Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-29

InSttluteS-tHe 7e1o Md77Jdy6- Lut0 C"s~ts o''"
>. Bangor Loan Bills, sc, SC. ~, T..
az. > 4 AUGUSTA, April Goth, 1852.
+ The Legislature adjourned this morning,
after "a session Of one hundred and eleven days
| this winter, and twsnty-one days the last
spring. The length of the session is not at all
disproportioned to the amount of business re-
quiring. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which in impor-
lance and character has probably not been sur
passed since our State government has been in
existence.
First, and perhaps chiefly in Importance,
was the Liquor Law of tine spring session
Thisi measure that has produced a Stir not
only throughout our own State, but IN most
of the States of our Union, and in countries
across the water. OF its merits, it is not our
purpose to speak, at present-sufhce it to say,
that the experimental character with which 1t
was first invested, is fast assuming utilitarian
and permanent form-so far, at least, as our
own people are concerned. Other States may
not yet be prepared to adopt such legislation,
but the time is not far distant, we confidently
believe, when the example of Maine in this re-
spect, Will be generally followed. ..
Another important measure is the revision
of the Judiciary System, by which the District
Court has been abolished and other radical
changes effected. This move we look upon as
in accordance with the reforma,ory spirit that
is prevailing everywhere in the department of
the law, and although the new Bill may need
to be amended and perfected, its principles, in
the main, are correct. An attempt was made
by DR.. Emerson of Orand, to suspend the op
Grafton Of the law for year, but it was in vain.
The new idea was received with too mach IA
vor by the Legislature, to admit of its defeat,
or the possibility of any delay occurring to
prevent its immediate operation The law
passed the Legislature, we think, without
awakening sufficient discussion, which ac-
counts for Interpretations in it, which should
have been remedied.
The closing week of the Legislature, is al
ways busy one. Each branch has held two
sessions a day, and been busly employed, at
that. As we intimated in our last, there was
some prospect that the Senate would check the
Goth and Vandal spirit that prevailed so ex-
tensively in the popular branch, and this has
gave up in our last, has been saved by the SEN
ate-that body granting appropriation of
S25, 900 for it, in which the II ouse was finally
induced to concur In lieu of the Teachers
Institutes, the Legislature has passed a Bill
creating Commissioner for each County, who
is to be appointed by the Governor, and receive
two hundred dollars for fifty days service, dur
ing The winter season, in visiting the towns in
his County, and lecturing, and otherwise seek
ing to promote the cause of education. AS
this system will be popular for year or two,
buc for our own part, we sincerely regret the
adjustment OF the Board of Education and the
Teachers Institutcs-particularly as it docs
away with the office of Secretary of the Board
of Education, which has been so well filled by
the late incumbent, the Hon. E. NJ. Thurston,
of Charleston. We regret that the State is to
lose the valuable services of this officer-just
at time, too, when he was preparing to give
the experience derived from personal exami-
~
the Southern States, through which he has
been travelling and gathering statistics the past
winter. Indeed, trust that these services
will not be lost to our State, but that the next
Legislature will re-establish useful Office
as that of Secretary of the Board of Education.
Well, after good deal of coaxing, the Leg
islature has consented to abolish the law re-
= e 49, -
riagc! The House was good deal more con-
sercatipe on this matter, than on most others,
and at fist actually refused to alter the old
law. After a while, it yielded, though, and
allowed the new Bill 10 become law-the
Senate agreeing thereto. The law is well
guarded as to minors and paupers, being an
improvement on the Massachusetts Law, and
meets the necessity, we think.
There has been another contest this week,
on the Calais Loan Bill. This was Bill to
authorize the city of Calais to loan its credit in
favor of the Calais and Barring Railroad. The
Committee reported favorably, and it was car
ried in the House, but the Senate killed it, to
preserve their consistency, probably, as they
had ust defeated the Bangor Loan. The meas
ure had an interchangeable friend in the able Rep
resentaive from Calais, Noah Smith, Jr., Esq
Immediately after the passage of this Bill in
the House, the Bangor Representatives made
an attempt to get their Loan Bill before the
branch. 1t required a two thirds vote to sus-
pend the rules-thcy gained some on their
former vote, but could not muster bare ma
jority and the movement failed.
The closing scenes of the Legislature, we
defer to further letter.