The Portland daily press., 1865-01-31
Glimpses Of the Capitol.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 80, 1876

Glimpses of the Capitol.
49,. -,s. AUGUSTA, Jan. 80, 1866.
The Berwick contested election case, was
determined on Friday, as Isuggested it would
be-by declaring against the right of the sit
ting member,-Jordan-an in. favor of the
contestant,-Lord. The sense of the House
was very decided on the case. Among other
speakers, Mr.. Miller, your city, made very
good argument in favor of the majority report
The vote stood, So to SO. The case had as
sumed SO much interest, that at one o'clock,
when the question was called, Mr.. Jordan
stated that he wished to be heard, before I'm
al action. As there seemed to be no oppor-
tunity then he desired to have the matter laid
on the table till Wednesday next, as he want
ed to go home on the morrow. The House
responded to the call, and adjourned to the af
ternoon, with special reference to settling the
matter on that day.
In the afternoon several speakers occupied
the floor-and among them Mr.. Jordan, who
was treated with all comfy throughout. Dur
ing the debate, much that was irrelevant was
brought in, and time uselessly consumed; but
1t was the dashing, earnest speeches of Messrs.
Granger and Dingley, at the close, that brought
the members away from the fields of fancy
into which several of the speakers had led
them-up to the plain facts and led them well
out of the fog. They we're for short speeches,
effective, and telling and when concluded, the
pounding away at explanations and retofts,
was as harmless as the attacks ofJames Brooks
on Gen. Butler.
| The State Liquor Commissioner, Eaton
Shaw, Esq.-has made his annual report to
the Governor and Council. He says that
since bis last report, the patronage of the
agency, has much increased, and sales, In cost
value have more than doubled. So far as he
knows, the liquors give general satisfaction.
Good liquors seldom fail Of that-and we have
no doubt these liquors are of the best quality.
In some localities, agencies have been pervert-
ed by illegal purchases and the introduction Of
liquors entirely unfit to be put on sale. So far
| as he has been able, Mr.. S. has corrected this
shameful abuse of the confidence of the pur-
chaser, and such liquors have been removed.
| He feels the need of an agent and hereafter
| means to keep one at work all the time to pre-
vent these rascally impositions. Let the town
and city authorities cooperate with him. II
we must have liquor,-let it by all means be OF
the best kind.
But eighty-four cities and towns, and one
plantation have purchased of the agency fol
the year. Portland has been very abstemious
The amount sold to that city is charged $91l,.
| 20. There must have some sold otherways OF
else the improvement in this respect is won.
derful- Bangor beat this, entirely-her little
bill for drink is $4,304-and Bath has been
about as liberal $4,251-and Skowhegan, 81,
1856. This trio leads the list The sickness in
those places has evidently been very preva-
lent.
Another remarkable feature of the report is
that Augusta has not bought "drop OF the
critter" from this agency for whole year
Not an order has our agent been perplexed
with, from this source. 1t is about the only
city in the state that enjoyed SO good health
Monmouth beats Portland 81 worth-and East
Livermore has managed to get rid of 16, 20 in
ardents. The whole amount of sales includ.
ing expenses and commissions, is $40, 1858; of
fee expenses, including rents. clerk and all
$z,447. The table of supplies to towns is Gu
riosity and willsee that you have one for your
more deliberate inspection.
The Judiciary committee have reported al
important bill, making valid the doings O
cities and towns in making provision for the
payment of bounties, &c. 1t heals all the do
ings of towns in raising or providing means Il
soldiers and confers authority to pay in the
future, volunteers, drafted men and substi
tutes to ill any calls heretofore made by the
President. sv9,9rv
An important feature of the bill, is, that i
shalt be the duty of Cities towns, &C., to assesi
and collect in the usual mode of taxation, mo-
less than % per cent. annually, commencing
with the present year, of the amount neces
sary to pay the bounties, and expenses au
thorized by the act, arising since the 10th o
Feb, 1884, until the whole shall be paid; ant
1t is made the duty of Assessors to carry GU
this section of the act.
By the time the authorities of State ant
nation get all the tax bills filed out, the Grove
will not be small one, that will exclain
"blessed be nothing" 1t would seem to b,
doubtful whether such section will ge,
through, in consideration of all the othe
loads under this head which is being piled OF
\ to the towns. Some towns are in much BETTE
condition to respond than others, to such a
tax-and we shall see how the representative,
at large, will take this feature of the BILL
Meantime, it is to be printed, and laid before
the members for their careful considerations
No doubt it viii get 1t. 1t is too serious {
matter to be slighted. PELHAM.
Scraps from Scientific Readings.