The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-03-07
The LEGISLATURE.

| ne adjournment OF the Legislature
| took place on Thursday evening, the 29th
| after a session Of iitty-eight days. 1t is
remarkable for doing some very unexpect
ed things. and for leaving undone some
| things that We're expected of it. The
| Governors earnest recommendation for
several important changes were entirely
| disregarded, not even receiving "honor-
able mention Among these are the
plans for biennial elections, sessions of the
Legislature, and the change OF the day OF
election from September to November
The Industrial School for girls, a new
jail system. and the collection of industrial
statistics, Jared scarcely better. The bill
admitting women to vote for President
and Vice President, which went swim
mnglv through the Senate. was stopped
in'the House by only small majority.
The new law, called the mill school
tax, naugnrates an entirely new system
in the manner OF supporting public schools.
It imposes State tax of one mill on the
dollar, the proceeds to be distributed pro
rata to population among all the towns in
the state-thuS levying upon the property
At large 10 educate the people at large.
While i presents some features of Justice,
this measure is objectionable inasmuch
as it tends to Capitalization, and DESTROYS
in one particular the independence OF the
municipalities There is no more reason
or Justice in it than in a state tax to make
highways. or provide fire engines, or sup
port the poor. The merit of providing
literally for education will scarcely Justify
any and all means of attaining that OBJ
iect,
The measure that will undoubtedly in
eur the most popular hostility is the revi-
val Of the State Constabulary in a new
gGiSc They are clothed with the same
powers conferred a few years ago upon
that very obnoxious class of officials. with
the additional one of authority to even
search the pockets OF persons The only
Improvement upon the Old constabularv is
thai the Sheritfs will be responsible by
their bondsmen for the wrongful seizure
or destruction Of property, which the con
stables We're not. The law is frightened
| up III several particulars-such as re
curing innholders and victualers to give
bonds MOTTO sell intoxicating liquors and
requiring persons con1 icted Of selling tc
1 give bonds not 70 sell for one year. But
| the StrtngeSt ana most inconsistent thing
| of All. is that, while rum is running in
/ the legislature solemnlv passes a law pro
| hibting the sale Of cider, as though it
were the root Of all evil, and the chief sin
ner among indulgences. The folly and
tanatiesn of placing under the ban one
of the moSt pleasant and harmless of bey.
erages- vegetable acid, which is,to some
a necessity OF life, is too obvious to neeo
| argument
Among other prominent acts passed
were those admitting women to the State
Agricultural College at Orono; changing
the Shire Town OF Somerset from Show
hogan to Norridgewock forbidding the
sale of prize packages of candy or sta
tionervi changing the punishment Of rape
and arson, 50 as to make it discretionary
with the court to inhict less punishment
than death; taxing Savings Banks; con
tinuing the old apportionment for Con
gressmen and allowing to the State five
peremptory challenges in impanelng a
Jury for the trial of capital cases