Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-02-12
Le0isiafire Matters.
Legislative Matters. sase
The Legislature is now hardat work,
seinspf tks Committees having evenIpg
sessials. 1t Is thought that tie LegisIa-
tire viii not rise ill about the 10th of

DeSStUls. III - tlOugnt tuat tuS aNSsSs"-
tire viii not rise ill about the 10th OF
March.
The question of interest, Nor usury,
which has annually been agitated Tor
years. has. given rise- to- some able dis
cussion this year The proposition TO es-
t.sblish therptc Of interest tn any sum
agreed upon. and to abolish the usur,
laws is gaining ground with every legis-
lature. The House only refused to pass
the bill by four votes, and the Senate by
large majority is The other way. Mr.
Harrington, of Fryeburg, ably sustained
the position in favor ofthe present system.
1t will not be long, however, before the
people come to believe that laws not kept
in the spirit had better be changed, and
no one pretends to regard the us'ry law
of our Statute book, ,...
The Capital punishment question Is
exciting much interest. The vote to re-
prieve Harris for 80 days does not indi
cate the sentiments of the Legislature on
the main question. 1t is reported that q
majority of the Judiciary Committee will
report bill which retains the death pen
atty for murder, but provides that on the
recommendation of the jury and judge,
the Governor may commute the sentence
to imprisonment for life.
If this wee done, aS we have previously
intimatcd it should he, in our judgment,
there would probably be minority re
port, sustaining the other ground.
The act concerning registers of deeds
gives those officers sixty cents formaking
a record of conveyanccs, instead of iittl
cents rs now provided by law.
During the year 1869 it will be neccs-
sary 10 take the State valuation n basis
Tor taxation during the next decade, and
a resolve for The appointment of commits
sioners is now before the Legislature. Ii
provides for the appointment of seven
commissioners by the Goyernorand Coun-
Gil one from each councillor district. The
first session of the commissioners is 10 be
held at Augusta on the 10th day of Octo-
ber next, aud the assessors Of towns and
cities are on that day to lay before them
personally or transmit by mails the lists
of taxable polls and the valuation lists OF
their respective towns for the three years
next preceding 1870, and also special list,
for the year 1869. afliNingto the property
of their towns lis true cash value, the lat
ter list to be verified by oath. Towns not
observing this requirement are to be
doomed" To- the payment of such proper
ton of the State tax annually rs the com
missioncrs may deem just. The com
mis>ioncrS are 10 complete the work OF
valuation ON the basis afforded by these
data by the first of January. 1870. Com.
mi>sioncrs receive for compensation five
dollars day while they are employed
and The same travel as members Of the
Legislature. In addition to this resolve, a
bill has been introduced prescribing the
duties Of the assessors in ascertaining The
true valuation of their respective towns.
One Of the most important measures
before the House is that of Mr. Whiddcn
Of Calais proposing to allow railroad cor
portions to organize without special acts
Of incorporation.
Among the bills before the Legislature
i one reported 10 the Senate hy Mr.. Smell
from the Committee ON Legal Reform,
regulating the sale Of milk II provides
for the appointment, by the municipal
authorities Of one or moro inspectors Of
milk in every city or town containing
more than three thousand inhabitants. l.
provides that the inspectors shall record
the names of AL persons selling milk and
have authority 10 enter any place where
milk IS sold.causing any milk found there
in IL Ice analysed il they suspect that ii
has been adulterated. ltfurther provides
that all cans or other vessels used in
selling milk shall be sealed annually. and
that whoever sells by any other measure
shall forfeit $50 for each offence. Section
fourproy ideS thatpcrSons selling adultcra-
ted milk or that diluted with water shall
be fined go, and all persons acting rs
agents in the sale are made subject TO the
same penalties as the principals. The
inspectors are To prosecute offenders
against the provision Of the act.
The Committee on the Prohibitory
Liquor Law and Constabulary had a
meeting this week. The temperance men
urge the Police clause, but what the
feeling of the Legislature is, does not yet
appear,
The kennebcc Journal, in an able
article, reviews the subject, and contends
that the law can be enforced as it is and
with the present police force better than
by any other.