Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-06
STATE HOUSE.
S. W. Matthews Knew Chief
Justice Peters Intimately.
Insurance and Railroad Tax for This
Year Committed.
May Have War Maneuvers at Manassas
New Corporations.

few in the entire State, outside menu
bers of bar and bench, knew the late
Judge John 4. Peters of Bangor, better
than did Hon. Samuel w. Matthews.
| commissioner of labor. Mr.. Matthews
land Judge Peters were lifelong friends.
! At the time the late Chief Justice made
his canvass for the office of Congress-
man from the Fourth District, Mr.. Mat
| thews was located in the town of
| Hampden. which is next below Bangor,
| on the Penobscot river. Mr.. Matthews
| then, as for the greater part of his life,
was active in politics and did deal
| of valuable work for his friend. Again
when Judge Peters, then a prominent
memeber of the PenObScOt bar, was Il
| candidate for the appointement to a
| Supreme Julgeship Mr.. Matthews was
; Il member OF the State Legislature. He
| ut once took an active part in securing
! the appointment of the Bangor man.
lin company with Judge Brett of Ban
Gor he made canvass OF the eastern
part Of the State securing signers to
petition asking the appointment of
Judge Peters. This petition was ono
| of the strongest inducements presented
| to Gov. Perham and did much to inilu-
| ence him to make the appointment;
an appointment, by the way, which
Maine has never regretted.
Up to the time of the death of Judge
Peters last Saturday night, there has
| been written but one sketch of his life
which may be said to be official. That
| was written by Mr.. Matthews Il few
years since and was submitted TO the
| noted jurist before its publications
This sketch contained much valuable
| information, which no other did, and
| WAS always referred to by the subject
as the best and most satisfactory to
| himself.
OF course. no man could have 50
| close an acquaintance with Judge
| Peters without having a great fund of
the always famous Peters stories.
and Mr. Matthews has them. He could
| sit by the hour and reel them off and
not one would be dull, for they are
of the kind that never become dull.
"One morning" said Mr.. Matthews,
Il met the judge in Bangor. was then
| on my way to Boston, where l was to
attend banquet and to respond to the
toast Maine We met on the street
land the judge said:
| u see you're going to Boston and
are to say something about Maine?'
Yes said l. and | wish you would
give me some pointers, for | am sure
they would be good ones
| "'Well,' he said you might tell them
that Massachusetts, had had one off,
spring: that Virginia Dragged about
her Presidents and that it reminded
one of meeting of animals which once
took place: There were harcs, foxes,
woodchucks and many animals present,
including a lioness. The smaller ami
mails began Dragging and lording It
over the lioncss because they gave
birth 10 young by the litter and not !;
single offspring at Il time.
AT last the lioncss became exas-
reratcd and roarc1: TITS true that |
have but on" offspring at Il time but
that's a lion" ana so Massachusetts
has but one offspring. but that is
Maine"
| Another good Peters" story which
was told at the State House. Tuesday,
WAS to the effect that Il number Of
years ago a young lawyer was trying Il
case before Justice Peters. 1t was 4
log case. always difficult ones, and he
represented the plaintiff. His road waa
a rocky one and time after time the
learned judge helped him out Of the
hole and saved him from Il non-suit
At last it became apparent that tho
young mans case WAS Il hopeless one
and Justice Peters leaned over the
bench and with kindly smile said:
Mr.. --. don't you think you ana
had better take a nonsSut:"
|
Peters found himself in another state
in company with members of the bench
of several states. III the course Of con
vcrsation the talk turned to the sala :
rics which the judges of the different
states received. At that time the pay
of the Maine Justices was smaller thar
now. 50 that the figures named by the
others We're much larger than those re-
Ccivci hy the bench of this State at the
present time. 50 Judge Peters, not car
ing to show that Maine WAS less liberia
than her sisters. refrained from maxi
ing any statement. At last one of the
party turned to him and inquired what
pay he ana his associates received. Ii
WAS 4 delicate position. but the Maine
man got out of it. Said he:
ooh. we don't receive quite so much
as you gentlemen do
At the meeting Of the State Board Of
Assessors the railroad and insurance tax
for the present year was committed to tho
State treasurer for collection. The rail-
road tax is as follows:
| Road 1905 1901
Bangor & -troostook r
r. Co. ................. So. OIL S29.5lJ. IS
Boston & Maine r. r.
Co ....................... sG.S96SS 91.siGs
Iridgton * SaCo River
r. r. Co. ........... 3O551 4)O5>
Canad dian Pacific Ry.
Co acknowledgement. 236Sl49 80, iO7 81
Franklin & Mecantic
| RY. Co. ................. 1925 ~. %
Georges Valley +. r.
| Co. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 60 bl.Ui
Grand Trunk Ry. Co. of
Canada NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 19O69.IS - 30 Fl
, Ecnncbcc Central Il. r.
60. ................ oS079 23t17
Lime Rock X. +. Co. :. 1880 o,3>l %
Maine Central Il. r.