The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-12
Especial to the Press.l

Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Feb. IL.
The combined vote of the Senate and House
last year ON the capital punishment question is
the same as this year.
The head money matter came up before the
Legal Affairs Committee this afternoon, and a
satisfactory compromise bill was agreed upon,
by which the steampship companies bringing
immigrants are obliged to return them at their
own expense, if they become paupers, within
year.
The Committee on Bridges stood and on
proposition to require counties to support
bridges on all county roads in towns where the
cost of the same was more than $500.
Land Agent Burlegh has just completed an
investigation for the purpose of ascertaining
the amount of lands claimed by settlers under
the treaty of Washington. The amount is
6,S7l4 acres. The quantity is not so large as
was anticipated, and further inquiry leads to
the conclusion that the apprehension of the
PRESS last fall, growing out of the indefinite
character of a resolve to reimburse these claim
ants for the same, while entirely warranted by
the circumstance, cannot any longer be enter
tanned. The settlers should have their money
which the state has received and given to the
European Railroad. The corporation and not
the state should pay the 81, 1854 due the claim
ants.
Before the Agricultural Committee to-day
the farmers of the town OF Cumberland beat
their ploughs into swords, and the way they
brandished their fguratiye swords in war of
words was astonishing. The war was about
the chartering of a second farmers club in that
town, the Osgood party being the petitioners,
and the Prince party the remonstrants. Every
thing was parliamentary, but nevertheless
there was a freshness about it that made 1t
amusing. The Osgood party succeeded.
There is an evident purpose in certain direc-
tions to delay legislation respecting the Land
Agent so that adjournment will find the mat
ter unsettled
The rumor which has been set afloat to the
effect that Gov. Dingley would decline to be a
candidate again, has brought several gentlemen
to Augusta to file claims for the succession.
Gen. Connor and Mr.. Drummond do not appear
to be among the number. 1t will be time
enough to volunteer when Gov. Dingley de-
clines.
The Judiciary Committee to-day agreed to
present resolve to the effect that each branch
of the Legislature consider the several pro-
posed amendments submitted by the Constitu-
tional Commission separately, amend, reject,
or substitute and submit to tie people such as
receive two-thirds vote. A number OF gentle
men are working busy either to have the re-
suit of the Commission sent over until next
year or thrown away entirely. 1t does not seem
possible that the scheme will succeed.
The Legislature is apparently dead set
against the military appropriations. The Com
mittee's recommendation will come to grief in
that unmartial body. Mr.. Swasey of the
Committee will oppose the appropriation.
1t is understood that the Cumberland and
Oxford delegations are nearly unanimously in
favor of the Bridgton Normal School bill which
has passed the Education Committee, and
majority of York is the same way The pros
pect of success is encouraging
Liquor COMMISSIONER Report.
The report of VIM. c. How, Esq, Liquor
Commissioner, was presented to the Legislature
to-day 1t shows that the total value of sales
the year ending Nov. 3Oth 1874, was 7,648.-
Is. The following are the larger amounts
which cities and towns have purchased:-Au-
burn, $2,699.25; Bangor, $5,5O619; Bath,
81, 566.4S; Belfast, $477.13; Bethel $2,397. "a;
Bingham. $1,2S3.O6; Brunswick, $1,349.90;
Bucksport $2,222.7O; Dixfeld, $l,649.9S; East
Machias ST. ,33O.52; Pennington, 81, 262.69;
Foxcroft, $1O70.06; Gardiner, $2,230.33; Hal
lowell, $1,6O4.52; Harmony, 81, 27369; Lewis
iston, SIC, ISL. 03; Lowell, 81, 14305; Machias,
81. 596 81; Mexico, $1,759.37; New Gloucester,
S523.62; Norway. $2, 1O819; Portland, S9,711.-
OF; Richmond, 81, 436'67; Rockland, $3OO0S;
Saco, $671.17; Waterville, $3,1S4 Is; White
field, $2,O71 OIL; Wilton, $1.26979.
Report of the Inspectors OF Steamboats,.
The annual report of the Inspectors of Steam
boats shows there have been eight steamers
inspected and nine engineers examined and
licensed All of these vessels were unprovided
with the necessary appliances for the safety of
the lives of their passengers in case of fire or
other disaster, and in some cases the boilers
and furnaces were in dangerous proximity to
the woodwork. These exposures to danger
have been remedeJ, and the vessels equipped
with the necessary means of extinguishing
fires, such as pumps, hose, buckets and axes,
and provided with boats and Iife-preservers for
use in case of collision or:other disaster, as re-
auired by law. There are three, and perhaps
more, steamers not yet inspected, owing to the
not getting information as to their locality and
llaDlllty as passenger SIedtherS uutH IHey udV
hauled up for the season.
The inspectors suggest that the better
protection of passengers requires the pilots to
be licensed and to produce evidence of ability
and good character, at the same time permit
ting them to act in the double capacity of
masters and pilots, and to be held accountable
for misconduct or wilful negligence.
ITO the Associated Press,
To-day the Education Committee voted to
report bill to establish the Bridgton Normal
School; to abolish teachers institutes; to re-
port bill providing that the school funds shall
be distributed on the number Of scholars who
attend school three weeks, instead of on the
total number of scholars in the terms; also to
report bill to require town officers to return
to the State Superintendent the amount of
money actually expended for schools before
they can have their portion of the state school
funds; also resolve to print 5000 copies of
school laws for the use Of town officers
The Judiciary Committee to-day instructed
Mr. Talbot to report bill abolishing that por-
ton of the laws relative to capital cases requir-
ing the Governor and Council to review the
same and requiring the court to fix the day of
execution when the sentence is pronounced,
execution.
The Land Committee voted unanimously to
to report resolve granting the proposed branch
railway from Lyndon in Aroostook county to
Tobique, N. b., the lands belonging to the state
in that region amounting to about $4,000 acres.
The Military Commi ttee voted to recommend
an appropriation of $4,000 for the state
militia.
The Land Committee considered the question
of selling the claims of settlers under the
Washington treaty.
The Insane Hospital Committee will report
resolve appropriating $4,000 for new chapel
hall, and report $4,000 for a new hospital, the
Governor to appoint commissioners to decide
on the location of the same
The Banking Committee agreed to report
bill providing penalty for such banks as loan
Iuoney on names alone
FIFTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE