The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-27
THE PRESS.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DEC. %, 1871
Th. w.rL Of the Next Leg isIature

that assemblies on Wednesday, Jan. Sd, will |
he importmed to pass measures that are
good. bad and Indifferent, and it will pass |
some of all these different kinds.
Among the good things it will be expected
to do, the first and by far the most important |
is the arrest of the decline of the common
school system. If this is not done, all else of
good or bad may as well be omitted. For the
practical legislator of 1872 school reform is
the law. and the prophets. 1t is singular
fact that there is party of no contemplate
dimensions in favor of tearing down such bull
warks as the present system has. Last sum-
mer the Democrats of Penobscot county, led
by Marcellus Emery, passed resolutions de-
nouncing the plan of school supervision
now in operation. There was an attempt
made in the Democratic State Convention
and almost a successful one, to pass the same
resolutions. Among limited number of Re
publicans like hostility to the machinery for
county supervision has developed ITSELF So
that the friends of educational reform will
ind it necessary to make stout resistance
z in order even to hold their own. But if the
mill tax" which Superintendent johnson
asks for is to be obtained, and if that still
more needful measure, a bill providing for
compulsory attendance, is to be passed, moth
ing but an active, aggressive, determined
campaign in which every man who can help
is engaged, will answer the requirements of
the occasion. There are men, no doubt, who
would willingly remove by an amendment
that clause of the constitution that keeps
railroad corporations out of the State treas
the 100000 for schools which Mr.. johnson
expects to realize from the "mill tax" These
two propositions are of exactly opposite ten
denotes. Educational reform is in the inter-
est of the people; State aid to railroads in
that of score of rich men. The first pro-
notes the average happiness; the second
makes millionaires-the most unwhoesome
growth that a republic can produce. The
first, by increasing the general intelligence,
diminishes pauperism and crime and so less
ems the public burdens; the second, by ex-
hibiting plumber crowned and triumphant,
popularizes vice and confuses the moral sense,
while there is added to the public burdens
tax to pay to millionaires interest on the mon
ey they have stolen from the public funds
Almost every phase of the railroad question
will claim the attention of the Legislature. 1t
is said that consolidation will again ask
consideration. The present position of the
thing with respect to consolidation is this:
the Legislature of 1870, being appealed to au-
thorize it, fatty refused, echereupon the COM
panies consolidated forthaciM. Proceedings in
the nature of a quo ,oarranto were set on foot
by the Attorney-General in behalf of the peo-
pie of the State, for the purpose of testing
the legality of this arrangement. The case
was finally argued months ago, but our cir
cumlocution Office, th0Supreme Court has
r not yet given its decision. If the court de-
cides in its favor, no legislation will be want
ed. If, on the other hand, the present ar
rangement is pronounced illegal, the question
p will again assume great importance at the
State capital.
The granting of new charters will also be
leading branch of business. First in impor-
lance will be the alleged project of new COM
peting line OF road from Boston to Bangor.
This will involve the granting of charter to
from Portland, point it will soon reach, to
Bath, Where it will connect with the Knox &
Lincoln and so with the projected Penobscot
Bay and River road which will complete the
line through to Bangor. But if it is true, as
the Bath Times suggests, that the Maine Cen
trail is in fair way to obtain possession Of
the Knox & Lincoln road, the whole scheme
will fall to the ground, unless the Boston &
Maine is prepared to push parallel line
through to Rockland. The Grand Trunk
will also ask for charter for a road from
Lewiston to Danville Junction, and if it is
granted, there will be two competing lines
between Portland q Lewiston. The Aroos-
took railroad question is not yet settled, and
the shore line through Hancock and Wash
ington counties-a line that the people of
those counties need most sadly-will re-
ceive some attention. These are only a
part of the charters that will be asked for.
The investigation of the transfer of lands
by the State to the European and North
American road cannot be avoided by any ex-
hibition of virtuous indignation on the part
OF the company. If nothing wrong has been
done, and we hope there has not, the people
want to know it.
We have heard nothing more of the appli-
cation which a correspondent said some DAYS
since was to be made by the Portland and
Ogdensburg road, for an act permitting the
city ofPortland to guarantee or exchange for
its own, large amount of that company's
bonds
There will be more than the usual number
OF applications from towns for permission to
aid manufactures; but in view of the decisions
OF the Supreme Court we do not see how it
can be granted.
There is to be State Temperance Con-
vention at Augusta during the session of the
Legislature, as usual. 1t seems probable
that the temperance men will adopt the plan
suggested and vigorously supported by Hon.
Nelson Dingley, Jr., and ask that the sheriffs
OF the several counties be authorized to pros
ecute criminals, including persons guilty of
violating the liquor law. Whether Mr.. Nye
Will be willing to endorse this plan, in lieu of
State police we do not know.
The subject of taxing deposits in savings
banks and restraining them from investing
their funds out of the State will also be con-
sidered.
In Massachusetts it is proposed by the
workingmen to petition the Legislature for
aid in establishing cooperative associations.
Ii the capitalists of this State persist in max
ing raids on the State or local funds, either
for aiding railroads or encouraging manufac-
lures, our working men ought to meet them
In the Legislature with petition similar to
that OF their brethren in Massachusetts. Then |
let the members decide between them! Man |
ufactures would be Encouraged all the
same if the profits went into the pockets of |
the workers instead of the drones. i
There is one abuse that should be promptly |
reformed 1t was just thing for the State |
to assume the expense of the defence of pris-
oners charged with capital crimes. But the
sums allowed counsel by the courts are gross
y exorbitant. For instance, Harvey, who
was indicted for murder at Augusta at the
= last term Of court plead guilty of manslaugh-
ter, and was sentenced without a trial. The
court allowed one of his counsel $50. and
the other, whose services were purely nomi-
nal SIS! If the discretion of the court is to |
be exercised in this way, it ought not to be
exercised at all.
Who Owns the Euroueau a, Norsy, Au,.~