The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-30
Legislative Work this Winter

Among the prayers that ought TO nave peeh
Offered at the late Thanksgiving festival was,
'Deliyer us from lobby The New YORK
Legislature has for long years been annuaily
In the market, and standing disgrace to our
civilization the increase of Democratlc strength
in the Massachusetts, Legislature last year
summoned the same monster for the first time
to the capital of the old Commonwealth. Wash
ington is infested every winter by hordes Of
suppliants who often come with offerings that
constitute the modern equivalent of corn, oil
and wine-money. So far in our history Maine
has escaped this unspeakable disaster. Our
Legislators have been as incorruptible as any
one could desire. The great Importance OF mat
tiers coming before the general court this WIZ
ter will be likely to bring large numbers Oh
persons to the State capital who are Interested
in various schemes of public and private inter-
est, but it is to be hoped that no attempt VIII
be made to use any but legitimate means of
convincing the Judgment of Senators and Rep
resentatives. There is no covert meaning in
those words No reports as to unworthy in
1entions on the part of any of our citizens res
pecting the Legislature are in circulation, and
mention Is made of the lobby only as of an IN
mitigated evil that threatens the moral stand
ing of every legislative body that assemblies,
and that every year discloses its existence in
new places.
First IN Importance among the topics that
will command the attention OF both legislators
and people this winter is that Of our common
schools. Grave as are the questions pertaining
TO the material prosperity Of the State that
call for action, tboy are all subordinate to this
vital one. 1t matters not that there are rail-
roads and manufactures, ii Tom, Dick and
Harry are growing mp to be ignorant Doors and
criminals. The Superintendent of Common
Schools does well to call attention to the Ia
msntable state of things now existing in res.
pect 10 the matters he has in charge. His four
points-County supervision, County institutes
uniformity Of text books and compulsory at
tendance-ought TO be as thoroughly scrutin
lied as Calvin's points were in times of sharp
polemieal controversy. lit is found that they
are likely, should they be made the policy Of
the State, to do anything toward the restora.
tlou OF our common school system to its former
glory-and they seem well calculated to con
tribute to that result-for Heavens sake lei
them be adopted.
The temperance men will demand of the
Legislature restoration Of the State police
and possibly modification of the liquor law Sc
sto increase the severity of its penalties. The
members of the two houses, tor the most Fart
were selected with reference TO their position
On questions foreign TO this, and as no canvass
hes been made to determine what their view;
are on this point speculstions as to the result
are perhaps premature. A temperance con
vention will be held at Augusta in the early
part of the session. If there is any preponder.
sncs OF probability in the case it is that the
constabulary law will be reenacted.
Another important duty devolying upon the
Legislature Is the election of a United States
Senator to succeed Mr.. Morrill, Final action
cannot be taken in this matter before the Goth
OF January, but long before that date all doubt
will be removed as TO who the successful can.
didate will be.
The railroads will come in for more than
their usual share of attention The proposition
to charter a rOad>from Skowhegan to Scion, a
scheme which is regarded as antagonistic to
the Somerset road, will excite controversy
that Is sure to be lively one. What is known
q, as the Portland & Rutland road win ask fur.
Their legislation. Charters will be asked fol
roads from Pittsfield to st. Adams and to
Athens, for two Aroostoek roads, for Water
vile and Belgrade road and several others.
Many other matters, like the revision of the
statutes, the endowment of an industrial
sohoolfor girls, a general hospital and an asy.
lum for inebriates, the continuance of the work
OF the photographic survey, the granting of q
city charter TO Ellsworth and the uuion of Lew
iston and Auburn, " ill attract Irvrv iAsa oft.
tention.