Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-01-29
s-sss -
Letter From the Capital.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 81.
CHANGERS IN SESSION.

meeting of the State Agricultural Society.
1t was big time. For weeks stormy
election had been brewing. Early In the
week were developed, divers. andvappar-
entity incongruous influences. allied to
carry the election by au impet tharge.
The assailants were. superphosphate ven
ders. disaf1ected "2. 10" men. and semi
petrifed "sore-heads." in hostile array
against the men from the field and farm.
whose chief desire is. that the Society
shall continue to be the exponent of prac-
teal industry. and shall not be prosttut-
ed TO illegitimate ends.
Early on Monday. the skirmishers of the
''outs" put In an appearance. and by Tues
day noon. the grand army of kyanized ex-
pectants, were on hand In full force, in
sultingly joyous of their conquest to be
won" Nor. till the hour OF voting. did
they become fully aware of the increased
accessions to the ranks OF those. whom in
their meanness of purpose, they had pro-
voked to the contest. The last vote was
for Secretary, and when count. of i65
votes, l3l were for WATSON. the farmers
candidate. they swore like our army in
Flanders"
AT WORK.
After nearly three weeks in getting un-
der way" the work II legislation. i, under
! full sail. The reports of committees be-
gin to Indicate what there is to be done.
For often, the first reading OF Bill or a
Resolve. conveys no truthful idea Of what
purposed, nor of the heated. or protract-
ell debate. which 1t may provoke. Many
an Act has obtained. when, could 1t
have been unmaskcd. or its intent been
larry understood, would have got the .'go-
by in double quick. Especially true. is
this OF Resolves appropriating money, up
| on which the member from Surry. put "A
dampcr, on Saturday. Among the excit-
| lug questions. are an oyerlmuling of the
I States Prison expenditures. the Insane
! Hospital. aud a mWrieroHs Bill, 10 prevent
/ murders.
Regarding the crime OF murder. aud a
! punishment therefor. there are. a. usual.
] 'H'a' " iNHss rs bbAH tI TIE Leg
| stature. OF these teHder-iosd souls. who
are opposed TO capital punishment This
Is a humanitarian age, YOU know-whcrein
! il one possesses an incstimablc { y passion
for throat cutting. such should be shielded
from the condi;n justice Of the law. That
siekly sentimenialism which screens the
/ hidconsncSs Of wilful murder and seek, 10
one d)lra the punishment due to the devil.
/ volunteers, has it, sequence in lyac hing.
seli-protcction's last resort. The bin be-
| fore the Legislature ''ior the better protcc-
/ ton OF human life 10 Maine" i very re-
markable In some of It's propositions,
One ofiis proyilons. i trial forth
with, Of any person, unprecedented. charged
with capital crime. = wise. and much need
/ ed provision. The same bill contains. a
/ new, aud startling definition Of murder,
( the practical working OF which, would be,
/ to iegait-s that crime. thou ,halt not muir
. der ''cithoR the prococaiioH 81 Il gre II
/ wrong" t.. thatthc existing method o,
/ conducting murdcr-trials, does not have a
sufficient number OF loop-holes for murder
ers 10 escape, and SO look We for another.
TIE INSANE ASYLUM
! The bill of Mrs. Packard's TO protec,
inmates of Insane Asylnms,'' which pro
vidcs Tor 4 board Of commits sioners. two
gentlemen and One lady, appointed by the
Governor, to visit all public aud private
hospitals for the Insane at their discref ,
with power to send for persons or paper,-
and examine witnesses under oath TO as
/ certain ifthe inmates are improperly treat
| ed or unjustly placed there. with pom et u
! discharge any attendant or empluyc merit
/ Ing discharge for misdemeauor; said board
TO report annually TO the Governor. ANY
inemscr OF the board neglectlng TO heed
the call OF inmates for protection, proved
| 10 have been needed shall be deemed unit
! for his Office and discharged. The inmates
/ are To be allowed TO write 10 the board az
will. unless prohibited by the board. Let
/ tiers addressed to inmates 10 be delivered To
| them without bcin, read. \ coroner's u-
| quest To be held in all cases of sudden
! death" l. such bill OF terror 10 the
"Bastile" advocates OF insane protec-
| tion"-that Kind of protection which i'm
! perils the liie-liberty of such unfortunates.
| that square legislative tight must crsue !:
So far as 'Rurar can speak the views OF
the Hancock delegation, the bill of Mrs
| Packard's meets every reasonable objec-
| ton.
SCHOOL MATTERS.
! Who is TO be State Superintendent of
Schools! The generally received opinion
is that it will be a new man. Mr. johnson.
the present incumbent is not popular with
the members. He appears cold supercil-
| ious, aud uuapproachablc. The appoint
ment Is between Hume OF Cherryheld. and
Cortlell Of Calais.
The High School Law rests upon pre-
carious Foundation. Possibly it may es-
cape the wreck OF natter
MAKE WAY FOR THE SENATE.
An half-hour of to-day was whied away
with the dignified council OF elders" If
tile faces ofmost OF the Senators, truthfully
indicate their age, but few of them have
arrived TO the dignity of grandpa
Among the youngest looking, are the Sen
ators from Hancock. Senator Whtmore,
who is serving hi, second term, is emphat-
icaiiy, worker "a his committee docket
shows. He rarely speaks" but is close
observer, and business given him in charge.
receives prompt attention.
Senator Emery, new member, is second
on the judiciary, position which shows
that his peers appreciate his rank as q law
yer. He will prove himself to DO an able
ds.hafar ba nj