The Portland daily press., 1901-02-21

the ste1m fire engine, all testified to the
same condition OF affairs. Frank Blood
and KsueI sandrord, testified that thsy
had applied TO the company 70 supply
water TO their houses and the company
had been dilatory In doing so.
Mr.. W. HowArdaGardiner also testified
to the difficulty experienced at fires and
the COMMITTEES went home to supper. In
the evening they tcgan again and Judge
Robinson opened the case tor the remon-
strants, claiming that they we're among
the towns lesding business men. There
were three reasons why the charter
should not be granted. The existing
company and the holders OF it securities
have vested rights which should be oon-
sidsred. There is no Just ground for
complaint. The remonstrants are people
who are entitled to respect.
Nj. L. Crawford OF Camden, was the
first witness for the remonstrsnts. lie
objected to the proposed legislation IS q
ne believed It would increase the tax
rate aud prevsnt the carrying out Of
needed improvements such as the build
ing OF new school houses.
Mr. Z. @. Wood, the town clerk, testi-
fed TO the meetings OF the town and the
action taken. Mr.. Wood claimed that
when the town had nesting to see II
it would rescind the vote In favor Of
applying for this legislation, the question
was brought up out OF order when the
meeting was not largely attended.
Judge Foster in his cross-examination,
insisted on the fact that the town re-
fused to take back its former action.
Percy 81. Blake, . Massachusetts civil
engineer, testified to tests which he
had made and which showed suffioient
power from the oompany's mains In
| Camden for fire purposes. Blake also
said that rates in Camden averaged lSO
per cent lower than IN other Maine
cities.
! NJ, Il. Crawford, ]. X, Glover, W. Il.
| Schw nrtz, Sylvestes Arau, Is. Il. Adams
and Daniel J. Andrews, all OF Cam
den; II. 8. Collins, Il. Cook and b, H.
Shepherd OF Rookport and Daniel Shin-
less. Jam % Donahue and e. X. Glover OF
Rocklaud. The witnesses included civil
engineer, property owners, firemen, ire
adjusters, contractors, aud citizens gem
orally who declared that the present
service Is adequats for all needs and reas-
\ onabiy satisfactory. Judge Fosters
cross-sxamination upset some Of them
badly Most of the direct examination
was by Mr.. Littlsneld. This side OF the
u case was closed ut .. M, and after Mr.
Gardiner and Juegs Miller had testified
briefly in rebuttaI the committee decided
that 1t was 81. late that it might as well
make night OF 1t and hear tins arRu-
ments then and there. Accordingly ex-
aov. Clsavss procseded to sum up the
case for the remonstrsnts, and Judge
Foster for the petitioners. Each was
limited to half an hour and was kept
within his time by Chairman White.
The arguments were strong, logical and
concise, with no attempt at 1ratorical
display. Several hundred persons, In
Guiding q number OF ladies, remained to
the end. At little past a. M, the
committee adjourned and the most re-
mArkabls hearing of the winter was at
an end.
THE NATIONAL BANKS.
The committee on banks and banking
spent the whole afternoon on the bill
which raises from one-eighth OF one per
cent to three.quarters OF one per cent the
rate Of taxation on the business OF for
eign banking associations and corpora
tions doing business in Maine. Thi
! would increase from $500 to s2400 the tax
now received by the state from thii
touroe. Though the bill is general In
r scope, IL Is understood that it Is aimed
mainly at the bank OF Nova Scotia now
doing business by branch in Calais
The manager of the bank, A. e, Vesssy,
also NJ. N. McCuslok, Esq, OF Calai
were present to oppose the BILL Many OF
the leading national banks and trus
/ company men OF the state were present II
support OF the bill, the leading speaker
being l.. G Cornish, Esq, OF this city
, representing the Maine Bankers asSocia
tion, President q. 5. Hichborn of th
association also spoke strongly for th
a bill, and Bank Examiner Iimberlak
and National Bank Examiner Charles +
8 Hatch addressed the committee in 1t
' favor. Others present in support OF tn
4 bill, several OF whom spoke, were Cashie
: q. q. Allen OF the Portland Nations
n x. OASuibE W l(ay "a NA-S
n National bank, Auburn; Cashier Franl
, Nelson or the Calais National bank,
q Cashier f. IL. Lowe OF the Lincoln Ma
y tional bank, Bath; Cashier Treby John
a son OF the Granite National bank
y Cashier John X. Gould OF the Au gust
Y National bank and Waldo Psttingin o
4 Rumford Falls.
The committee on railroads acted on
number Of matters In executive sessio
:, this afternon. 1t was voted to repoi
, ought to pass on the bill establishing th
ia Hancock county railway company; th
n bill authorizing the Millbridge ant
, Cherryfeld electric railroad company
, operate its line over the Narraguagu
river in TO MiIlbridge; the bill incorpo
rating the Poland Telephone company
n the bill Incorporating the Union Teie
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