The Portland daily press., 1866-01-11
Notes from the State Capital.
AUGUSTA, JAN. 10, 1886.
To the Editor Of the Press:

To the Editor Of the Press: I-f
The first week ofthe session with its march
es, countermarches dress parades and inciden-
tai ceremonies has passed away and yesterday
morning, at the sound of the gavel, the cur
tain was raised and the first act of the play,
to which last week was but the prologue, was
brought upon the legislative stage. During
the session of the forenoon an incident quite
unusual at the commencement of session
took place, for really, the Monday following
the first Wednesday of January, is, in all that
relates to the actual business OF the two branch
es, the first day of the sessiou;I alude to the
calling of the "yeas and nays" by Mr.. Brown
of Hampden, upon the indefinite postpone
ment of resolve for the purchase of two hun
bred copies of the Revised Statutes for the
use of the State. A brief but animated dis
cussion took place upon the merits of the re-
solve, between that gentleman and others in
opposition and Mr.. Miller of your city in favor
of the bill, the call resulting in its passage by
the House to be engrossed, amended however
by substituting one hundred for two hundred
copies.
To-day measure was introduced by Mr..
Woodcock of Searsmont, by reference to a joint
special committee of the two branches, for the
repeal of chap. A r. S. relating to Hawkers
and Pedlars and the act ,amendatory thereof
passed last winter, the last of which Massa-
chusetts lawyer in lengthy opinion, publish
ed sometime last summer in Boston papers
took it upon himself to decide as unconstitu-
sonaI Gen. Shepley took the floor and the
measure quickly came to grief; it was after
ward resuscitated and its appropriate refer
ence to the Judiciary committee met with but
little opposition. e- ..se ISL
The project for new telegraph line through
the State, which it is claimed shall be indie
pendent of the dictation and control of the
New York Associated Press or other foreign
vassalage, is evidently meeting with consider
able favor, and if defeated will probably re-
quire larger outlay or greater exertion OF the
part Of existing companies than lavish dis
tribution of dead-head tickets, which is so Of
ten the efectual argument of corporations
whose interests are endangered by rival prof.
ects; but in justice to the incorporated compa-
MES of Maine, and that Imay not be misun-
derstood, permit me to add, that however gen.
eral this system of securing influence may be
elsewhere, it cannot, T presume, be made ap-
plicable in the present case to the American
Telegraph Company, whose managers, in this
state at least, are gentlemen of such thorough
integrity as to scon the adoption of any UNI
fair measure, even in self-detence. I'd 9Th
The model for memorial monument to the
fallen soldiers of Maine, executed by Simmons
which has been placed in the rotunda at the
State House for public inspection, while ex-
citing less attention from members of the
Legislature than from newspaper correspond.
ents and contributors, is still the subject oil
considerable discussion, and the comments Of
visitors on what we call croauded day, will
repay one for lomging an hour or two on the
hard, tincouth seats with which that otherwise
beautiful hall isdisfgured. "Look here, Bob .
says an old veteran, ''See this infantry bum
mer with them cavalry boots on."-@D'ye
mind Bill" says another, "the time old Phelps
hazed me down to Santa Rosa for examining
my trousers legs into my boots like that there
feller's''-"Been on foot and lost his canteen
and bayonets; two days in the guard house for
that, old fellow" remarks another military
critic-@How beautiful lisps ArabelIa to Au-
gustus, and Augustus replies Magnificent"
Another gentleman who is evidently obtuse to
impressions Of the sublime, suggests that in
stead of being Gin the eager and heroic atti-
tude of flying to the defence of his country
with his expressive face turned towards his
neighbors, beseeching them to go with him,
while his right hand points away to the foe to
the left, as described in rather overdone arti-
clein one of our local papers, the figure seems
rather 10 be pointing to some lager beer saloon
and indicating his desire and intention to 90
and take a drink-others, of course pronounce
it faultless and are earnest in their desire for
its adoption by the State--but my impression
is, that the design of no one artist will be
adopted in hot haste. although something of
the kind will eventually be selected and a lib
eral appropriation made for its erection prob
ably other artists will be invited to submit de-
signs, ar d if this of Mr.. Simmons is found to
be the best among them all, it will be adopted
and not otherwise. Yours,
WANDERER.
iIa