The Portland daily press., 1871-01-30
letter from Augus;as

Eue week mas been v6IY busy ono at thS
State Capitol. The committees have set them
selves about clearing their dockets and have
been quite successful.
THE RAILROAD COMMITTEE.
When Maine was first State this commit
tee vas simply for ways and bridges and was
comparatively unimportabt. It has now be-
come perhaps the most important committee
of that body, judging from the men of wealth
and influence who appear before it as well as
from the make up. The present committee is
one of the strongest I have ever known. Capt.
Holland of the Senate, the chairman, has had
long legislative experience, aside from seeing
something of Maine interest He takes prac-
tical view of questions presented, gives patient
attention to the hearing of all matters and de-
cides promptly without a doubt. Senators
Nealley and French are men of sound judg-
ment and undoubted integrty-whicl is about
all the requisites that parties with good case
require. The committee on tho part of the
House are all men of legislative experience.
Messrs. Patter, Robie, Burgess and Sewall I
have noticed Mr.. Woodbury. of Houlton, has
been four or five times member Of the House
and Senator. No man in Aroostcok is more
widely known and highly appreciated as bus
iness man. Mr. Hartman of Belfast, has been
in both branches of the legislature and would
do any committee credit. Mr.. Bird of Rock
land is one of these vigorous, wide awake men
that Rockland has the practice of sending up
here. Bid cant make speech but he is
heavy on a few remarks. These ten practical
men make up the committee. They have not
yet acted on the general bill, but the granting
OF charters to many parties would indicate
that its prospects tor this session are not fat
tering.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
is made up not only of some of the best talent
of the Legislature but of the State. They
keep their docket we'll cleared, and will be
able to report finally as early as any commit
tee. The ':Law" committee is unusually conser
vative this year. They have terror for inno-
vations very muchtbe same as the superstitions
have for ghosts. 1t is to be hoped that they
will consider that the voters in towns are old
enough to decide whati for their good, partic-
ularly in such instances as PittsieId, which
voted 1872 to to loan its credit to build a Sec
ond wooIen mill ;tbe first having doubled the
popuation.and business of the principal village
ment of over 800 900 of working capital in the
town. Senator Foster, sound lawyer, is de-
cidedly in favor OF any proposition of this char
acter, and in the Pirtsfield case will ask to
make minority report at an early day.
The matter OF deferring the ntime that the
Revised Statutes shall go into effect until April
1st, caused long discussion, resulting in tie
vote, but the indications are that such action
will eventually be taken.
THE COMMITTEE ON BANKS AND BANKING,
among other matters have been considering
the expediency of taxing Savings Bank de-
pOsit-. The report of the Examiner shows
| that the 6eposlis amount to over SIX eer mill
| ion Of dollars. II furiner shows that there are
| $500 depositOrs " hO have deposited $500 each
| aud upwards. One has deposited $50 0O0 Two
| $4,000 or more four sums between $15 600 and
| 10000, five 500 and upwards, ten $4,000
| Zach and upwards and large num.er over
$1,000. Can any good reason be given. why
| this capital should not be taxed why $780,
600 because in Savings Bank should be ex-
empt when the real estate upon which it is
loaned and which frequently fails to pay seven
| per cent. is taxed at least three per cent? We
| need a school fund; why not tax deposits
amounting to $3.50, thee fourths OF one per
cent. and devote it to this purpose? =.
THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR WATERS
does not have to consider the Hemenway
I wharf case this year, an event that the aLtor-
! neys who know the case by heart and the ho-
tel keepers principally lament The commit
| tee have a pretty full docket however, for
everybody has not the authority to extend a
| wharf, asd the up-river people have a way of
| throwing refuse stuff into the river that those
| lower down object to.
| THE REPORT OF THE LIQUOR COMMISSIONER.
don dnow Mr.. Eaton Shaw, the State
Liquor Commissioner, but reliab men who
do, say that he is greatly misrepresented and
| sandered. Rum selling has become such
business of outlawry that it is naturally sup
| po.ed by many that the agent OF the State,
| selling to supply its agencies, must also be a
rascal The Democratic press is generally
down, upon Mr.. Shaw, probably because it
exclusive right of the Democratic party. To-
day the commissioner presented his report to
the Secretary of State.
The report gives detailed account of the
| operations the past year, the number of gallons
sold each town, the price, &c. The sales for
the year amount to $105,791 IS, and commits
siOnS on the same amount to $6782 49, The
| profit allowed by lay is seven per cent on the
cost. Besides all the expense of running the
business, which with the extra clerical work
| imposed by the q. S. revenue laws, one per
cent. on saies goes to the general government
| as tax. After the deductions are made the bal
ance does not show such a lucrative return on
| the capital as some would have us suppose.
| 1t anyone thinks that the Commissioner does
not do his business on the square, such person
| is invited to examine the books and test the
| liquors. The Commissioner complains that
town agents have, in many instances, sold at a
profit OF over 100 per cent, and charged the
fraud to him; that in many cases the liquors
have been adulterated which have also been
| charged to him. He makes recommendation
that it be provided by law that the Commits
| soner snail put his liquors in sealed packages
| and sell the same by the Commissioner and la
beled as to the kind, cost, and short descrip-
ton. The package should also bear the num-
Der Of the sample sent to the State Assayer
These packages should be bottles of such sizes
as are usually required and always to be sold
in the original package. This would fix the
whole responsibility upon the State Commits
sioner and would guard the public against any
| impOsiIiOnS that an not over honest agent
might practice. This would increase the ex-
pense to the Commissioner but would confine
| all the trade to its proper channels and the
/ agents would gain the loss coming from evap-
grafton.
An effort will be made by the Liquor Deal
ers' Association to abolish the State Agency
that they may have the market. 1t is we'll
known that their agents have been at work for
several years to break down Mr.. Eaton Shaw
by misrepresentations. In Massachusetts the
Association has commenced operations in the
General Court and its friends are waiting de-
velopments here for the moment to come when
it will be fitting to attack tAe State Agency by
an assault on Mr.. Shaw. Tne very men are
known that will lead in the matter if it prom
| ises success. 1t is to be hoped that the sugges-
| tions of the Commissioner will be embodied in
| statute and thus stop all causes for COM
plaint. The fact that the Commissioner wants
| it is the most conclusive evidence that he de-
sires to carry on the business in harmony with
its design. e. UNI.