The Portland daily press., 1871-03-01

To the Editor Of the Press:
In former letter have noticed some of |
the characteristics Of the fiftieth legislature.
In Its legislative acts these have been no less
marked particularly in reference to railroads. |
Heretofore the Legislature has so frequently
and constantly refused to charter parallel and
competing lines that it would have been con-
sidered breach Of legislative faith to charter a
parallel line even when only charter before
existed. But the legislature of 1871 has adopt
ed new policy and has declared new views
by granting a charter for the extern sion of the
Boston and Maine to Portland and by grant
ing charter to the Androscoggin to extend
from Lewiston to DanviIle Junction. More
over it has been the policy of the State to re-
quire that majority of directors live within
the State and have an Office therein. Anoth-
er measure passed into general act by being
asked for by the European and North Amer-
can Railway Company. We refer to Q bill
authorizing companies to extend branches to
mills within the town when the branch leaves
the trunk line. There are many cases where
the provisions of this act would enable
company to get what the legislature would re-
fuse if specially asked for. Another bill pro-
vides in distinct terms what the courts have
decided but what few people have cared to try
and most have not known. 1 allude to the
act defining that ticket is good to the hold
er for sic years. 1t is said that Portland has
continually suffered from want of this act,
many people passing through because it was
understood that tickets were good for one
day only and through ticket being cheaper
than one to Portland and then to Boston,
Another bill makes the railroad company and
not the municipality responsible for any inju-
ry to individuals or property from defective
crossings. An act, not uDimportant, is that
comforting power upon the Railroad Commits
sioners to locate depets for freight and passen.
gers wherever the public convenience requires.
Mr.. Dudley's bill requires the European and
North American Railway to fulfil the re-
quirementS of its charter relative to immisra-
ton. II requires the company 10 support an
efficient immigration agent who shall publish
maps, plans and information of the unsettled
lands Of Maine for general distribution in
such districts as it is desirable to obtain popu-
lation from. If the company neglects to do
this, the Attorney General is required to bring
an immediate action against it for S. 900 a
year. The general railroad bill just failed to
become law by tie vote in the Senate on
the question OF passage. This affords distinc-
tive legislation OF the overshadowing subject Of
railroad interests to give special prominence
to one Legis lature-and 10 its credit, it may
be said that all of these are in the interest oil
those who make lesislatures-the people.
The granting OF a char;er to the North ARGOS
took Railroad Co., settles a feud of several
years standing and of increasing sectional bit
terness in Aroostook county in q manner
highly satisfactory except to few who pre-
ferred to have no road. The charter for a
road from the E. 6 N. A. line near Passa.
dumkeag to Lake Megantic is one of those
visionary schemes. When road is built to
Lake Megantic, will not the parties interest.
ed follow up the Kepnebec to North Arson
then up the Carrabasset river 70 the head wa.
tiers of the Dead river, thence along the leve
lands to that place? Shorter by half, easier
by far, will this route be found.
The attitude OF the lower branch to popular
education was not at all fat.ering to the in.
telligence and wisdom of the majority. The
Education Committee very unfortunately
presented their important bills so late for con-
sideration that their merits were hardly can
yassed. Two very important matters-the
mill school fund and the bill! to aid free high
Enthusiastically of attention, came too late as
to be regarded with any idea Of adoption. The
law creating County Supervisors was repealed
by the House by a decided majority but the
Senate saved it. These gentlemen will have
another year to use their utmost to do some
thing for the schools and we urge them to i'm.
prove the opportunity. Doubtless the coun-
try is safer now that the dangerous power of
hiring teachers has been left optional to the
vote of towns Now that this issue is dead,
what will the Democracy discover of equal
importance to take its place? In certain d.
rections the House showed a decidedly de-
structive tendency.
We append the State tax in the First Con-
gressional district for the years 1870 and 1871.
STATE TAx OF TOWING TN Cr7xprpr ANN