The Portland daily press., 1875-01-14
Legislative Matters.
The Request for Wagner's Reprieve and
its siguifcapce-A Contest for an Empty
Henor-Acceptancc Of the Constitution
CemmiSsion, ctc., ere.
Especial to Pre- ss.l


AUGUSTA, Jan. 13
The vote on the passage of the order asking
the Governor to reprieve Wagner until the third
Friday in March cannot be regarded as any
thing like an indication of the sentiment OF the
House on the question of capital punishment.
There are great many men who are In DOUBT
on this subject, and many who fasor the death
penalty could see no harm in postponing the
execution until the Legislature had ample time
to fully consider the subject The subject was
not considered by the Judiciary yesterday. 1t
was the matter of the abolition of imprison-
ment for debt On this the committee was
quite unanimous, and Mr.. Emery is to report a
bill to the committee for that purpose.
There is considerable interest among the
Democratic members relative to the senatorial
caucus Thursday evening. Emery, Rawson and
the Bourbons generally are opposed to Hon.
Bion Bradbury, because he is not so orthodox
as these gentlemen. He has been rather inde-
pendent in expression. The younger men like
Cleaves, Anderson, Toman, Wakefield are
said to be enthusiastic for Mr.. Bradbury, and
il they succeed, will regard it as victory over
the 'Legitimists." ....
All of the commissioners appointed by the
Governor to revise the constit tuition have &C
cepted the office except Messrs. Pike and Mad
fpan, who have not yet been heard from.
The committee on the Governors address
will report in favor of tive special committees,
one on appropriations and expenditures, design
ed to be a retrenchment committee, and anoth
or ON liquor laws. Other committees will hold
their meetings as follows: Interior Waters,
Wednesday, at q o'clock; Agriculture. Thurs
day, at 2 .. IN. Towns, Tuesday, at p. m.
The House Committee on Elections me t to-
day and agreed to take mp the case of Reed,
contestant for the seat held by Capt. Montgom-
cry Of Boothbay, Thursday, Jan. 21st.
The Governor to-day nominated Col. Wildes
P. Walker of Topsham, member of the Board
of Agriculture, vice Prof. White of Bowdoir
College, resigned.
The Senate bill relative to capital punishment
abolishes the part of the statute that the Gov
ernor and Council shall review capital cases,
and makes the sentence of the judge, hanging
at the expiration of fourteen months, during
which time the convict is to kept in solitary
confinement. -..
1t is said that an effort will be made to abol
ish the Office of Insurance Commissioner.
The Cumberland delegation has selected Mr.
True of Portland as member of the committee
on county estimates.
1t has come out that there has been sharp
figuring on the part of the Bourbon chiefs,
whose leader is Marcellus Emery. 1t is said
that they issued an invitation for a meeting the
9Th of January, the design of which was to ar
range the senatorial candidacy and get control.
Col. Bradbury headed off the scheme and call
ed the state committee several days later. EN-
cry protested, but on no avail. Result: The
banquet of January 9Th was given up. 1t is
now predicted that Hon. j. G. Talbot of East
Machias, will stand a good chance to get the
empty honor. r, 5 5.