Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-02-13
augusta Correspondence.

AUGUsrA, Feb. 9th, 1872.
Mr. Editor This has been nom.
orabe week in the history of the Maine
Legislature. The capitol buildings have
been crowded 10 OVERLOOKING, day after
day, with hundreds OF men and women,
drawn hiiher TO look after matters OF in.
terest to themselves, or 10 see and listen
10 the discussion of some of the vital
questions OF the day
The passage of the Maine Central Loan
Bill Clearing the impriuts of Consolida-
tion) marks an epoch in the history OF
railroad legislation that viii prove, fear,
Of lasting injury 10 the people OF the
State
Yesterday u final vote was reached in
the House upon the Lewiston IL Danvillc
Junction Charter. after three days OF ear
nest discussion in that branch, resulting
in the passage of the same to be engross
ed. by a vote OF Il To 60. Knight Of
Portland made an effective closing speech
in its favor. Every part OF the hall and
gallery was filed with interested specta-
tors, and when the result WAS decided the
clapping Of hands and the waving OF
handkerchieis expressed the enthusiasm
of It's friends The law CHASING wioe and
cider ms intoxicating drinks, and making
the rumseller responsible Tor the damages
committed by the person intoxicated. pas.
sed the Senate without word OF COM
meut.
The Committee on Railroads refused 10
report bill granting = charter to build n
railroad from Bath To Portland. The mi
nority will bring in Il report Tor charter,
and then you will see another contest, un-
equalled bY any railroad question this
session. The object of the movers is TO
open another through and competing line
to Rockland, thence to Bangor connect
ing with the European d North American
r. II. This will be fought by the NJ. c
interest. with all the power that can be
arrayed against it. The Committee on
Claims, after 4 protracted hearing in the
case OF the Peck Bondsmen, have reserv-
ed their decision until Wednesday next.
A strong feeling prevails to allow Dow
and Cummings, the two remaining bonds
men, to pay their proportion OF the delal.
cation, with interest.
The Committee on Education will re
port finally to-day. The most important
measures reported by that committee are
the laws Tor compulsory attendance;
school mill tax for the support of COM
mon schools; till establishing free high
schools, and uniformity of tcxtb books,
under certain regulations and rcstric.
/ tions.
! One oil the great events OF the week
has been the hearing Of the Women Sui
lrage question before the Committee on
Legal Reform yesterday. in the Repre-
sentative Hall. 1t was announced that
Lucy Stone" would advocate "woman's
rights" before The Committee. Therefore,
long before the appointed hour, every
possible place in the hall and galleries
was occupied with an expectant audi
ence. Mrs. Stone soon appeared dressed
in black Silk. with clean neat handker-
chief pinned about her neck. looking Tor
all the world like good mother OF less
than fifty years. Taking the speakers
stand, she occupied one hour i'll deliver.
ing n speech without notes-iull oil
sound arguments, sometimes truly clio.
quent in her appeals for equal rights ioi
all. She alluded 10 the fact that in Wy
oming, the right to vote thus by women,
had brought about beneficial and salts
factory results; that Il petition, signed
by 10000 women was now before Con
gress. in The hands of Gen. Butler. She
also called attention to the laws of Maine
where Indians, not taxed persons, 40
men and paupers" had no right 10 vote
The committee on military affairs hav
inc visited the Orphan Asylum, at Bath
have reported a bill appropriating nine
thousand dollars for this institution.
In the Senate an act authorizing thu
/ removal of shire town of Somerset Co
in NoIrIdgewock to Skowhegan, and al
act amending the liquor law, passed t
+ be engrossed, without opposition or dis
cussion.
But l am taking too much of you
| space, and will wait another week.
MAINE.