The Portland daily press., 1870-03-25
The Forty -Ninih Lcgislatuie,

The Forty Mimi Legislature.
The Legislature that has lust adjourned
was an ADLER body than it was at first suppos
ed to be. l. contained at the start seyera
gentlemen OF established reputation, bu,
In the course Of its deliberations it gave CD
poTtunity for several young men, hitherto un
known In public life, to take their position
among the most able and energetic men in
the State-notably Mr.. Bonney of this city
and Mr.. Hume of Cherryfield.
Yet with all its ability and with all the
hard work it has done this Legislature, like
the one that preceded it, is remarkable
rather for what it has not done than
for what it has accomplished. This VIII
be seen from a list of the more I'M
portant measures that were defeated. Con-
soldation of railroads, the act permitting
railroad companies to guaranty the bonds of
other roads, uniformity of school books, the
bill abolshing capital punishment and that
for promoting manufactures by allowing rich
corporationsto confiscate private property have
all "gone where the woodbine twinethv-
where several of them ought to 60. The de-
feat of the general railroad law is to be much
regretted.
A large amount of important work was
thrown upon the Legislature by the exigen.
cies OF this particular time 1t was necessary
to elect United States Senator for the wear
ending March 4th 1871, and Mr.. Morrill, was
chosen. 1t was necessary also to ratify the
work OF the commissions on the equalization
of.municipal war debts, on the revision of the
statutes and on the Stase valuation. The re-
ports OF these Commissions seem to have
been satisfactory, except that on the State
valuation. The difficulties of correcting the
latter report are so formidable that the Leg
isiature declined to grapple with them at a
salary of $3.50 for the session.
But let us give our legislators credit for what
theylhave done. The bill repeating the usury
law has at length been passed-thanks to the
forts of our Portland Representatives and Of
Mr.. Reed in the Senate. A very important
bill relating to insurance companies and pro-
tecting the insured from imposition and loss
was also successful, but Mr.. Paine's measure
for taxing insurance companies failed. The
liquor law proposed by Senator Lang, of
which we have already given an abstract, and
the additional act in regard to the sale of
liquors by travelling agents and the quarterly
statements ofthe Commissioners appear to be
generally satisfactory to the friends of tenn
perance.
Though the pay of the State Superinten-
dent is not increased and uniformity has been
defeated, the interests of education have not
been altogether neglected. The foolish propo-
sition to repeal the law establishing county
supervisorships was defeated, and bills were
passed taking the important power to employ
teachers from district school agents and Civ
ing It to the school committee, and providing
for the purchase of school books by towns for
INDECENT scholars. The school week and
month have been established by law. The
former is held to be IL days and the latter
20 days.
Towns can now elect one supervisor instead
OF committee. A clerkship has been estab-
lished for the State Superintendent with a
salary of $780, This insures permanent
educational department at Augusta. The
arrangements of the schools in the French
settlements in Aroostook county are entrust
ed to the State Superintendent and County
Supervisor. The State has appropriated $le,-
600 for county supervisors, $4,000 for insti-
tutes and $4,000 for normal schools, the lat
ter sum being $4,000 more than the appropri-
alton of last pear. The State has also appro-
priated for the Maine Wesleyan Seminary
$4,000, Houlton Academy $4,000, Pittsfeld
Central Institute 5000, Stetson High School
$1,000, Wilton Academy S. 900.
The railroad legislation has been mostly in
the way Of defeating general railroad laws, as
we have already seen. But some new special
charters have been granted, the Georges Val
.ss AaSDeEeFf o FKSaS and Rutland has been
permitted to change its name to the Portland,
Rutland, Oswego and Chicago railroad, and
its charter has been so amended as to enable
it to make the connections and the financial
arrangements necessary for the accomplish
ment of the Gigantic" designs of its projec-
tors. To the "next legislature" is committed
the consideration of the extension of the
Somerset railroad to Bingham. The charter
Of the Saco River railroad was amended so as
to allow it to connect with the Portland and
Osdensburg road at Steep Falls. The war
fare between Houlton and Presque Isle is not
ended, the House and Senate having failed to
agree upon an Aroostook Railroad bill.
As we anticipated number of new COM
missions are provided for. Among them is
commission to investigate the paper credit
frauds and one to promote immigration. We
have little doubt that our townsman w. W.
Thomas Jr. will be appointed by the Governor
to attend to the Scandinavian mission.
Among the 105 resolves passed during the
session were one urging Congress to pass the
measures pending before that body for the re-
lief of American commerce, one recommend
ing Mt. Desert as naval station, and third
providing for the payment in coin of that part
of the State debt that was contracted before
the suspension Of specie payment in 1862
The State tax this year is little more than
thirteen hundred thousand dolIara