The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-03-04
The Northport Hearing.

What was Said Pro and Con on the A
Before the Legislature Giving Charte
to Village Corporation.
A brief report of this hearing was
given in The Journal last week, but as
it is a matter of great local interest we
give the following fuller report from the
Bangor Commercial:
Northport has become involved in a
typical legislative fight, the people about
the campground section asking for vii
lage corporation. The hearing on the
matter was started before the commit
tee on towns in the senate chamber Tues
day afternoon, Feb. 23d, and lasted well
into the evening. The proponents of the
village charter were represented by Hon.
W. R. Pattangall OF Waterville and
Thomas Leigh, ESQ.,, of Augusta, while
the opponents were looked after by H..
c. Buzzell of Belfast.
The preliminaries having been settled
both sides settled down to the work of
the afternoon. In the opening Mr.. Leigh
stated that the principle Of the village
charter had become firmly fixed in Maine
and that the Bayville charter, after
which the one wanted in Northport has
pSSIl uOutltu, las DS6Il 6IluOISeu ny Itl6
law court as being all right. About a
square mile of area out of the Is square
miles in the whole town would be included
in the corporation. The town of North
port would return to the village 60 per
cent. of the taxes collected in that area
after State and county taxes had been
paid, taking 40 per cent. for the general
use of the whole town. Under the charter
all property owners of legal voting
age would be allowed TO vote in corpora
ton affairs. this including women as well
as men. A majority of those living in
the prescribed area must accept the
charter before it becomes operative.
SUMNER POPULATION 1900.
Mr.. Leigh explained that there are
about 300 cottages in the area described
and summer population of about 1900.
These figures are for square mile, while
the population for the rest of the town
is about Is to the square mile. The viii
lage corporation would pay about one
third of the total tax of the town. In
the congested area included in the cor
poration many improvements in the way
of sewers, lights, sidewalks, police and
fire protection and water system are
BADLY needed, but these cannot be OBJ
tanned from the whole town because the
bulk of the area in the town would not
be benefited. The people wish to have
village charter so they can tax them
selves for the things they need without
being burden to the rest of the town.
Charles O. Dickey of Northport, tax
collector. was the first witness called and
was under fire for a long time, Mr.. Buzz
2ell cross examining him closely regard
ing his testimony and also regarding
many other features of the case which
he had not mentioned at first. He said
there had been some circumstances
against the charter but he believed this
was because most of the people did not
understand just what sort of bill had
been introduced He was sure a major
lty of the people in the corporation area
favored the bill.
Taking the taxes of 1918 as a fair
average, MIR. Dickey reckoned that un-
der the 60-40 per cent. basis as provided
in the bill the village corporation area
would receive 1926. as to spend for gen
eral purposes while turning over to the
town $6l7.64.
ABOUT TOWN MEETING.
Mr.. Buzzell cross examined Mr.. Dickey
closely regarding the petitions he had
circulated and the sentiment of the peo-
pie as he had found them when so en-
gagged.
In response to questions by Mr.. Pat
tangall, Mr.. Dickey said that under the
present plan the farmers would have to
pay their share of all the improvements
needed in the corporation area while get
ting no benefit from them, while under
the proposed charter they would not
have to pay any more and would reap
hanafit fyOpo no
good to the town as whole that would
ensure by improving the corporation
area as proposed.
Ralph l.. Flanders of Boston thought
that the improvements that could be Sc
cured under village corporation would
add greatly to the general attractiveness
of Northport as a summer resort and
help in the general prosperity OF the
town as a whole. He considered many
improvements very badly needed and
thought the village corporation plan as
the best for securing them.
A SUMNER RESIDENTS VIEW.
Ira M. Cobb of Chicago, who spends
large part of his time in Northport,
where he has a magnificent country es-
tate, declared that he had no personal
interest in the village charter whatever
oNt " % AL COi oo'Od Ply Aol VIC SoOd
it would be to the residents as a whole
Everyone is willing to have it modified.
He pointed out that the only special adj
yantages Northport has are scenery and
@sYlsnate in the summer time and its best
hope is development as summer resort.
He believed that such improvements as
could be made under village charter
would attract many more people and
make the whole town much more pros
porous than it is now. The place IS
greatly in need of better lights, better
sewers, better water system and police
and fire protection. He was sure these
things could be obtained under the viii
lage charter without unduly burdening
anyone.
Mr. Buzzell questioned Mr.. Cobe close
ly as to what it was expected would be
done under village charter and how
much it would cost per year. Mr.. Cobe,
however, declined to make an estimate,
on the ground that this was not possible
until it was known just what work was
to be done in any year.
John Gross of Northport, b. R. Con-
ner of Belfast, DIR. Percy Warren, Ed
ward L. Brann, DR.. H. A. King of Ban
,,J otbarc toctiG cd 1,1ripp tho after,