Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-02

,
At the time-I do not know what
the other members of the Judiciary
committee understood, but we
thought we were giving to this man
! little portion of the lake as a lease
hold, but on carefully examining the
bill I am satisfied we are giving it
in fee. understood that could not
get by, and that it better be dis
posed of here. Hence, will still
let my motion stand as made by me
and let the Senate vote on it.
Mr.. SPRAGUE: Mr.. President, I
| want to make myself clear, that I
oppose it thoroughly. earnestly, and
do hope that the motion will not pre-
vail for do not believe they are es-
tablishing any precedent or that 1t
is endangering in the slightest man
rer any good public policy of tho
State of Maine.
Mr.. THOMBS Of Penobscot: Mr..
President and fellow senators, this
matter was called to my attention
by Senator Baxter, who is pot pres
i ent at this time.
The resolve does give in it's Ian
guage the fee or absolute title to-
a certain portion of the bed of
Moosehead lake to Mr.. Sawyer. At
the request of Mr.. Sprague I have
been in communication with Mr..
Hayes, of Dover and Foxcroft, who
/ represented as an attorney Mr.. Saw
yer. assume that the explanation
made by the senator from Piscata-
oris. is correct, about the origin of
this matter.
- hnf
senators should understand dis
tinctly what they are doing. AS
suming that this man had, good
many years ago, and ! think 1t was
a good many years ago.-I am sor-
nv I have not the letter from Mr..
Hayes-but a good many years ago
| this man inadvertently got his build
ing over the. line of his land onto
the public domain which is the bot
tom of the lake.
His building has there resided for a
good many years. evidently nothing
having been done about it, the State
never having followed the matter up
in any way. He now comes to the
Legislature and asks that the state
give him this portion, of land, in or
der, according to Mr.. Hayes, that his
| building may be of some value for
the disposition of it, for selling 1t.
I never should quarrel with re-
solve that granted an easement to
Mr.. Sawyer during his life time or
during the time that this present
building stands, leaving it where 1t
is. in as much as he probably was
acting in good faith when he got over
the line.
The situation is just exactly as 1t
| would be between myself and my
neighbor if he in building building
encroached upon my land. If l be-
| lieved if he did so on error l might
be willing for him to leave his build
ing there, or I might sell him the
land. In this case the building has
been there for a good many years,
and the man has had the use of the
| building and the land.
| According to the letter of Mr..
! Hayes he wants the State to give
| him this land that he has occupied
! for these many years in order that
! it may be of, sufficient value so that
he can dispose of the whole premises.
Now if the Senators believe that it
| is proper policy for the State to
: pursue to give a man a piece of land
under these circumstances in order
! that he may make his building and
! the remaining portion of his lands of
some value, / have nothing more to
say. l simply wished to lay the
case before you.
| Mr.. SPRAGUE: Mr.. President,
| would like to ask the senator or any
of the judiciary committee, or the le-
gal affairs committee. or whoever
may be interested, if there would be
any objection to a new draft giving
permission to- 1.-THE land agent to sell
Mr. Sawyer this portion of land de-
scribed here?
/ Mr.. THOMBS: Mr.. President If the
question is addressed TO me, / could
not answer it at all. I have no par
, ticular interest in the matter except
as a member of the Senate. and as
citizen of the State of Maine.
| believe we ought to observe ordinary
business caution in authorizing the
giving of any of the State property.
! Mr.. SPRAGUE: Mr.. President, I
move that the matter lie on the ia
BILE.
! "a viva VCCe vote was naQ ana the
motion was lost.
The question then being on the in
definite postponement of the bill, a
/ viva voce vote was had and the bill
was indefinitely postponed.
| The PRESIDENT: The Chair lays
before the Senate II. d. 100, An Act
authorizing the Maine General Hos
pital to increase the number of direc-
tors to "a, tabled by Senator Emery.
The pending question being passage
to be enacted.
/ On motion by Mr.. Emery of Wash
ington, the bill was passed to be en-
| acted.
J QESS .GTSHe 1sGf5 HEMT0V0rT@
zlst AID SENATE -. -. -. -. 49,.
E4tDS"b $St' A-9..S. ~NgTHEyH
| The PRESIDENT: The Chair lays
before the Senate An Act relating to
the salary of the commissioner of In
I'LL.