The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-06-11
The Adjourned Town Meeting.

Il hO lOnn
The town meeting adjourned from
May 2Sth, came off in Coburn Hall, Sat-
urday afternoon. The attendance was
large, the Kennebec street bridge being
the issue that brought out our citizens.
Prior to getting at the question pend
ing at adjournment upon general con-
sent it was,
Voted that the selectmen and town
agent be instructed to grant such con-
cessions to the Skowhegan and Nor
ridgewock Railway and Power company
as to the payment of such amount as
may be apportioned for said company to
pay, so far as it can be done to benefit
and release said company and not en-
danger the rights of the town.
Voted to accept a town road across
land of Thomas Dore and others as laid
out by the selectmen.
Voted to raise $3.50 to extend sewer
from junction of South and Hathaway
streets to Factory street.
The question pending at adjournment
was the acceptance of the road on the
south side across land of Amidee Bison
and Charles E. Young as laid out by the
selectmen. The form of the question
was the motion to pass over the article
10 the warrant, and upon this the voting
by the use of the check list had been
ordered at the previous meeting. E. N.
Merrill raised the point of illegality of
action thereon at previous meeting.
His argument was that the legal way of
reaching it was through appeal from the
action of the town to the county COM
missioners. Discussion upon this issue
was also participated in by G.. w. Cow
er, Esq, Alonzo Richardson and S. w.
Gould, Esq, and letter was read bear
ing upon the question, written by L. C.
Cornish, Esq, of Augusta.
When the time for taking the vote was
reached, objection was raised to the use
of the check list and its legality was
questioned because names Of voters had
been added by the selectmen since the
annual town meeting.
On motion of Lewis Anderson the
vote ordering the use of the check list
was reconsidered. This vote was taken
by hand ballot and the motion prevailed
by large majority. The article WAS
then passed over by a vote Of 2S1 to 81.
Subsequently on motion Of G. w. Cover,
the article providing for the building OF
the Kennebec street bridge was passed
over without division. Thus the Kenne-
bee street bridge project was defeated
for the time being.
Alonzo Richardson presented in writ
ing a motion to reconsider the vote pass
ed at the meeting of May %, providing
for the building Of the bridge across the
North channel, and the raising Of money
for the same by loan.
A. X. Butler, Esq, secretary of the
committee raised at the former meeting,
consisting OF the selectmen, r. II.
Mitchell, NJ. j. Allen and A. X. Butler
and authorized to make contract with
the American Bridge Company, reported
In writing stating that the committee
had been unable to make the contract
for the reason that the selectmen would
not agree to execute the instrument.
The report was signed by the three gen.
tlemen appointed to act with the select
| nd hn ~ ho NIT
was given in detail.
Hon. s. J. Walton upheld the action
Of the selectmen. r. F. Parker and A.
H. Wyman explained their reasons for
delay In the making Of the contract.
Messrs. E. F. Fairbrother, E. N. Merrill,
G. A. Marston, Alonzo Richardson, S.
W. Gould, l.. w. Weston and Forrest
Goodwin took part In discussion which
followed. Hon. c. A. Marston, chair.
man of the committee Of eleven who
received the bids and recommended the
bridge adopted by the town at the for
mer meeting made comprehensive ex-
PLANTATION Of the situation. The motion
to reconsider was lost by decisive vote.
s. w. Gould was added to the committee
raised at the former meeting to contract
for and supervise the building of the
bridge, and because of delay the COM
mittee was authorized to extend the time
for the completion of the structure a
period not exceeding ten days, from
October 1st.
L. c. Emery was elected tax collector,
he receiving 30 votes, to Al for F. P.
Pennell. Mr. Emery's bid was ten and
one half mills as commission for collect