Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-08
Daily ksnnsber journal
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
90 CONTINUED from page 2.)

tho convention, for had ii been. and his
position the same as il is now. | am
afraid we should have missed from
this chamber his gracious presence. We
,rp not confined to the issues that are
settled in the convention at the time
If our nomination.
Let me pass to another thing. 1t re-
latcs entirely to Il legal matter. The
senator from fenOhScOt aSSeVeratCs
with great force that the PenohScot
.,,intv delegation in determining his
matter were influenced by special pleas
and nv the conSiderat ton of personal
friendship. Mr.. President. | think the
Pcnobscot county delegation is a dele
cation made up of fair. honest and
CONSCIENTIOUS men. | think they have
L,nurht their conScicnCes here and
have applied their consCiences to the
consideration of public questions | be
love they have acted in this matter in
dfpcndeutly, fairly and honestly: and
/ think II is out Of place for the soma
Tor from PeuobSCot To stand in this
senatc ana reflect upon the character
and proceedings of the representatives
and senator's from Penobscot county.
The senator says that sound
public policy dictates that the
wealthy and populous places should
he taxed for the benefit OF
the poorer places. l Will take
HIM right on that ground. | will agree
with him. for the sake of argument
Who are the people who are benefited
by freeing this bridge? The people in
the poorer sections of Pcnobscot coun-
tv-the people of Clifton. E.ddingtun
Nirincton and the towns and cities east
of the PCuOhScot river. They are plac-
cd at a Disadvantage on the east side
Of the PenohScot river. ana at an un-
fair Disadvantage. They are placed in
unfair competition with the farmers Of
the west section: and if the farmer of
Orrington. EddmEton and clifton de-
sires to haul his products into the city
" Bangor. the imperial city OF Penob-
scot county. he must pay 4 tax to the
toll company to so over and tax To
the toll company to get back. He pays
at least p cents In other words. he
must sell his produce in the Bangor
markets - cents cheaper than the
farmer ot Hampton. Hermon. Orono.
Carmel Exeter and those other towns
surrounding Bangor.
Who is relieved by the passage OF
this bill? Why, sir. the people Of this
western and poorer towns. with Il num-
Der OF inhabitants aggrrgating 1900.
and valuation OF between $500 coo and
100000. Those are the very men that
are paying tribute to the toll company.
today; and those are the men Tor
whose relief we are seeking aid: and We
take the senator from Penobscot on his
own ground. We will meet him there
and argue this question upon that
point and that point alone. 1t is no
use for me in passing to comment up
on this provision OF the bill. that the
city of Brewer and the city of Bangor
must maintain and provide for this
bridge in the future. The senator says
that this is a thinly yelled scheme. l
believe that this is an honest contract,
entered into by the city of Bangor and
the county of Penobscot. | believe
that expresses fairly the contract: and
do not believe that the people of
Bangor and the people of Brewer will
break that contract. l believe they
will keep it as sacredly as any people
in the State of Maine.
Let us pass to the question Of taxa
ton. | have computed it here upon the
basis of per capita. The whole county,
reckoning upon the basis of $4,000 to
Tree this bridge. including Bangor and
Brewer. to pay the sum of Is cents and
fraction per capita. The people out
side the cities of Bangor and Brewer
would pay II cents and a fraction per
capita. Now, that is Il small amount
II seems to me, small thing over
which to contend in this Senate. If
there were not any principle involved
here-lf there We're not something sWe
We're united to protest againSt-name-
~. the toll bridges. | would not occupy
Two minutes of your time. Now, as
TO this amendment: and this | will say
IN conclusion-aS to this amendment,
should it be adopted? Should we sub
mt to the voters of the county of Pc
hobscot this proposition? ] have been
informed by d gentleman upon whom I
Gan rely that it cost the city of Wa
terviile alone 5000 for special cleo
ton to elect a representative to this
legislature If it cost The city of Wa
t"rvilic alone $500 to hold a special
election. it would cost the people Of
Penobscot county more than $4,000: and
''''iiill lildl lItdl - Il IAN t7tllIici " =
ana the people of Pcnobscot county. in
order to protect what the senator calls
the right Of the people, would pay out
more than What is required in this bill.
Now. then. what has been the policy
81 the county Of PcnobScOt relative to
these matters? | hold in my hand Il
report, an annual statement Of the
financial condition of PenobScot cOun-
" for the year ending December III.
1871. ! will read moment from that
report, The county of PcnObScot paid
on account of the Rowland and En-
leld bridge $l00l3.69. That proposition
never was submitted to the voters of
INC county of PcnobScot. Then. again,
another item: Paid appropriation OF
the Kingman bridge $35o0;" another
Paid on account Of the MattaWam-
heag bridge. $2G3;" making a total paid
out in that year by the county of Pc
hobscot to assist bridges, of $13, SO.
mat has been the policy of the Penob-
scot county delegation. That has been
the policy of Penobscot county ever
since | can remember. | believe that
II Is a good policy. | believe it should
De maintained, today. Why. When the
fahobscOt county delegation asked for
an appropriation from the State OF
Maine. they did not ask that it he