The Portland daily press., 1869-03-15
The Adioarnmen. of ,hs Legislature.

Fourth Page-The Three Little Chairs;
Complimentary Titles.
The Adjournment of the Lei stature.
TEE LEGISLATION THIS WINTER.
The Legislature adjourned Saturday morn
ing after session of 81 days, occupying pre-
eisely tho same length of time as the Legisla-
ture Of last winter. It has passed $50 acts and
80 resolves, a very large quantity of legisla-
ton, though there may be some deficiencies in
respect TO quality.
The Legislature OF 1869 is not remarkable
so much for what il has done as for the large
number of important measures it has had I'M
der consideration and which it has refused to
give passage.
REJECTED MEASURES.
Among the more important measures that
were either defeated or consigned to oblivion
by way of reference to the next legislature"
are the coBstabulary act, biennial sessions of
the legislature and biennial elections, the abo-
lition of capital punishment, woman suffrage,
the repeal of the usury laws, the industrial
school for girls, the resolves in favor of re-
oiprocity, Mr.. Reeds very important railroad
bill, permitting the organization of corpora
tions without special acts of the Legislature,
DR.. Buzzell's bill in relation to the manufac-
tute and sale Of intoxicating liquors, lover
looked, we understand, in the hurry of closing
up the business of the SESSION. an amendment
to the divorce laws, forbidding the party in
fault to contract new marriage the bill au-
thorizing the appointment Of Clerks of Courts
By Justices OF the Supreme Court, the militia
bill and the bill striking the word white from
the laws and permitting the intermarriage of
whites and negrocs.
BILLS PASSED.
The list OF important measures passed is
much shorter. The ratification If the 18th
constitutional amendment was matter of
course with Republican Legislature.
THE ANATOMY BILL.
The anatomy bill, after being SO amended as
to be hardly recognizable and after being push
ed by DR.. Tswksbury and others with great
vigor, was passed. In the shape 1t finally
passed it is perfectly unobjectionable, since
there is no invidious discrimination against the
poor In provision that the body Of any person
who during his lifetime requested that his body
be delivered to any physician may be so deliv-
cred, IL the friends of the deceased do not in
dictate their dissent within three days. Pro-
vision is also made for the use for the promo
ton OF anatomical science of the bodies Of in
mates of the State prison and iails unless such
person or their friends may have expressed q
wish that they be not so used. Harris, who
was executed Friday, will probably have the
distinction of furnishing the doctors with their
Arst material for dissection under the new Law.
Let those who are after political capital" make
tho most of it. Allthe big Democratic mouths
are shut, and only the little dogs can yelp.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
The bill restoring the gallows is not, as it
finally passed, quite SO bad as the Senate at
one time made it. The Bolster amendments,
permitting the Governor to issue his warrant
ct any time within year and authorizing ex-
eeutious at the county jails, were rejected. As
the law now stands it is imperative upon the
Governor to issue his warrant at the expiration
Of year for the execution of prisoners under
sentence of death or to commute their seq
tenee with the consent of the Council. Acorn
plete record of all capital trials is to be laid
before the Governor and Council, in order that
they may be able to for an intelligent opin-
ion OF the expedieney of committing the sem
tence. A bill for the reformation and mental
improvement of criminals was referred to the
next Legislature" Herein may be seen the
logical Conference Of our legislators action
They first erect the aallows and then see to it,
ike intelligent gentlemen, that it does not
stand idle for the want OF subjects for strangu-
latlon. :
COUNTY suPRRvIsoRsHrPs-o COUNTY NsT1.
TUTEs.
The principal redeeming feature of the win
ters work is the passage of bills establishing
county supervision Of schools aud county
teachers institutes TIE vote in the Senate
was 10 to on these bills, and in the House So
to 80. We have already made our readers ia
miliar with the nature of the radical change
In our school system that is introduced by
these laws. The next thing in order is to get
sixteen efficient county supervisors
THE LIQUOR LAW.
We have not seen the bill amending the H.
quor law, but understand that it is provided
therein that one person may sign complaint
upon which warrant for search and seizure is
founded, instead of three as is now required.
CHANGES IN THE CRIMINAL LAW.
The legislation this winter has been singu
ls.rly at variance with the maxim that certain
ty rather than severity of punishment is to be
desired as means of promoting the welfare
OF society. Refusing to abolish the death PEN
atty, the Legislature has added to the already
almost impregnable dsfences that have been
erected to shield persons accused of crime
Reviews are granted in criminal cases. and the
acensed is hereafter to have the closing argu-
ment Hereafter prosecuting attorneys will |
have to exercise almost superhuman skill to |
secure the final conviction of any criminal. |
Especially In eases of murder will the attor-
nsys for the State find themselves laboring
against great Disadvantages. 1t is wisely pro-
vided that the criminal may testify in his own
behalf; the jury have constantly in view the
certainty of an execution II they convict; the
counsel for the prisoner makes the closing ar |
gument. Under these circumstances it will |
be an extraordinary iury that brings in YER
dict of guilty.
THE COMPUTATION BILL.
The vexed question of legalizing the action |
Of towns that voted Communication money to |
such Of their citizens as were drafted into the
military service is settled, and the spectators
who have bought up the town scrip for song,
as well as many innocent holders for full value,
viii rejoice.
REVISION OF THE LAWS
What the scope Of the act for the revision
and consolidation Of the laws is we are not yet
informed. If it has in view bringing anything
hks-order out of the present chaos Of the Stat
utes 1t is something of value.
TEE RAILROAD WARS
In the matter in dispute between the Maine
Central and Portland s. Kennebec Railroads
the former triumphed, defeating the efforts of
the latter to have its charter so amended as to |
allow an extension Of its line to Caratunk |
Falls. The Portland & Rutland road did not |
get the act 1t desired authorizing it to establish
lis eastern terminus on tide waters in Portland |
and to receive aid from the city. The Bangor,
Oldtown & Milford road prevailed against the |
European b North American road in that it |
got leave to extend Its line to tide waters in |
the city of Bangor across tract of land the |
title Of which Is contested by the two corpor-
atoms The resolve in favor Of the Bangor & |
piscataquis railroad was referred to the next
Legislature.
MISCELLANEOUS BUsINKss.
A State tax of 81, 12s 02337 is levied at the
rate Of mills on dollar Of the valuations