Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-31


"a peaceful, law-abiding community,
an dthey have prospered as your CEN
sus figures will show. l think if you
care to look at your report you Will
see that their population has decreas-
ed Comparatively less than many OF
the other towns in the State. Just
how much of this is due to the in
fiux of summer residents. 1 do not
know. 1 submit it may have some
effect in that way; but 1T Is very plain
to the members of this H0nse, from
the remonstrances which were pre-
scented here this morning. that this
proposition does not meet with ia
vor, this divorcing a part Of the town
of Wells from the other part and
setting Off this little section, as one
gentleman has told us, something like
a mile wide strip of land, and Great
ing new town.
/ do feel, gentlemen of the House,
that all the remarks that have been
made have been far fetched from the
actual situation. We have been ask
ed by the city of Bangor, we have
been asked by the city of Lewiston
ing their own affairs, and we are ask
ed again under the provisions of this
amendment to allow the town of
Wells the right to settle their own
differences, and to settle their own
questions in their own way. / sub
nit to you, gentlemen, that it is the
only fair way. that question which
affects one municipality alone can be
justly settled, and ! hope that the
motion of the gentleman from South
Berwick, Mr.. Austin, will prevail.
(Applause).
Mr. COLE: Mr.. Speaker. l will
simply say that his House can vote
either way and be consistent. This
House has voted already not TO let
the people of the city Of Auburn set
tie their own affairs.
Mr.. LUQUES: Mr.. Speaker. | just
wish to say one more word in regard
to this amendment. That is the most
absurd proposition that I ever heard,
to leave the question of the division
between Wells and Ogunquit to a
referendum Of the town of Wells, be-
cause in that part of Wells that does
not want to be divided there are
about three voters to one that live in
the town of Ogunquit, and you might
just as We'll throw the whole thing
out~as to leave it to Il referendum
of the town of Wells.
Mr.. BUZZELL of Belfast: Mr..
Speaker, l. never had the pleasure of
even passing through the town of
Wells. I knew nothing of the condi-
tons existing in this old town until
within the last few days. 1t was not
my purpose or my intention to say
anything in regard to this proposition
until after the remarks of the first
speaker upon this question. But at
this time, rise for the purpose OF in
forming the gentlemen of this House
in relation to something that we have
not yet heard upon this subject
The legal affairs committee has
made unanimous report. This bill.
was introduced into this Legislature
in the regular fashion; ii was adver-
tised and u hearing had before the
committee composed of 10 men. No
amendments to the bill We're made in
the committees; no new draft was re-
ceived by us from that committee.
for one was not present at the hear
ing. so all have at this time TO de-
pend upon is the report OF that COM
mittee. I do not think this House
should take into consideration. the
few words from this gentleman or
that gentleman or the other gentle
man who was not present at the time
of the hearing. | do not think the
words of the gentleman from New
post. Nh CroXford, have very much
force, and neither do l think the
words Of the gentleman from Rome,
sidered. Arc there inequities i'm this
town? Have they been in trouble for
a long time: Are their interests con-
nicting? What is the truth? The
committee says that they have been
il trouble for q long time and that
they should nc divided The commit
tee suys by their report they want
no referendum Now, it does seem to
Inc TO be folly 10 refer a proposition
of this kind to the town of Wells
when there are only 800 people in
town.
Now gentlemen, if This referendum
were applied, we all know how they
would come ont. There are 1400 peo-
pie, as ! understand from this report,
and that il the last word T have upon
it-900 in the old part OF the town, as
they acll it, and 500 in the other part,
almost two 10 one, according to these
figures, some say three TO one. and
that is SO much worse. 1t would be
simpl = another case where this Legis-
lature would be passing the buck -
and the end we all know very we'll
Now, what are these inequalities.
what have they been? One part of
Ogunquit says that they want side
walks, sewers. electric lights and i'm
provements of that kind. Now. we
all know what the back part OF the
town says, We cannot have any cleo
trio lights up here, and we cannot
nave any sidewalks, and we don't
want to he taxed for things Of that
kind Ogunquit at this time simply
says, Here are so many acres in this
town, so much population, so much
valuation. and just set off Ogunquit
to us, and let us have that area set
off tc lis. and that is all We will ask. +"
This town will then have a summer
resort of some size. Is that unreason-
able, and is that unfair to the balance
of the town?
It seems TO me. gentlemen, refer
ring this to the people of that town
lis simply an act on the part of this