The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-05
RY TELEGRAPH.
FROM AUGUSTA.
legislative Matters.
The Constitutional g Commission Hearing
nm Petition o the Maine General HOspi-
taI-Auoiher Regiment of Infantry
Wanted, etc., etc.
[Special to the Press 1

In the Constitutional Commission to-day,
Mr. Madigan offered an amendment to the
proposition authorizing the Legislature to al
low towns TO loan their credit to the amount Oh
five per cent of their valuation to railroads, to
the effect that towns may be empowered 10
exempt from taxation for a term of years such
capital as may come from beyond the limits OF
such town to be invested in manufacturing
purposes The amendment was voted down, D
to s. The second report of amendments IN
due form was reported by Mr.. Talbot. The ar
ticle relates to the removal OF officers by the
Governor, and is as follows
SEC / The Governor may suspend from Of
fee the State Treasurer, the Attorney General,
and auy sheriff, county attorney, county com
missioner, register Of probate, or register OF
deeds, for insanity or imbecllity, or corrupt
practices, gross or whtul non-feasance or
maIfeasapce in office, after such officer shall
have been furnished with specifications OF tue
charges against him, and has had opportunity
to be heard in defence; and may appoint an
other person to perform the duties OF such sus-
pended officer.
SEC q If there shall be no session OF the
Legislature after said suspension, and before
the expiration of the term OF office OF sald
suspended officer, then such suspension snail
he an absolute removal of such officer But II
there be a session of the Legislature atter saiu
suspension, and before the expiration OF the
term of office of such suspended ofncer, sach
suspepson shall not be a removal from once
unless the Legislature, after the examination OF
the charges, which the Governor shall submit
to il, shall sanction the action OF the Governor.
No person removed from office with the sane
ton of the Legislature after the examination
of the charges which the Governor shall sub
nit to it, shall be again eligible to the same
Office, Vacancies in said offices by reason OF
removal shall by filled by appointment
or by election by the Legislature, or by the peo-
aotin for EOynrnOr. senators
and representatives, as the constitution or law
may prescribe in relation to said office.
Adopted, yeas s, nays 2-Gilbert and Pike.
Mr. Hafnes presented report No. 3, entitled
"Restrictons upon Municipal Corpor ations,
as follows:
SEC l. Municipal corporations shall not give
money or properly, lend their credit, incur any
liability, or raise money by taxation, except TO
municipal purposes; provided, however, tnat
any such corporation by two thirds vote, at
legal meeting called for the purpose, may raise
by tax or loan sum of money not exceeding
five per cent. of its regular state valuation al
the time in aid of the construction OF railroads;
and that any such debt shall be paid within
twenty years by annual taxation of not less
than five per cent. with accrung interest.
Unanimously adopted.
Mr. Libby presented report No. entitled an
amendment to article 9, as follows: Amend
article of the Constitution by striking out sec
ton and inserting instead thereof the follow
ing: 4..I.. '-
SEC. 8. The Legislature shall never in any
manner suspend or surrender the power OF tax
alton.
SEC. 9. All taxes shall be uniform upon the
same class of Subjects and shall be levied and
collected under general laws. M .rt1 .....- .
Adopted. ...-. ...r
The Financial Committee gave bearing this
evening in Senator Palmer's room at the Au-
gusta House, to the friends of the Maine Cen
eral Hospital In addition to the members OF
the committee there were present Drs. Gilman
and Dana of Portland, DR.. Hill of Augusta,
Hons. W. L. Putnam and HI. FL. Burgess. ID.
N. jose ESQ, of Portland, and several others
DIR. Gilman set forth the wants of the hospital
stating that there hal been So patients since
the institution was opened. Of that number
but four are from Portland, the balance coming
from all parts of the state. The hospital can
now accommodate so patients. The friends OF
the institution desire to increase its capacity to
100 patients. They can do this with $4,000.
He further elaborated the plan and purposes of
the Institution.
Mr.. Putnam followed, urging the claims OF
the institution upon the whole state.
DR.. Dana also spoke of the work and needs
of the hospital. lau.-
DR.. ELL said that the institution was as per-
feet as any in the country He was proud OF 1t
and felt that the state should be. He had al
ready sent patients there and they had derived
benefits they could not elsewhere.
Mr.. Jose gave detailed account OF the cost
of extending the accommodations.
Mr.. Burgess also spoke in favor of the appro'
priatlon. 64..- +...
1t appeared in the course of the hearing that
the citizens Of Portland had already contrib
uted $780, 900 to found the institution, and con-
siderable subscriptions were now being secured.
1t costs patients in the wards a dollar day.
The purpose is now to complete wards where
patients can be charged from 81 to So day.
None are refused. The remarks OF the gen.
tlemer seemed to meet with favor. Letters
were read from patients, setting forth the ben
efits of the institution.
Gems Chamberlain, Beal. Brown, Mattocks,
Col. Benson, Adjutant Adams, Adjutant Gen.
eral Murray and other gentlemen connected
with the organized militia, had an interview
with the Military Committee in the Senate
chamber this evening. Gen. Chamberlain
favored the organization of another regiment
of infantry, and thought that $4,000 should
be appropriated to military purposes. There
was free interchange of opinion on the SUBJ
ject
The Senate to-day rescinded the order to
print a large number of school laws because OF
the irregular character of such legislation.
Among many acts approved by the Governor
to-day, was that granting further power to the
city of Portland. w
ting down the agricultural reports came to-day.
1t will probably be the last. y-
Another breezy lobster meeting to-day, re-
suited in an agreement upon bill providing
that Holsters may be caught and sold at all
times, but that none shall be canned from
August to Oct LIST. ~tr
The Committee ON Fisheries agreed to report
q bill to incorporate the Cumberland Fishing
Association, being change of name from the
Andro:coggin Fishing Association.
After a protracted hearing, the Banking
Committee agreed to report a bill to incorpor-
porate the Peoples Savings Bank of Lewiston.
The Committee on Interior Waters have de-
cided to report bill giving. the Auburn Acque-
duct Company the right to take water from
Wilson pond through six inch pipe, Tor
strictly city purposes, and to prohibit the furn-
ishing of water from the pond for lewiston
giving the city of Auburn the privilege OF buy :
ing the works any time within twelve months
from their construction, with ten per cent. ad-
ditional. The committee will probably report
giving the Lewiston Water Company perpet-
ual charter, SO that the tw cities shall have
two distinct companies. The committee hope
to clear up the table at their next meeting, on
Wednesday, and report finally on Thursday.
The Judiciary Committee, after long eonsld-
Grafton to-day voted to report bill to enforce
the collection of taxes assessed in 1874 upon
railroads. the proceedings to be by warrant of
distress issued by the treasurer of the state up
on the property and franchise of the road, the
roads to have the right of replevin of such
property. The principal object of the bill is
understood to be to bring the matter into the
courts SO that the legality of the act by which
the tax was assessed may tested. Thisis subs
taptially what the delinquent roads asked. The
Interests of the state are carefully guarded by
the bill. ....l.--r.l
The Committee also reported bill simplify
;pg the nroceednps for relief of poor debtors,