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


ton of House Amendment IA"
Mr.. SMITH of WATERFORD: Mr..
Speaker. this is bill to divide the
town Of Wells and incorporate the
town Of Ogunquit.
For 28S years the town OF Wells
has encouraged and promoted the
growth Of Ogunquit until now 1T IL
one of the most beautiful villages on
the coast Of Maine.
Now the village has grown to such
an extent that her citizens wish to
become divorced and become an in
coroprated town, and free them
selves from the town that has for
more than two centuries honored
and cherished their growth.
The reasons for taking this step
were given at the hearing that they
were untustly treated, received no
honors or recognitions from the
town as a whole.
These are some OF the honors
they have received:
The last four representatives OF
this Legislature from Wells were
residents of the village of Ogunquit.
One selectman is always elected
from Ogunquit.
The village corporation gives the
residents of Ogunquit 90 per cent. OF
all the taxes assessed in the village,
except what is paid for county and
State taxes.
If this division takes place, it Will
leave in Wells nearly nine times as
much road as Ogunquit: seven times
as many bridges; Is times as many
schools; nine times as many pau
pers. that cost the town nearly S3OOo
ner wear: with nearly 20 times as
much arear.
Ogunouit with 1-2O Of the area
and 40 per cent. of the valuation
saws is willing to tax herself for all
necessary improvements. Is thefe
any reason why she should not. pc
ing the smallest town in the state
This hearing was held before the
Legal Affairs, composed wholly OF
LAWYERS. The matter Of division was
presented by two of the most able
lawyers in our county. :,
probably will be criticized ana
censured for the stand / have taKen'
and I will be opposed by the pest
legal talent that is in this LegIsia-
tire at the present time. L nope
Mr. Speaker and gentlemen. that the
amendment offered by the gentle
man from South Berwick, Mr.. Aus
tin. will not be adopted
tThe Speaker at this point re-
sumed the ChairO
Mr. COLE of Eliot: Mr.. speak
or. as one of those dishonored meni-
hors of the House, who happen 10
he a member of the Bar, L hesitate
after the remarks of the gentleman
to stand on my feet to make any re-
marks in regard to this measure
and I simply want to state just d re"
f,cts because this measure applleS
IN II town located in my section o!
the state. feel. however. that II
this amendment is accepted by TINS
House the House might just as Wen
save it's time and trouble pE lhoei'-
nitelv postponing this measure LOT
feo1 If would be useless to pass this
LEGISLATION. If the House wants I'd
go through the form Of era d
referendum in order to wash It's own
hands of responsibility, that Is one
way of doing the business. ihis
1tons,, wants to take stand one
Way or the other at the outset, ana
;f This amendment is adopted inc
,Iouse might as well vote to linden
niteIv postpone the bill because II u
AN absolute fact that feterehou UNI
Will stand absolutely no chance What
ever. I think [ can give you tne
reason why. There came before thiS
House this morning reported IRON,
tbo committee on Judiciary OH
10 Incorporate the kennebunK. Neh-
nch,lnkport and Wells water dlstflct'
When that bill came in as u was
originally presented to this House. IL
Included the whole Of the town OF
Wells. One gentleman from the town
which will be left after the incor-
poration of the town Of Wells, ap-
pearcd before the committee very
strongly in favor OF the water Gus
trict. and he said that II would De OF
no use to pass this bill. II you leave
il TO referendum of the town OF
Wells. and therefore | ask you to cut
out a strip of land about mhe VIDE
following the ocean front. where we
people live in order that we may nave
a water district. because If 1t Is iett
To the people of Wells they will de-
feat the water district.
Now. representing that same class
OF people in the proposed water dis
trict. these gentlemen come III here
and ask YOU to let the people whom
they do not days TO trust TO vote on
the water district to vote on the dl-.
vision of the town of Wells and set
up the town of Ogunquit. l say. if
it is a good argument in one case 1t
is q goodargument in the other. The
situation in regard to that bill VIII
be presented to you in a few days
with a portion of the town still in
cluded in the water district.
Now, as 10 the division Of the town
of Wells and the town of Ogunquit,
let me say that the division of
town is not a pleasant duty for any
Legislature to perform. The Legis-
lature. however has already divided
many of the towns OF this State and
il is the policy of the State to do
whatever will improve the conditions
and the prosperity of the different
sections of this State. Those who
live along the coast OF Maine realize
that the prosperity of the State, so
far as the summer business is con-
cerned, depends absolutely upon the
summer people who come here and
the manner in which they are enter
tanned. They are bound to come here,
apd IL yo,, Give them the adVantag eS