The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-01-30
Maine Legislature.

In the Senate, 22d. bill was reported
amending the insurance laws; also one
amending city charter of Ellsworth. Bill
to incorporate Bath and Portland Railroad
passed to second reading. In the House,
bill to promote the efficiency OF public
schools was discussed.
In the Senate, Thursday, orders were
passed that the Committee on State Lands
and Roads inquire into the eXpediency of
providing for a survey OF the state lines
or parts of the same between this State
and New Hampshire; that the Judiciary
Committee inquire into the expediency of
amending chapter POS of the laws of 1871,
in regard to the liability of stockholders
in corporations. The Bath and Portland
Railroad bill came up by assignment.
Amendments were offered and yeas y,
nays none, was passed to be engrossed.
The bill relating to fees of County Com
missioners was taken from the table aud
passed to be engrossed. In the House
passed to be enacted bills to promote i'm
migration and facilitate the settlement of
public lands; to authorize Justices Of the
Peace to administer oaths and atfirmations.
The bill to promote the efficiency OF pub
lie schools, was, after an extended debate,
rccommitted to the Committee on Educa-
ton by vote of 121 to 21 The petitions
in regard to Somerset County shiretoWn
were referred, after an extended discus
sion, to the Committee on Legal Affairs in
concurrence with the Senate.
In the Senate Friday, q bill to provide
for the supervision of common schools
was tabled and ordered printed. The
substance of this bill relates to the cleo
| ton of town supervisors who, with the
State Superintendent will constitute a
| board of education. The Supervisors
| should hold town Institutes to instruct
| teachers in the best mode of instructing
| and governing schools, and the examina-
| ton of teachers. 1t provides also that the
State Superintendent shall hold Il Super
visors' and Teachers Institute in each
county. 1t also provides for the 'appro-
priation of $4,000 for these Institutes.
| This bill is intended to supersede the pres
| ent law. A resolve favoring the repeal Of
the bankrupt law passed to be engrossed.
| Legislation inexpedept was reported on
order concerning the legal settlement OF
| paupers; also on a order asking the gen
eral government to further endow agri-
cultural colleges In the House an order
passed instructing the Committee on the
Judiciary to inquire into the eXpediencv
| of rendering a compensation to witnesses
unable to give sureties when committed
| to prison to ensure their attendance in
court. Mr.. Foss of Danforth was declared
| elected in place of Mr.. Johnson of Tops
| field, and Mr. Foss took his seat.
In the Senate Saturday, the bill to pro
| vide for additional safety of railroads, was,
| e De-
| table aud referred to the committee on
railroads. Bill providing in part for the
expenditures of government, resolve rela-
| tive to ceding lot of lard to the u s
| government for cemetery purposes, were
| passed to be enacted. In the house orders
were passed that the committee Of educa-
| ton be directed to inquire into the cx-
| pediency OF amending chap. of the laws
| of 1872, relating to the powers OF cities
| and towns to take land for the location OF
| schoolhouses that when the house adj
| iourns, it adjourn to Monday at 7. M
| Resolve to provide in part for expendi-
| lures of government was passed to he
| enacted, and also bill amending section
| 16, chapter 80, of the revis ed statutes re,
| lating to birds.
| In the Senate Monday, the bill granting
relief to the heirs Of the Brigham. estate
was taken from the table and passed to be
engrossed. Bills passed to amend section
IS. chapter 80, r. S, relating to birds
to amend chapter IS, section 81, relating
to appeals from the decisions of County
| Commissioners In the House large
amount Of private legislation was asked
for, An order passed that the Judiciary
Committee inquire into the expediencv of
so amending the law respecting the call
ing of the annual and other meetings o
parishes or other religious societies. 81
that they may be called by the clerks in
the mode prescribed 10y law. Bill to in
corporate the Portland, Bath and Sea Shore
Railroad Company was passed 70 be en-
| acted