Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-22
OUGHT TO PASS.
judiciary Committee Favors Amend
ent to Squire! Island Village Charter.

"A hearing was held Thursday af-
ternoon before the judiciary committee
upon the petition for the passage of
an act amending the Private and Spc-
cial Laws of 1903, incorporating the
Squirrel Island Village Corporation so
as to give rebate to the corporation
of rs per cent. of the taxes assessed
upon it by the town Of Southport, ex-
elusive of State and county taxes, in
stead of 60 per cent. as at present al
lowed
Robert r. Whitehouse OF Portland,
president of the Squirrel Island Village
Corporation appeared as counsel for
the corporation. He spoke Of the early
history of the Squirrel Island Associa-
ton. composed of Lewiston, Augusta,
Gardiner and Waterville people, who
Guilt cottages upon the island Finding
the proposition of self assessment not
easy the Squirrel Association leased
its title to the property of the island to
the Squirrel Island Village Corporation
The corporation received back so per
cent of the taxes assessed upon it
and in return Southport was not asked
to maintain roads or schools or ex-
ercise municipal functions other than
etSScSSlttS ana cOlIcclIlS taxes.
Attorney Whitehouse and J. S. Max
cy, the treasurer of the Squirrel Island
Corporation presented figures to show
that the tax rate had continually in
creased since the formation of the viii
lage corporation. Walter c. Emerson
Of Portland, Frank l.. Harrington of
Augusta, and Prof. e. w. Hall of Wa
terville, members of the Squirrel Island
Village Corporation We're also present
in the interests of the petitioners.
Cyrus r. Upper of Boothbay Har-
Tor, nonresident tax payer of the
town Of Southport, protested against
the petition, saying that the residents
of Pine Cliff. where he owned sum
mer property received TO benefit from
tho roads of the town or Southport,
hut made no complaint in regard to
the payment of their full tax. Prof
E2ll asked Mr.. Upper if Southport
Lad not built a new road and bridge,
which benefited the residents of Pine
Cliff
Sumner Orne. chairman of the Board
OF Selectmen of the town of Southport
said that the original agreement in re-
gard to the proportion of taxes, which
should be rebated to the Squirrel Island
corporation was the result of a COM
promise and had been lived UP to as
far as the town of Southport was
concerned. w. j. Love, another MEN,
Der of the Southport Board or Select
men admitted that all the town of
Southport did for Squirrel Island was
To assess and collect the taxes Charles
T.. Pinkham, the third member of the
ri al
also present. but did not testify at the
hearing.
Herbert M. Heath of Augusta ap-
reared as counsel for the town of
Southport Attorney Heath argued that
the Squirrel Island corporation was not
a legal municipal village There were
no legal roads on the island and nc
school children during the school year,
so that two of the objects for which the
Squirrel Island Village corporation
agreed not to ask assistance from. the
town of Southport had no real ex-
istence on the island He stated that
The original act was unwise legislation
and did not believe that the door ought
to be opened further in this direction.
Attorney Whitehouse argued that the
increased rebate asked was ,nace nee
essary by the increase in the rate of
taxation and added demand for fire
protection and lights.