Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-02-20
Correspondence.
AUGUSTA, Feb. Is, 1873.


Nothing is to be desired in the way OF
weather. In consequence Of visit OF the
Committee on Education, to the Normal
School at Pennington, ! had not the pleas
ure Of communing with you last week.
Pennington must be a charming place in
summer-it now has coat of snow that
would astonish the jewellers near the sea
coast. A strong wind at four degrees be-
low zero, almost entirely failed to enticc
us abroad to explore the place and admire
its beauties-in fact consider it very
weak argument for going forth at all, il
one has comfortable quarters within.
The Normal School is doing an excellent
work. The term commenced on the 4th
| inst. There were present 81 young ladies
and II young men: others are away teach
ing and will come In when their schools
| close. Pennington Is noted for its educa-
| tional institutions,
| The celebrated Abbott Family Boarding
School for boys at Little Blue. is located
there; also the Family Boarding School
for girls at the Willows. This is most
beautiful and commodious house, as near
ly perfect in all its appointments rs any
similar house in New England. ] think
its cost was upwards of $4,000. The May
School for both boys and girls completes
| the list.
Governor Perham delivered his lecture
upon Success and its Conditions last
week. TO large and appreciative audience.
1t abounded in good points-woud that
every youu. man in the State could have
| listened to tit could hardly have failed
tn stimulate within them higher resolves,
and nobler ideas OF manhood.
One day last week, after the session had
closed. Young America, in the persons of
the pages. organized the House and run
| the machine on their own account. One
assumed the Speakers chair. and the 9TH
ers the seats as members. They COM
menced passing orders and resolutions with
/ great gravity and zeal. displaying a knowl-
edge of parliamentary law very credit able
to the embryo legislators. Many of the
reverend, bald-pated, gray bearded Solons,
watched the proceedings with great inter-
est, aud frequently INDUCED in audible
| smiles.
| Legislative work is being vigorously
/ prosecuted. The committees are rapidly
dispo,ing of the work before them. indeed,
they are ordered to report finally on the
18th inst. but they certainly will not be
| able TO do 50.
The Committee on State Prison reported
a resolve appropriating 5000 for the pur-
( chase of steam fire engine and hose for
the prison, and 5000 for the completion
Of the wall on the West side OF the prison
/ yard, and for repairs.
| An effort has been made to obtain the
| passage OF general railroad law, but with
out success. An Act to amend chap. lis,
sec. OF the revised statutes relative 10 the
| penalty for placing distractions on rail-
roads, making the penalty not more than
sixty days solitary confinement, and inn
| prisonment at hard labor in the State
| prison for life. will pass.
An Act TO increase the compeu sation of
the members of the government. was in
troduced. but il will not pass. A resolu-
ton was passed iustructing our Congress
men to favor measure to .apportion the
| public lands of the United States. Ia the
different States for the support of educa-
ton. The Committee on Banks and Bank
i"s' reported ought tn pass" on bill an
Act 10 incorporate the Hancock Co. Saw
ings Bank. \ resolution WAS introduced
! N
new hospital building for the insane, North
of the engine house, on line with the
present hospital building.
An attempt was made TO raise the pay of
Experimenting School Committees. from
| $50 10 $500 per day aud expenses ). but
without success.
4 bill creating Board Of Trustees TO
have the control and management OF the
| Normal Schools. is under consideration.
| The Board is TO consist OF seven men,
befs, of whom the Governor and State
| Superintendent of Schools, are to be two
the others are 10 be appointed by the Gov
ernor, for periods not exceeding three
years.
This will give these institutions a public
recognition and character which have not
always been accorded to them. A new
draft of the free high school bill has been
reported, and it is hoped will pass. The
yeas and nays were called on the bill 10
increase the school mill tax, and it was
| rejected by vote OF Sc to IS So the tax
will remain As before, one mill on the
valuation of the State for the support OF
schools. a resolve providing for survey
ing and marking the line between Maine
and New Hampshire, was Passed to be
engrossed; also an act to incorporate the
Androscoggin and Oxford Railroad Com
pany. The act providing for compulsory
education" was discussed at some length.
and then indefinitely postponed by vote
OF 81 to AZ. Then came up the b:ll to pro-
vide for compulsory vaccination" which
after being amended SO as to deprive it of
its compulsory feature, was passed. Thus
have indicated some of the more mpor-
tant measures that have come before the
Legislature.
The call for special legislation has been
large, and greatly tends to protract the
session. Desirable as it may be to gene
ralize in the construction of laws. it i
practically a very difficult mater; the
widely increasing diversity of interests in
our State, attended by ever varying cir
cumstances, requires in many instances
special legislation to exactly meet the
wants of particular cases.
The Legislature of 1872, convened
Thursday afternoon and held post norton
session. On sending a message to notify
the Governor of the organization of the
two Houses, his chair was found vacant;
whereupOn. in convention they proceeded
to choose a Governor. The choice fell
upon Hon. L. H. Hubbard, who forthwith
appeared and addressed the convention in
very ingenious and humorous message.
| In which the interests of the third branch
OF the Legislature, (the Lobby were par
ticularly commended to their protection.