The Portland daily press., 1874-01-23
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Especial to Press.l
The Death PeAalty,

The Death Really.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 22.-The Judiciary Commit
tee gave hearing this afternoon on the bill for
the protection of human life, in the Represent
tatives Hall, which was we'll filed with an at
tentive audience. Judge Goddard and Hon.
G. f. Talbot of Portland, and Rev. CIV.
Quinby of this city, addressed the committee.
Judge Goddard analysed the bill, explaining
and enforcing each section. His remarks were
admirably interlarded with racy touches of
humor and playful sarcasm aimed at the in
congruity of the existing state of things, the
theory of law whose purpose is death in twelve
months from time of sentence and it's practical
operation by which the murderer lives until
he dies natural death at a ripe old age. He
thought the introduction Of lynch law into the
code of the State laws as recently examplitied
in Aroostook county, spring from conviction
among the people that no dependence could be
placed upon the laws now on the statute book.
Mr.. Talbot made an earnest and able argu-
ment, entering into the philosophy of the dis
tinctions in the crime Of murder, and defined
clearly by argument and illustration two points,
viz: That one class of men who commit muir
der are provoked to it by causes outside of
to murder by causes within themselves, viz,
their depraved passions. -e @es
Mr.. Quinby took the general views of the OPP
ponents of capital punishment and denied some
of the propositions laid down by the others,
such as the proportionate increase of crime to
the laxity of the laws. ..-ess s,
The committee adjourned to Tuesday after
noon next, when it is understood strong ar
ray of talent will appear against the bill, 1t is
quite probable that bill will be reported en-
bracing some of the features of the present bill.
The Editors and Publishers.
The Maine editors and publishers met in an
nual convention in the Senate Chamber this
evening. There is a full attendance After the
election of new members and other routine
business, the following officers for the ensuing
year were elected:-Presdent, Geo. w. Drisco
of Machias; Secretary, Joseph Wood of Wis
casset Treasurer, G. e. Nash of Augusta; Exc
cutive Committee, Stanley T.Pullen of Portland,
L. A. Emery of Ellsworth, and H. X. Morrill,
of Gardiner. A committee was raised to ar
range for the summer excursion. The meeting
will hold two sessions tomorrow and Governor
Dingley will entertain the members at the Au-
gusta House III the evening.
Varieties.
On the bill to tax dogs, the Agricultural Com
mittee will report leave to withdraw.
The suggestion of Governor Dingley, Satur-
day in relation to National Hall, was COM
mited to sub Committee of the Military
Committee, consisting of Messrs. Hall, Snow
and Small ~ .HE
A hearing will be had on the sale of the gun
house at East Machais and on paying bounties
to the bate ries of the Light Artillery, Jan.
29th
The Committee on Insane Hospital will re-
port the Packard Bill.
All orders before the Committee on Banks
and Banking are assigned to Jan. Goth.
On the matter of throwing sawdust, etc., in
the river at Saccarappa, hearing will be given
Feb. 9TH.
The Judiciary Committee will consider next
Tuesday, IN connection with the Talbot bill, the
bill introduced Wednesday to abolish capital
punishment.
The Committee on Reform School gave a
special hearing to the Trustee of that institu
ton tonight. Nothing of Importance trans
pired.
A bill will be reported granting charter to
the Rockand and Thomaston Water Co., with
a capital of 100000.