Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-01-20

Secretary Oi State. Tho constitution
framed shall be submitted TO the people
next September.
There is general feeling in favor of
such convention. rs it is now fifty years
since our present constitution was framed,
nad very many amendments are needed
which can only receive the attention they
ought have from such n convention.
BY selecting tho best men in the State
without regard to party, we may have n
constitution adapted to the present wants
of the State Perhaps tho first Wodnos-
day in June would be q more acceptable
day for the meeting OF the convention.
then month later.
TIE STATE PRISON.
Under the management of Warden
Rice the financial affairs OF the Maine
Stale Prison will show the CRAFTY ing re-
suit of So, 900 earned The past year in ex'
ces. of expenditures. Considering that
fifteen years since The State Prison cost
The State fifteen thousand dollars per All
mum above receipts. this is certainly 4
pleasant eXhibit-onc that reflects credit
upon the Trustees, OF whom Hon. Rufus
Prince of Turner is one. and particularly
on Warden Rice's administration. The
recent Improvements in the Prison will
secure even better rcsnlts in the future.
Warden Rice is certainly "Iho right man
in the right place"
\ gentleman who recently visited the
State Prison SAYS he found internal a.
rangcmcnt such rs secured safety, good
order, comfolt and comparative satislac.
ton. OnThanksgiring and other legal
holidays the prisoners arc allowed spcci-
al privileges and an e1t:a dinner. \ lc.
tcr written TO lis mother in New York
by Edward Mcguire, one of the Bow
loinham bank robbers, giNingan account
of his Thanksgiving dinner. is not only
credilablc in style and language. but
gives readable descl ip;ion of the day in
prison. By the way, Tie Bowdoinham
bank robbers. rs well as the Rrckland
hank robbers recently sent 10 Thona'ton,
ere nearly all New Yorh,!s ol inteli-
gcncc, craftsmen in the profession ol
crime, and lave Influential connections in
,;cw York. The " lie of one oi item, in
recent letter To- hcl husband. spoke OF
IA, lug been visited and condolcd with by
lrdge Dow ling aud john Morrissy. Such
ne the political conircres OF the Ne" York
rammany politician,
GOV. P,lham has received informal
application for pardon from VIM. Il.
smith. who i, serving on: a life sentence
Tor murder OF one Brewster, So. Berwick.
ia 'j2-j3. and who has been III the State
Prison for seventeen Years. Smiths let
Ter gives detailed account of the muir
Ter, claiming that the killing was III sell
defence. and particularly. that it was
done while he was intoxicated. Smith
refers TO Gov. Perham's efforts in the
cause OF temperance. and asks his SYM
paihy on that account. He also forwards
neatly designed ring Tor the Governor.
md an other for his wife, both cut from
bone in the most ingenious manner. On
The signet of the Governors ring silver
rooster is inlaid, around which mc the
figures 10. 000"--nlicating the Cover
uoi' election 10y 1000 majority,
Mr.. Wilson (dem) took occasion in the
IIouse. to ask Mr.. Cousens (dem). who
introduced an order To add five democrats
TO the apportionment committee, by
what authority he then said that fifty
thousand democrats desired such action.
Mr.. Couscns replied that in general
way any member OF the minority could
speak Tor 1t.
TIE NEW VALUATION PROJECT
has received its final qietu, by Tic vote
of the House. concuring in the decision
of the Senate TO indefinitely postpone the
whole subject. Parliamentary tactics were
Iesorted TO, but all in vain. The House
upon test vote, taken by yeas and nays.
refused to delay final action. and put =
check to Aroostook's incipcnt effortg by
vote oil Il to SIS.
On "Wednesday. Gov. Perham appoint
cd Rev. F. w. Tolman. Pennington, TO
solcmnize Marriages; Stephen l.. Good.
ale. Saco. Joseph Percival, Watcrvillc.
Jane; c. Weston, Bangor. Commission
4 circular on the subject, which we shall
publish next week