The Republican journal., 1870-03-03
MAINE LEGISLATURE.

The bill to abolish capital punishment was taken
up in the Senate Wednesday, sd, and amended
and passed to be engrossed, 20 to 10; motion for
reconsideration was made and tabled. The bill
to establish State uniformity of school books was
indefinitely postponed by a vote of Is to 10. At
torney General Frye resigned to take effect March
lst. In the House a communication was received
from the state treasurer as follows. and referred
to the Committee on Finance:
The attention of the Legislature is called to the
late decision of the supreme Court OF the United
States. which airms that all contracts for the pay
mcnt of money made prior to Feb. Is, 1862, must
be paid in coin OF the present funded debt OF
this State, Sill 900 contracted prior to 1862.
During the present year about $4,000 Of this debt
will mature $4,000 falling due on the first day of
March next. and the Treasurer requests the action
md instruction of the Legislature"
The resignation of Alfred Watts as representa-
tive from the town of Thomaston, was received.
A bill TO incorporate the Bangor Mutual Life In
Snrance Company was laid on the table. On mo,
lion OF Mr.. Sherman of Camden it was ordered
that the Committee on Public Buildings, inquire
into the eXpedency of making the city OF Bangor
The capital Of the State, provided sand cty shall
raise 100000 towards providing public buildings
for the State
Thursday oath. i'll the Senate. leave to Withdraw
was granted on petition of n. S. Allen ct ais, to
be set off from Edmuns to Dennysville. Legisla-
ton ineypedient was reported on the order relat-
relating to amendment of the laws in regard to the
appointment Of commissioners: also on the order
10 make railroad corporations liable for injuries to
employees In the House Mr.. Kinks, from Com
mittee on Railroads, act additional to an act to
incorporate the Portland & Rutland Railroad Co.,
reported that the same be printed and recommitted.
The House proceeded to the consideration OF Mr..
ilume'9 motion to consider the vote passed to be
cngrosSea, resolve in favor of Wilton Academy
The motion was lost by yeas 90 nays Co. Mr..
Harding, from Committee on Mercantile Affairs,
reported egSlatioe neXpedient on the order relat
ing to taxation of foreign insurance Companies.
Mc>Sr>, Bradford, Twitchell and N1illdram were
appointed 4 committee to examine the files of the
Ren up and dsp tos Of e as % he faoe are
We're read and assigned making an appropriation
for the Pcnobscot tribe of Indians; i'll favor OF
tfOulton Academy: to establish State uniformity
of text books: for the preservation of certain
birds
Friday the Senate, under suspension of rules,
passed to be engrossed the resolve to pay all con-
tracts maCe prior to Feb %. 1862, i'll gold. The
Committee on the Reform School reported resolve
Approprating Sl4,05G. The bill finally passed re-
ating to the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court
and to pay expenses OF the same. The Finance
Committee reported a resolve t. pay the contracts
of the state made prior to Feb. %, 1862, in coin
which was passed to be cngrosSed and sent to the
Senate. Among the many bills reported was one
abolishng the school agent and district system.
The bill to establish State uniformity Of text books
was indefinitely postponed, by vote OF IS to %:
Bill concerning the rate of interest was amended
that where not specially contracted, interest
shall be at per cent, and passed to be engross-
ed
In the Senate saturday the following resolutions
We're laid on the table; Resolve in favor Of Wilton
Academy: resolve i'll favor of the Maine Central
Institute; resolve concerning the debts OF this
State contracted prior to Feb. %, 1862. Among
bills read and assigned were acts concerning the
rate Of interest; authorizing the town of Bruins
wick to raise money on town bonds to erect certain
public buildings. In the House among the papers
laid the table resolves relative to final ad-
iournmcnt and to a recess of the Legislature, and
directing that the Committee on Education inquire
into the eXpediency Of providing for an increase OF
school money equal to the amount formerly re-
reived from the bank tax. Reference to next Legs
iature was reported on petition Of VIM. II Hem
menway TO extend wharf in Machias.
In the Senate Monday Mr.. Lang, from the special
committee on Temperance reported a bill addition
al to the liquor law Of 1877. 1t provides, First
That one person may make complaint instead OF
three, us now provided. SecOnd-That liquors
may be detained until a warrant can be procured
for their seizure. Thrd-Ihat forfeited liquors
shall be destroyed. Fourth-That penalty of not
less than $50 nor more than $50 may be recovered
10y Indictment of of any municipal officer who shall
neglect to commence prosecutions after being notiti-
ed in writing of such violations and furnished with
The names of the witnesses by two competent per-
sons. The committee on Education were ordered
10 inquire into the eXpediency of raising the salary
of the Superintendent of Schools. In the House
Mr.. Farwe presented an order directing the
Finance Committee to inquire into the eXpediency
Of assessing the State tax of 200 900 for 1870 up
On The old valuation. Acts We're reported relative
10 The collection of taxes relative to the poll tax
and to increase the salary of members of the Lcgs-
Itture from $50 to $500.