Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-18
Watervile.

better perhaps than in any other
way. He writes:
1T has always been, in this section,
that six legal voters we're required to
make the acts of a town or planta
ton meeting legal or form quorum.
There were but five at our meeting
called on the 25th of March and no
one present would accept an office;
for most of them were not capable of
performing the duties. There are but
two or three persons in the planta-
ton capable of holding said Offices
and they are getting old and have
too many other cares to bother with
them.
The calling of meetings and the
election of officers is really all that
constitutes the organization of any
township or plantation and when YOU
fail to have enough present to hold
meeting and no one present will take
an Office it looks as though your or
ganization bad become a blank.
Il know of no law that compels
any person TO hold an office against
his free Will and | cannot see where
in any person present laid themselves
liable. or any not present. 1t is sim
ply q condition brought about by a
drop in population. We have but 81
population and these are scattered
out in two settlements, o miles apart
tby the road.
This plantation lost its organzd-
ton in the same manner some years
ago and Township No. IS, East. Div.
which joins our own, dropped back
in the same way by lack of popula-
! ton. There is no one here to hold
offices and therefore none We're APP
pointed. l see no way out of this
condition. only to be taxed as a town
ship. And what few scholars there
are will be provided for by the state
law governing schools in townships
We received warrants for the State
and forestry taxes from the State
| treasurer, but there are no assess
ors to receive them. The chairman
of the School Board moved away last
spring and the remaining members
have resigned.
Our assessors terms expired in
/
sworn for one year only. / have held
office as clerk and treasurer for sew
cral years and on the day of our
meeting the assessors gave me wrIt-
ten orders to call in all outstanding
plantation orders, that the plantation
books might be balanced.
Il am simply acting as clerk pro
tenn and agent of the plantation un-
til there matters are taken over by
i the proper authorities. What school
money is on hand belongs to the
State and will be subject to the or
der of the general agent for unOr-
ganizcd townships and the State SUI
pcrintendent.
The State law provides for the
special taxation of townships By a
per capita tax of 40 cents per head
and this with the other school funds
Interest money! etc. provides for
the schools, under State manage
ment. We have no plantation officers
and no one to hold said places. So
the only thing to be done is to do as
the law directs concerning townships,
in regard to taXations, schools, etc.
II am no lawyer. but those are the
conditions as they are here today.
Our chairman of the county commits
Sioners. Hon. G. H. Clark. of LubrC,
Me, for Washington county,, could.
! presume, give some timely advi e
on this subject Will aid in any way
| can to adjust the matter properly.
Secretary of State Ball replied to
Mr.. Gray. thanking him for his cour-
tesy in supplying the information and
directing him to return the ballots 20
the State House. The office. as has
been stated. was aware of the legal
status of the Plantation No. Ia, but
every endeavor was being made to
place the ballots where they would
enable the voters to vote on June u.