The Portland daily press., 1871-02-21
TIE CAPITAL.
AN ORATORICAL SESSION.

Especial Dispatch by Western Urion Line
AUGUSTA, Feb 20-The first weeks OF the
session led the observer to conclude that there
was no oratorcal taient, or if there was, not
the least desire for its display. day or two
OF observation any time during the past ten
days would have bad tendency to shake his
former opinion on this subject. Nearly every
matter is discussed at length anc many yet de-
sire to pile matters upon the table. Tonight
there about twenty bills and resolutions pend
lug third reading in regular order, and twen'
ty hve matters of various kinds upon the ta-
BILE; so that if there is no greater dispatch in
the transaction of business than during the
past three days, it is evident that it will take
all of the present week to conclude business.
THE RAILROAD DISCUSSIONS
have been unusually able, and chat This after
noon on the general bill of Mr.. Pike was not
an exception, even if it required the local in
.erest to give it the sharpness of the Boston q
Maine and Belfast delegations. Mr.. Burgess
led off against the general bill to-day. and bis
speech against the bill was beyond all question
the sbest against it in point of argument
Wilson. Robie and Pike favored the bill, and
Stickney and Keegan opposed it. Mr.. Pike
said in the course OF his remarks that it had
been intimated to him by gentlemen speaking
for the Boston s. Maine, that it was not the
purpose of this company to bnilc under the
charter obtained, except it failed to make sat
isfactory contracts with existing roads, sayiug
that the legislature had given it cudgel The
general bill would have failed did not the
amendments require a majority of its directors
to live in the State, and that the bill should
not go into effect until Jan. l. 1872. The Pres
ident and directors of the European & North
American Railway, as well as the Belfast peo-
pie are present, anxious to secure the success
of their schemes. ~
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
had a hard time in the House to-day, and its
fate was considered to be anything but fatter.
ing. 1t is said that an investigation will be
ordered on the sales OF the federal land grants.
Mr.. Atwell of Orono was a prompt defender
OF the college against tie inuendoes and as
saults Of its opponents.
Rumor says there is a systematic effort to
suppress the publication of the testimony
taken by the
COMMISSION ON PAPER CREDITS,
by putting the House in position inimical to
an appropriation to defray the expenses Of
publication. If any such movement is made it
will fail.
The House did good two hours work this
evening, disposng of about dozen matters on
the Speakers table. Among the questions
disposed Of was the matter of an Industrial
School for Girls. The resolve was SO amended
as to make the Investigation of the matter de.
volve upon the trustees of the Reform School
and to consider it in connection with the
buildings owned by t1e State at Cape Eliza
beth,
Among the important bills that passed to-
day without debate to be- engrossed, was that
making the European & North American Rail-
way Co. perform certain duties required to
secure the settlement of the wild lands. 1t
was not opposed.
THE STATE LIoroE AGENCY.
TIE fury Of the storm against the State
Liquor Agency seems to have spent ITSELF and
there is evidently a reaction to-day Several
prominent radical temperance men are here,
not in favor OF Mr. Shaw particularly, but OF
he system.
THE GAY SEASON |
will be opened tomorrow evening by a bril- |
liant party given by Mr.. Hiram Bliss, of |
Washington.