The Portland daily press., 1866-01-20
Notes from the State Capital.

--s.ala E-Ala-t <%coOS4n1 " oAAs 40, AOOos
To the Editor ofthe Press. a-i1.5 al' - 80
In consonance with the bowling storm
which SO recently drove furiousiy along the
valley of the Kennebec, were the Legislative.
proceedings enacted during its CONTINUANCE
the former replenishing with snow the thinly
covered roads, giving passage to the, wood
lands and thence to the market, contribute
alike to the prosperity of the teamster and the
shfyerng dehizen, of the town, who thus fal
in the season have lived at the mercyno of the.
nearest woodhaulers who iinhabit its outskirts
good too, may come of the latter, but it is
question of the future, and fol, present pur
poses the parallel ceases with the storm. The
session will as surely disappoint those who
augured an, early adjournment as it has al
ready disappointed those who hoped for har-
monious legislatien-out-crcpping jealousie
and Jagged differences everywhere meet thu
eye and portend discord and contention. Mel
are proneto distrust each other, to be suspie-
ious in too many things and confding in toe
few, and human nature is the same every
where perhaps then we ought not to Indulge
in the expectation that legislative bodie,
should be infallible or exceptional to its rule.
From the first hours ofthe session, as IF doubt
full of common honesty in general, precautions
are taken against petty larceny an order is
eariypassed, to label as "the property of the
State,n the statutes procured for use in the two
branches, and thus guard them from misapro-
priation.9 The speaker of the House appoints
under its rules the several committees-a va
cancy occurs in the latter; he is ordered to fiji
it, and the same order dictates whom he shat
appoint thing unprecedented in the annals
of our State legislation - Notwithstanding
which, it mag be highly proper, 1t mag
even be parliamentary, but its eminent origin
atty should excite the admiration of those
who believe in progression. That Mr.. Speaker
Stone who is now absent from the Capital
shall upon his return to the chair feel fattereG
and properly appreciate this unusual token o.
confidence from the branch over which he has
the honor to preside, is, of course, the earnest
wish OF all But the Committee in question
flor investigating the alleged enlistment ana
paper credit ffaudsp it is feared, regard this
act Of the House as an. implied want Of conf
dence in them, and it is whispered that the
chairman ON the parto the House has sieni-
fed, in private conversation, his desire to with
draw from il, a withdrawal which would doubt
less. be followed by that of others if not all OF
the committee. Whatever may result from it,
is perhaps no particular business of mine OF
yours nevertheless, at some future day whe,
the o'Mahoney's, the Robertses and Sweeney,
of this Fenian imitation, shall have SO far de-
veloped themselves as toindicate what is no.
yet apparent, q. e.) which are the real advo.3
Gates of speedy and thorough investigation
we may have something to say upon this sub.
iect, until then you must share the ignoranc.
OF your obtuse correspondent in this perplex
ing afair. And yet among these occasional
manifestations of distrlst, 1T is refreshing
to NEE with an exceptional case. .oW
Afew days ago an order was introduced fol-
an inquiry to be made by the Committee OF
the Accounts of the, State Treasurer to ascer
tain if that officer had during his official term,
violated the provisions of the Constitution o
the State by engaging in business of trade o.
commerce, &c. The perfect integrity and Fl
deity of Treasurer Hichborn In administering
the affairs Of his department was neithel
questioned or doubted. The INQUIRY, it is un.
dertood, was based merely upon the assump
ton that IL he had SO engaged in business. h.
was not eligible to reelection, and that prioi
to proceeding to such election the assertion o,
intimation that he was not, for the time be-
ing, constitutional candidate, should be Sc
far examined by the Committee las to deter
mine the point in question 1t is possible but
hardly probable, that some discreditable scheme
underlaid this order, but how this order itself
could be regarded as an improperly it is Diff
cult to conceive That it tcas so regarded, is
manifest from the very decided vote by which
it was extinguished, and 1t must be gratifying
; indeed to Mr.. Treasurer Hichborn to receive al
endorsement Of his excellent management Q
the finances OF the State so replete with conf
dence and absolute In expression as this.
The Committee on Railroads, Ways and
Bridges met yesterday afternoon in the Sen
ate Chamber TO give hearing to the petition
ers for an act to incorporate the International