The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-04-04
From the Age
The Forty.First Legisiaiure.--Its Acts
and Doings.
From the Ago


The forty-frst Legislature of Maine adj
iourned ON Wednesday, week before last. after
n session Of Is days. The records show LA
acts and % resolves passed and approved by
the Governor. IL would be a difficult task to
count up the bills and resolves which were NOT
passed, but il is certain that they would lar
Outnumber the successful measures. The action
taken upon most of the public questions was
far more liberal than has been usual IN years
past. I.... ...
Out Of the ITS acts, 81 were in amendment OF
the Revised Statutes The casual reader can
learn nothing as 10 the real nature OF these
bills from their titles. and hardly irom reading
the bills themselves, and we will therefore mem
ton q few of the more important changes which
have been made under ambiguous titles.
The suspension Of specie payments by the
banks was legalizel. Townswerc made charge
able with the support OF insane persons. The
sum allowed To iailOrs for the board of prison.
ers in each county, was reduced FROM s2.2o To
81 rs per week; Lincoln County was AFTER
wards, by a special act, allowed to pay her
TAILOR az, IL found necessary. The school law
was altered, towns are not 10 be allowed the
privilege OF choosing either committee or
supervisor at their discretion; they are com
PEELED to elect three persons committee out
the power ut visiting, making up the report
aud all minor business matters, may be entrust-
ed 10 one, while in matters relating to the ex-
pendi,ure OF money, expelling scholar, anu
ike responsible duties, the whole bOarl must
act. This law, it is thought, retains the good
features of both the old systems, aud is gener-
ally conceded to be 4 change for the better -
The poll tax, which was formerly ~, but has
been at different times reduced until NJ present
il Is only 81, has been restored To the old
amount. Attempts were made to exempt the
soldiers from the provisions OF the bill, anu
even 10 exempt them altogether from the pay
ment Of a poll tax, but the amendments making
these propositions were not adopted, being OPP
posed, and with great deal Of reason, ON the
ground of illegality. The Normal schools in
the several counties are abolished, and we hope
they will continue So until some more feasible
plan than the present can be devised. The
Maine State Seminary Is to have collegiate pow
ers, conditioned upon the raising OF certain
sum Of money as permanent mnd.
Under the head of retrcnchment measures,
might be mentioned some OF those in the fore
going paragraph, together with the following
which we're lucky enough to receive passage
by both branches, and some which VIII be men
toned hereafter among the BduiRs' Al the
acts granting bounty on wolves and bears
were repealed; the suns paid by the State for
these bounties, for the past few years, have
been rs follows: for 1883, $4,000; for 1892,
SS32, 90; 1850, $500 90; 1861, SS9l 10. The
amount allowed the Superintendent OF Common
Schools for travelling expenses, was reiucei
from $500 To 500. The appropriations to the
several State institutions were cut down to the
very lowest figure.
The usual number of Mutual Fire Insurance
Companies were Incorporated, with various
Manufacturing Companies. But better than all
else for the interests Of the State, was the bill
passed during the last days Of the session, au
ihoriIing the formation Of Joint Stock C0mpa-
mics. The rule has been tried in Connecticut,
and while a large number OF companies are
formed as consequence. failures among them
are almost unknown. The legislators for our
State should learn that true wisdom Is IN liber-
atty. The more encouragement we hold out 10
foreign capitalists TO invest in Maine, the rich
err We shall be, the smaller will be our taxes
and the easier TO be borne.
The soldiers have been well taken care OIL
Towns are authorized TO raise and expend mon
ey TO any anoant for the families of the sol
diers, with the promise that the State will pay
them back what is paid for the relief OF actual
distress To- an amount not exceeding "a cts. rer
week for the wife, and 50 cents for each child,
and not more than SIC, 90 a month to any one
family. Commissioners have been authorized
to proceed 10 the camps OF the several Maine
regiments and solicit allotments, others To su
stores. An abstract of the Militia bill has al
ready been given. Aspassed, 1t contained only
two sections, requiring strict enrolment OF
all the militia of the State, according to the old
law OF 1921.
Several acts and resolves were passed on the
subject of coast defence. The hrst authorized
an unlimited loan 10 the United States for pur-
noses of defence, 10 be reimbursed 10 the State
IN bonds of the United States. Various resolves
were passed TO indicate what Is desired IN the
way OF deience-a military road from MILFORD
to Princeton. military rad in Aroostook 70
Finally resolves were passed authorizing inc
taking Of land for forts and other purposes oil
defence. Congress Is requested To take imme-
diaie action for the defence of the city and har-
Dor of Portland, and some point on the eastern
coast of the State, and Ia provide Heating de-
fences for our protection against any assault on
our unguar,led ports until permanent fOrtihea-
tious can be made.
Among other important acts Of the Legisla-
ture, we may mention the impOsing Of TAX oi
81 on every dog in the State, "whether Of high
or high degree" II the several towns shall 80
vote. The destruction Of sheep by worthless
ours has become such nuisance IN the State,
that thuse towns in which sheep raising Is an
important branch of agricultural interest,
ought, II they can understand their true poll
CIV, 20 vote the tax Immediately. This Is no
WoOdpScksr act.
The railroad questions have been interesting
To certain sections, but have not excited that
general interest which usually arises. The long
open question of the repeal Of the 9th section
OF the act Of 1856, entitled an act To authorize
the consolidation Of certain railroad corpora
tons, was decided in favor Of the upper route.
Another long debated question has been decl-
dei ia favor Of the Kennebec road. The COM
l. auth tValt I'm 1aN
land across the Deering estate at a radius OF
G37 feet, or with n radius OF 1000 feet II they 30
under the county road. The several acts incor-
porating the Kennebec and Wiscasset Railroad
are revived aud extended. A telegraph line Is
AUTHORISED from Augusta To Skowhegan, or
any point northerly, II built within two years:
The scientific survey Is to tc continued, and
5000 (the same amount as last year, il appro-
ptiatel Tor the purpose. The all to agricultu-
raj societies is not withdrawn. but the State So
ciety, at its annual meeting, voluntarily voted
not to draw the bounty, to which they were en-
titled, from the treasury.
Among the acts for war purposes, are re-
SOLVES authorizing the Governor to purchase
ammunition To an amount not exceeding 5000,
and allowing the Treasurer to negotiate tent
porary loan whenever IL shall be found neces-
sary.
Our delegation In Congress are also instruct
ell 10 use their best efforts 10 80 amend the na-
tional tax bill that the manufacturer and vend-
er shall be compelled TO pay the tax, rather
than the consumer.
A commissioner Is to be appointed 10 furnish
municipal officers with ''pure, unadalteratei
Intoxicating liquors" (if they can be foundl
for medicinal, manufacturing and mechanical
purposes; and such officers are strictly prohib-
i,ej hrorn purchasing Of any other person. un-
less they buy OF other municipal officers who
have purchased Of him, or directly from the
state Agent of Massachusetts,.
The State tax for 1902 amounts 10 StiS,ot'-
az. 10. ,hs ,e.rs 1854 and 1859 IL was 5000, :