes and Cleaves
| And they've hired Ruel hooinsoh Vhe
people TO deceive,
4 They would give them mud AMI eels I'd
| drink and make 'em pay the price
OF dividends on water stock and tell
'em that it's nice.
Yes they tell 'em that It's nice ana they
nave to pay the price
OF mud and cells and nastiness and try
10 think it nice,
But the people now are up, for pure
| water in their cup
What they ask for as Augusta Is. pure
water in their cup
As is indicated by the bsauti full lines
of the poet, the village of Camden Is now
supplied with water by the Rockland
company. The bill provides for the pur-
chase OF so much of the plant as is In
Camden, and the establishments OF town
supply of water. Naturally the company
does not ike this programme, and while
it Is not singing any songs the company
is putting up stiff fight. Neither DO the
Camden forces rely on music and poetry
alone. for there is distinguished array
of counsel on both sides. Hon. Enooh
Foster, Oscar Herssy, Esq, and j. Ii.
Montgomery, Esq appear for the Dill
while Hon. Henry B. CIaves, A. ). Lit
tIeiield, Esq, and Judge Ruei Robinson
supply legal advice and conduct the case
OF the company. The hearing was begun
before the Judiciary COMMITTEES early In
the afternoon and ths committee listened
TO the story until after bed time.
MIR. Montgomery opened the case, tell
ing the committee how Camden in town
meeting had voted for municipal owner
shin. 1 do not know, said MIR. Mont
Romery, what the opposition proposs 10
do INIT / can see msn here who have gone
DOWN under the wrath OF Camden for op'
posing this plan.
Mr.. Montgomery told OF the lack oil
water at the time of the great rire OF 1891,
and nkened the work OF the nremen 10
Kruger's tight against the hosts OF the
Britlsh, After this burst OF eloquenoe,
MIR. Montgomery said that signatures to
the remonstrannes In the company 3 be-
half had been obtained by misrepresenta-
tien, He thought that two-thirds OF
these signatures would be removed II the
facts were known
The testimony taken during the next
three hours was largely in relation to the
alleged insutfioiency OF the water supply
during tires. Spencer New, one OF the
fire wardeus, Fred b. Annis and Edgar
whitmore, members OF the ire depart
ment; George Taylor, superintendent Of
the Camden wooden mills where there
was tiie In 1899; w. X. GILL; mayor ol
the village corporation; Il. Ii. hean. this
man who built the frat six masteo
schooner, and W. q. Howe, engineer o.