The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-13
Letter from Augusta.

| the Journal. m , tss.
Letter from Augusla. eli-
| af AUGUSTA, Feb. II, 1871.
| REGULATIONS IN REGARD TO ADJOURNMENT.
The unusual industry of the committees of
the present Legislature cleared the dockets of
most of the committees Friday, so that the
week of extension will hardly be required.
Very few matters have been referred to the
next Legislature, anu there has been the usual
| amount of work to do in committee If the
| Legislature will hold two sessions day next
week, Saturday, the 18th, ought to see the
members homeward bound.
RAILROAD MATTERS.
The principal question that will call out de-
bate will be several railroad matters 1t is now
| quite evident that compromise will carry the
| northern Aroostook bill, though it is not en-
trely certain.
| CONSOLIDATION.
| The hearing on the various petitions against
the consolidation of competing lines took place
| yesterday and resulted in an abandonment of
the bill proposed by the petitioners when an
examination of The Statute satisfied them that
existing Statutes afforded all the protection re-
| quired.
APPoRTIoNMENT. ST..
One OF the most important matters to be set
tied is the apportioDment of Senators and Rep.
resentatives; but this work is confined to
mere ratification Of the long and faithful work
of the committee. 1t may seem to be only a
small work to apportion the Senators and Rep
resentatiyes, but when all the sections are con-
! suited it requires great deal of consultation
and arjc m 70 q oil hat boll bor
monte large majority. ,, a..,s,.....
In the apportionment of Senators the great.
est ingenuity is apparent in consequence of the
vote to adhere to county lines, which was OPP
posed by large minority of the committee
and was yielded only when any further oppo-
sition would be fruitless. By this policy, one
county gets Senator for IA, 1917 Inhabitants,
while it takes 80 800 in another. A better pol
icy would have been giving Senator to 10000
Inhabitants, regarding county lines as far as
possible, but equality of representation as of
first Importance.
The apportiOnment of representatives to tile
respective counties was done upon the basis of
population. Knox county gets representa-
tive to every 1902 inhabitants and Piscataquis
one to 1899. But this difference is in part
1nhabi ants, and Piscataquis one for Il, 397
In reference to Portland, Mr.. Pike conceived
the idea that its surplus of population should
be divided to the sparser districts Of the whole
State to increase their representation. This
point he urged with his usual force and was
ably supported by Mr.. Wilson. The position
though opposed to the spirit if not the letter
of the constitution, was made very PLAUSIBLE
We suppose that Portland belongs to the State.
Col. Robe opposed this theory, showing its
fallacy with spirit and ability, and to his per-
sistant efforts, it is more than probable Cum
berland is indebted for her gain of two repre-
sentatives, which Messrs. Stickney, Pike and
Bird rather coveted. Several gentlemen gave
this question a great deal of attention, and
most prominent among these were Messrs.
Robbie, johnson. Dingley of Auburn, and Fos-
ter of the Senate.
CATS AND THEIR PROSECUTORS.
1t must be grateful thought to lew whole
souled patriots that few days will close their
arduous labors There are several gentlemen
who have carried the whole State with all its
interests the past six weeks They have in
spected great deal of political and legislative
meal, and have discovered more feline mon
STEERS than would supply city sausage factory.
But the wicked ones do say that many of these
noisy prosecutors of legislative cats have the
reputation of having been in their times whole
sale breeders. E. o.. M
Central Passenger station-The Cape
Elszabeih Grievance.
To the Editor Of the Press.
Cape Elizabeth is already an important sub
that point is at all seasons of the year large,
and in the summer season very large. In the
summer, moreover, the travel to and from The
various seaside resorts on the cape is of par
ticular. importance in a business point of view.
the pleasure tourist usually having money to
spend and spending it freely. The permanent
and transient residents alike are entitled to
access to Portland with the least possible OBJ
struction. But so long as in the course of tie |
day in the backward and forward movement
OF trains, ir GLIDING the maklng-up Of scores of
passenger cars in addition to the freight, pass
and repass directly across the outfall of the
bridge, passage to and from the city can be eff
fected not without difficulty, not without risk |
and absolute peril to life. 1t is fact that no |
person can drive across the wide breadth of
tracks betwixt west Commercial street and the |
Portland bridge without anxiety and hardly |
ever without positive fright. Almo st all day |
long and taI into the night, some smoking. |
shrieking locomotive is bearing down upon the |
roadway, no person being able to Judge amidst |
the multiplicity of tracks where it will strike.
and threatening destruction.
The means proposed to obviate the nuisance
are utterly insufficient. The elevated bridge
to Bracket street" is Objectionable so long,as
such multitude of cars are passing and re-
passing to terrify horses. Except for pedes-
TRANS it would make no improvement whatev-
er upon the present arrangements. The 'sout-
side street. would also be dangerous for the
same reason. The only proper solution of the
]ficulty is to withdraw the passenger service
rom that side the town altogether. This would
'educe the movement of trains to a small pro-
portion of the present. and the risks and incon-
in proportion. There would still re-
main the making up of freight trains and their |
passing back and forth, but both of these can
De and should be greatly diminished, as will be
SHOWN at a1later stage of the discussion.
oil t .it' Then, the intoerable infiictOn impos-
90 ocr oo.n upon ourselves and our neighbOrs
oss Tue harbor transfer the whole passenger
enS t'e 81. TO me back bay This would put an
cause there is am moi merely shift its place; be-
nGoa ngup OF trains. so that only one track
tSe whole ne roadway near bridge
moved n from any II ayeled street. Tb.Ip Se Re-
f., q H. the T. & K, and the NJ. g.. conI5
lay theirtracks below, that is east Of the s Soada
a aah Drsge ana L. out the close vicinity Of
would consist of the P. s. & P. cars and street
only In gong aid coming. not in makins.nneS e 4
co OPERATION OF THE c1rv
10 ,ald IN securing the great ADVANTAGES tbr.
to be realized, advantages to he tait a mus
later by every citizen and in various OF
sho%d pToer ns s prosperity the city
the streets required bv The e1.ent