Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-31
DAILY KENNEBEc JOURNAL THURSDAY. MARCH 81 1921.


in area than Ogunquit, it shows what
can be done when progressive people
are given an opportunity to spend
their money in order that they may
improves.
In 1913, the town of Wells cut Off
the electric lights from this section,
and refused to let them have electric
lights. These people simply ask that
they may be left to themselves to
spend their own money for their own
improvements, and to bring this
town up to the highest standard as Il
summer resort, and while i am not
arguing for them or against my
friends on the other side of the town
Of Wells, believe the situation
should be stated just as it is.
want to go back to the year 1917
and show you what happened ut that
time. The people of Wells realizing
that the majority of the town of
Wells had done an injustice to that
section Of the town known as Ogun-
cult, came to this Legislature and
asked that out of order a bill be put
into the Legislature incorporating
the OgunQuit village corporation, and
under a suspension Of the rules that
bill was carried through and the
Ogunquit Village Corporation was
set up in business for itself, and that
village corporation has been trou-
BILE with the town from that time to
this. and it is still in trouble, and
that is the reason for their coming
here at this time in order that they
%<,l,
l believe that this Legislature be-
lieves In the future prosperity OF
Maine, and those of you who happen
10 live far back from the seacoast and
do not feel the effect of the summer
business directly, YOU will feel it indi-
rectIy with every dollar of taxation
that is brought into this State. and
when YOU got these little, thriving.
progressive communities whose citi-
zens are active, influential and interest
ed in bringing in business and inducing
people from out of the State OF Maine
to come into the State and build hum
dreds of thousands of dollars worth
of residences. as they are building TO-
day in Ogunquit. You are doing some
thing to help the people Of our state.
and YOU are doing something to help
this class of people: and l want to say
that it is an artistic colony here. com
posed of men such a John kendriCk
Bangs, who is the leading light. and
when you induce that class OF people
TO come into the State of Maine and
give them the advantages they desire.
it does not matter whether you live III
Aroostook. Penobscot, Franklin or
Washington county, or where YOU
live, every dollar you increase in the
valuation of this State is an increase
TO the State at large. That is the
thing for yoil TO consider but don't.
/ beg of YOU, pass a resolution or
amendment here giving the right of
referendum to these people, but if YOU
want to DO anything, kill the meas ure.
Mr.. CRONFORD of Newport: Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen. this carving
process of towns seems to be Il popu-
lar thing. submit to YOU gentle
men. each one of you. how little do we
know OF the conditions existing out
side Of what has been told us in re-
gard to the condition that exists down
III this town" Each side has told syS 4
good story. and who are VIC going to-
believe" do moi believe this Leg
stature can act intclligently from
what we have heard. because one side
has said one thing and the other side
has. said another believe the most
consistent thing for this Legislature
10 do IS 10 advise the people Of the
14 ~
their Bibles and settle their differences
(ApplauseJ.
Mr.. LCQCES Of kcnnebunkporl: Mr.
Speaker I wish to say a few words
on this question because this town is
d neighboring town to my own. and
the conditions there at the present
time are very similar to those exist
ing in kennehunkport a few wears ago.
only a little worse. The last speaker
iMr. CroXford) just said that this icg-
isiature has no information upon
which it can act. There was q hear
ing before the committee. and 81 was
an interested listener there That
hearing lasted something like three or
four hours. Thc evidence was csrefui-
~ considered upon 10th sides. and Your
committee has turned in d unanimous
report in favor OF this division. There
has been placed on the desks of each
member OF this House leaflets setting
out the arguments pro and con. one !.
small ieaflet and the other larger Now.
il seems TO me that the size OF those
leaflets indicates Just about the
strength Of the arguments for one
side and the other. on this small Ieaf-
let it says that it vii! leave 107 miles
Of highway in tire town of Wells 70 be
taken care Of 10T miles of highway on
paper. Z don't suppose out Of that
f07 miles OF highway there are 30
miles that arc taken care of or are
pretended to be taken care Of or eve,
will be taken care OF during the life
time of any member of this House.
/ admit, gentlemen, that the village
OF Ogunquit is the fairest part and
the most prosperous part Of the town
of Wells, but what hns made it. so?
It has been the enterprise and the en-
ergy Of the citizens Of Ogunuuit in
spite Of theS being held bacl: by the
rest OF the town OF Wells Ever i'm.
rrovement IN the town Of Dcunouit,
the sidewalks, the roads and the eIec-
trio lights. has been put in there and
paid for out OF the pockets Of the peo-
pie OF Ogunquit as appeared at
the hearing before the com
mittee, and I did not hear any de-
NAL of II. Visitors 20 The
town of Ogunquit brings thousands