The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-02-14
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

The legal affairs committee has voted
Fought to pass on a petition of NorthpoIt
Wesleyan Campmeeting associ alton for
amendment to charter.
The finance committee has reported ought
to pass on the resolve in favor of the Chill
dren's Aid Society of Maine. The resolve
carries Sl,75O for 1901 and 81. $50 for 1902.
Some at least of the sheriffS do not pro
pose to allow their fees to be wiped out
without their knowledge, even if their CON
sent proves to be unnecessary, and the Third
House already numbers in its membership
gentlemen who will look after the interests
of the sheriffS.
Representative Walls of Vipalhaven has
presented the remonstrance OF l.. Il. Smith
and G5 others of Ninalhaven against any
change in the lobster fishery law; of III. l..
Gray and 75 others; of I. E. Libby and SO
others; of S. S. Lewis and 3;5 others of
Ninalhaven-all against same.
An order introduced by Senator Weeks
into the upper branch of the Legisla-
ture and passed by that body provides
for an investigation of the office of the
Board of Agriculture. The order was
passed without murmur by the Senate but
L
Machias moved that it be tabled. His mo-
tlon was lost, 45 to 81, and the order passed
by the House in concurrence.
Governor Hill has received the resignation
as a member of Congress of the Hon.
Charles A. Boutele of Bangor Mr. Bou-
telle presents his resignation as member
of the 56th Congress to take effect Feb.
2sth next, land as a member of the 57th Con-
gresS to take effect forthwith. The Gov
hn fn1 tJoI do,
for the election of a Congressman to succeed
Capt. Boutelle in the Fourth District
THE WASHINGTON co. r. X. co.
Representative Fellows of Bucksport pre-
sented petition, Feb. 9TH, from the Wash
for an extension of its charter SO that it
may extend its lines from Washington coun-
ty junction through the towns of Hancock,
Ellsworth, Surrey, PenobScot, Upland,
Bucksport, Castine, Verona, Stockton,
Searsport, Belfast, Belmont, Searsmont,
Jefferson, Whitefeld, Windsor and Chelsea
to Augusta, with branch running through
Washington, Union, Warren and Thomas
ton to Rockland The company shall have
authority to increase its capital stock and
issue bonds in such manner as the directors
may determine. The cooperation shall have
authority to cross tide waters and make and
maintain ferries and ferry boats wherever
1t shall be necessary or deemed best. James
Mitchell of Portland, who is at Augusta in
the interests of the petition, states that this
is no new plan on the part of the road, but
was part of the plan before the New York
people took an interest in the road. Then
John e. Moore and Calvin Brce died and
the road came into the hands of other
parties, who now propose to go on with the
original plan.
THE TELEPHONE LAW
Before the railroad commit ee Feb. 9Th,
Representative Hin of Belfast appeared in
favor of his bill 10 repeal the provision of
the law of 1895 by which the consent of an
existing company is necessary before COM
pany organized under the general law can
enter territory occupied by the first company,
81 believe, said Mr.. Hill, that no telephone
company should have a monopoly of the
business in this State. These companies
are organized for the purpose of making
money and | think that competition would
cause better service and reduction in the
rates. Take the town of Camden, for in
stance, where there are two companies. The
rates are low and | understand that the ser
vice is excellent. | have had no quarrel
with any company whether it be the New
England or the Eastern. In fact, | have
no grievance against any concern. | don't
care what company it affects, but protest
against the present law. The State has no
more right to say whether this company or
that company shall do business or not than
it has to say who shall raise hay OF keep a
country store. There are two remedies
which might be applied if the telephone
companies insist on the present system.
First, the legislature might regulate the
rates; second, the national government
might assume control, which hope will be
done some day..
Two reports were made Feb. Sth on the
act to authorize the Eastern Telephone Co.
to enter any part of the State. The majority
report of the Committee was against the
Eastern Co. and was signed by Senator
Jones, Murchie and Whitehouse and by
Representatives Taylor, Mayo and Little.
The minority report. in favor of the East
ern CO., was signed by Representatives
Beals, Randall Bird and Deering.
THE RAILROAD TAX NATTER
The committee on taxation gave hear
ing Feb. 5th, on the King bill which comes
from the last legislature and which is de-
signed to cut Off the rebate which towns and
cities now receive in proportion to the
amount of r. f. stock owned by their citi-
ZenS. Among those who spoke in OppoSi-
tlOn to the measure was Charles A. Strout,
Esq, city solicitor of Portland, who said in
part "At present about one-third of the
total tax is returned to the cities and towns
The King bill introduces new feature, it
strikes out all apportionment. 1t needs no
reflection to see how unjust and unfair this
would be. The bill also affects the returns
from electric railroad taxation If the bill
has passage the city of Portland would
lose about $4,000, about one-third of the
whole tax. We are burdened by the five
per cent. limit, and | feel that the loss of
this $4,000 would be serious incOnven-
fence to the City of Portland and would un-
doubtedly be a gross injustice Our valua-
tlOn is high, our tax rate is high, and any ad-
ditional burden like this would be serious"
Others who spoke against the bill were S.
W. Lane of Augusta, J. p Bass of Bangor,
Representative Hill OF Belfast, George M.
Park of Presque Isle, who said that the Sc
iectmen OF that town We're opposed to the
bill, Col. Fred Atwood of Winterport, S. d.
Leavitt of PASSPORT, and E. C. Plummer of
Bath.
The bill was roundly denounced. Mr..
Bass said it was evidently introduced by
some one who wanted to pose as a watch
dog of the treasury. Mr.. Lane said he call
ed it bare-faced stealing. Mr. Hill said it
would increase the State tax in Belfast
about ten per cent Mr.. Plummer said that
the tax rate in Bath was now over twenty
four mills on the dollar, largely because of
Baths aid to the Knox and Lincoln road.
The bill would increase the State tax in
that city fifteen per cent. In reply to a ques-
tlon as to the effect of allowing towns to tax
railroad stock, Mr.. Plummer cited the his
tory of vessel property. He said that until
the State reduced the valuation of this class
of property, it was transferred to parties
outside the State and he thought the effect
would be the same if railroad stock was
subject to local taxation. The railroads