Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-27

Finally Passed.
Resolve in favor of the State Reform
School,
Orders of the Day.
On motion by Mr.. Guernsey of
Piscataquis the majority and minority
reports of the Committee on Judiciary,
on Bill, An Act relating to the election
of a road commissioner in the town of
Boothbay Harbor were taken from the
table.
Mr.. GUERNSEY of Piscataquis: Mr..
President. Senate Document No. "a
provides for the election of a road com
missioner FOR the town of Boothbay
Harbor for term of not less than one,
nor more than five years, according to
the vote of the town. 1t seems there
are special conditions there in regard
to the building of their roads, and a
desire has been expressed by the peo-
pie of the town that they may be al
loyed to elect their commissioner for a
longer period than one year, but not
exceeding five move that the ma
jority repoft of the Committee on
Judiciary be not accepted.
Mr.. MADDOCKS of Lincoln: Mr..
President, The town of Boothbay Har-
Dor is situated as many other towns
are. We have a great amount of road
and small amount of good material to
repair them with. We have no gravel
banks. and we are obliged to build our
roads with sand and mud: and, from
the beginning we have been obliged to
waste a great deal of money in cartinS
sand and mud on these rock founda-
lions only to be washed off and fill up
our beautiful harbor. o.
Within my remembrance of thirty
years residence there Boothbay Har-
Dor has filled up, at certain points fol
two feet. mostly from the accumulation
of this mud and sand that we have
hauled on at an expense of perhaps a
dollar a load. While we have many
improvements for a small town, good
water works and electric lights and
good public buildings, and while we try
to be progressive, our roads art
against it. We find it is impossible to
make good roads with sand and mud.
Within q few years we have bought the
necessary machinery for building good
fonds. but the trouble. that confronts us
| today is this: =, under the present
statute we can elect a road commits
| sioner only for one year. We find 1t
very difficult to find such man as we
| want who will undertake our road
| business for one year only, for the
| reason that he says he cannot formu-
| late any line of action-cannot give
good results. is sure to be ashamed oil
what he does, and he says he will not
| have anything to do with it: and the
| result is that we have to put with d
| cheap man, and lay out our money
and waste it. Now, this bill. No. "a, is
| asked for for the principle reason thai
| to overcome this difficulty we want
| the right to elect a road surveyor TO.
| one or more years, as the town may
vote. 1t does not affect the right OF
any other town or any other person
| but it simply puts it into the hands OF
| this town to do as they see fit; and We
| cannot see any inconsistency in asking
| for this right. We are asking for M
| appropriation. We are asking for ne
| favors of the Legislature-only this
legal right to lay out our moneyin such
| a way as we may deem best for on!
| own interests: and in view of that
| condition of affairs we had an article
| inserted n our town warrant at on!
| last annual meeting which we held il
January-it being the only town in the
| State that does hold its annual meet
| ing in January-and the article read il
| this way: ITO see if the town will au
| thorize the seIectmen to petition to the
| Legislature for authority to elect &
road commissioner for term OF
years." and l will say that that motion
was carried unanimously, asI under
stand it. l will read the petition
which the selectmen have placed in my
| hands on this subject.
ITO the Honorable Senate and House
of Representatives in Legislature as
sembled:
| We, the undersigned, selectmen o.
Boothbay Harbor, respectfully repre-
sent that, at our last annual meeting
held Jan. II, 1908, by unanimous VOTE
we were authorized and instructed t.
petition the Legislature for the en-
actment of such laws as will allow the
town of Boothbay Harbor to elect {
road commissioner for term of years
not exceeding five. Therefore, acting
under said vote and in behalf of sale
town, we respectfully ask that sucf
laws be enacted
Dated Jan. IA, 1908.
| (Signed by)
CYRUS r. SOPER,
GEORGE w. GREENLEAF,
FREEMAN BOYNTON