The Portland daily press., 1874-02-18
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE STATE CAPITAL.

AUGUSTA. Feb. II.
The New Tax Measures.


AUGUSTA. Feb. II.
The New Tax Measures.
The Committee on Ways and Means gave a
and ice companies, etc Commissioner Paine
appeared md urged the passage of the BILL
Col. Spaulding of Richmond and j. M. Haines
of Augusta appeared in behalf of the ice COM
panies against the ice bill. They claimed that
the ice business was on the average losing
one and presented an array of facts and fig
ures to prove it. The Committee will not re-
port bill.
Hon. j. w. Bradbury and Artemus Libby,
Esq, of Augusta appeared in behalf Of rail
roads against the tax on such corporations
The Committee will probably dispose of this
bill the same as the other 1t was found that
railroad charters provide against tax being
laid on these companies additional to what
they now bear.
The Committee will give a hearing to-mor-
row on the proposition to tax Insurance busi-
ness.
A Breeze.
Quite an excitement was created at the Au-
gusta House this evening by the evergreen
trimmings around one of the chandeliers in
the parlor catching on fire. The room was full
of ladies at the time and general stampede
occurred, the ladies crying fire and water as
they ran into the corridors A bucket of water
extinguished the flames
The Judiciary COMMITTEES.
The Committee on Judiciary gave hearing
this afternoon on the petition of Harrison Ba-
ker to amend the statute so as to take off the
ko,.
gard to selling liquor. Enoch Knight and G.
c. Yeaton appeared for the petitioners and
Joshua Nye for remonstrants who number
1904. The Committee stood four to four with
two absent.
They also gave hearing on the general rail-
road bill. Gov. Morrill, and Hon. j. H. Drum.
mond appeared against the bill and G. G.
Yeaton in favor. The bill was tabled
The order for law authorizing the land
owners adjacent to the Cumberland and Oxford
Canal to retake possession of the land used
for canal purposes, has been withdrawn. F.O.
j. Smith and Col. Mattocks appeared against
it.
The Judiciary Committee voted to report ad-
versely ON the bill to allow nine jurors to rem.
der verdict in certain cases; also on the CAL
ais OOurG Dill.
A bill will be reported tomorrow making
punishment Imprisonment for life in all cases
where it is now death. If this bill fails of en-
actment the Comm ittee agree to report a bill
making more certain the death penalty
Fish Culture.
The Committee on Fisheries gave hearing
on the petition to allow the canal company to
/ to use 1t for the purpose of breeding fish and
ask for law protecting the fish. Mr.. Warren,
member of the House from Westblook, ap-
peared against the petition, giving as princi-
pal reason that it would draw off water now
used for the mills on the river. F. O. j.
Smith and Col. Mattocks appeared for the pc
titioners. The Committee are working to grant
the petition and report bill, provided there
is no cat under the meal, of which they are
afraid. In order to ascertain this they will not
decide before next week.
Varieties.
The Committee on Ways and Bridges will
report bill TO incorporate horse railroad
company to run between Fairfield Village and
Waterville Bay.
The new County of Appleton has been re.
ferred 10 the next Legislature by the Commit
tee on Counties.