The Portland daily press., 1871-02-06
Letter from Augusta.
AUGUSTA, Feb. 4th. 1871.
GATHERING OF RAILROAD KINGS

GATHERING OF RAILROAD KINGS.
The week has been the most active Of the
session. The railroad kings. whom MANY of
the good people begin to fear as monopoists,
have been here from the east, west, north and
south, with their skilliul attorneys. We have
had look at the Boston & Maine railroad
men, who do not often get SO far toword sun
rise as our State capital. Will the charter
that these gentlemen may get specify that a
majority of the directors shall live in the State
of Maine and within its borders have an office?
THE BELFAST AND MoosEHEAD LAKE ROAD.
Then the Belfast railroad men have been up
They are having slight "onpeasantness" with
the Maine Central with which they drove lit
tie the shrewdest trade that was ever consum-
mated in the State; a trade it is said that
well, perhaps 1t Will all come out fiSht. Littie
stories will get out.
CHARACTER OF THE LEGISLATURE.
Thus far the Legislature has been a working
aud prudent body. All the beggars will get
the quiet leave to withdraw.
sEcTARIAN SCHOOLS
The Senate is making some searching epoui
ries into the grants to sectarian schools 1t is
feared that the good faith OF the State with the
most OF these is SO far pledged that it will be
impossible to undo what has been unwisely
done In the past. Doubtless the past with its
warnings will suffice.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
One of the most laborious committees of the
Legislature is the Judiciary. First the ability
of the body as whole is Of the most respecta-
bic character. Pike and Sanborn are well
known as legal gentlemen of ability and long
experience. Judge Lane, the chairman, has
the reputation of having legal mind, and has
had, for years, an opportunity to observe the
of fhn cto ffo Hn 10 afI h1y
| one OF the first men at the Senate board. Your
correspondent is not well acquainted with the
| Judge, so that he can hardly credit the report
| that he rarely amuses his personal friends
efficient Speaker of last year, is one of the most
| promising of the younger lawyers in the Ken.
| nebec valley. Mr. Foster is a man of industry
and application, which coupled with clear
| and legal mind, give him the place accorded to
him by the common consent of his brother at
| torneys. Mr.. Foster lives in the present and
| does not forget that We have to live in it and
| for It,. He is one OF the progressive lawyers
| Bliss is one OF the irrepressible men. Last veal
he concluded that it was best to attend the late
| Mr.. Peabody's funeral obsequies; but few be-
| leved with him; but the delay of the ship gave
Mr.. Bliss time to work, and SO thoroughly die
| he work the matter up, that all went. His
| great measure this year has been the Cobt
| Lime Company bill-his purpose being to de.
| feat it. The partition" of historic Patrick
1
| session to please the famous Bruce, who hap
pened to be member-wll be harder job tol
| the tireless member from Washington Mr.
VOse of the Senate is another working member
OF the committee. He is rarely absent, and il
| never without decided opinions, which b,
| dares maintain even if he is alone. Last yea
in the House he was convinced that commits
sion on paper credits would do no good excep
| spend an appropriation, and consistent will
this belief he stands nearly alone on the recort
ut U0nS No tI,a h.
useful member-most always tn his place.
| Mr.. Lord of Alfred. Nine years service a
| Clerk OF the Courts has fitted him for many o
the duties of the Legislature. In re-examin
ing the statutes, he found his part of the thre
| pages of errors.
APPoRTIoNMENT.
| The apportionment is beginning to max
quite a site. Some propose to divide the Stat
into thlrty-one Senatorial districts, irrespec
| tive of county lines. or nearly so, which will
| give little over 10000 for a Senator; hut
| larger portion hold to maintaining county line
| and, in the old way, adjust in one branch tn,
difference in the other.
| BOSTON AND MAINE EXTENSION
There is no lack OF conjecture regarding th
action of the Railroad Committee in reservin.
its decision in the Boston & Maine NATTER
Some say they will get leave to bring in bill
| and that this delay is to let the opponents hav,
time to organize. Others say chat it is an in
dicaton that the whole mater will be thrown
| into the House, OF that there will be such {
difference of opinion as to cause two reports
| Next week we can tell.
| MUNICIPAL AID TO MANUFACTURES.
There are rumors that the Justices of th,
Supreme Court who meet on Monday will give
| en- opinion adverse to the constitutionality O
the loaning of municipal credit to manufac
turing enterprises. OF course these gentlemen
will expound the constitution as they see it
| TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR.
So the Star has, by its twinkle, discovered
the author of these letters-was it by the sam,
dim, uncertain light that the "urctious' edi
tor CROPPED through the proof of the revised
atutes? II so, no one who has seen that worl
will ever, if he is sane, believe that he is com
| petent to announce authortatively as the re
suit of his own sight the most trivial affair."
1 s IN