The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-28
Especial to the PREss.l

O'Clock and proceeded to business. Inc resolve
relative to the abolishing of the executive coun-
Gil was laid on the table.
Mr.. Harris presented tine following:
Resolued, That municipal corporations shall
not give money! lend their credit, incur any La
bility or raise money by taxation except 1or
municipal purposes
Mr.. Madigan proposed as an amendment or
addition, the following:
Provided, however, that any city or town, by
a two-thirds vote at any regular meeting called
therefor raise by tax or loan from time to time,
or all at once, sum of money not exceeding in
all s per cent of regular valuation for the time
being and appropriate it to aid in the construc-
ton of railroads, in such manner as they deem
proper, and for that purpose may make CON
tracts with any person or railroad corporation
Mr.. Gilbert offered the following as further
amendment: b Il. .l rfra ..H. li ..t..
Provided, that whatever debt shall be incur
red by such municipality, whether as principal,
grantor or otherwise, shall be paid within TWEEN
ty wears by annual assessments of portion
thereof and the interest accruing.
The amendments were adopted, and the re-
solve as amended passed, and Messrs. Haines,
Madigan and Libby were made a committee to
draw constitutional provision covering the
resolve. =. -, .-4.,.. .1. Y...
II,
effect that persons convicted of bribery in cleo
lions or of having voted under the influence OF
bribe, shall be deprived of the right of suf-
frage, which, with several other propositions
bearing on the same subject, one OF which pro
yides that no person who has been convicted OF
bribery at any election, or voting under the in
fiuence of bribe was referred to Messrs. Tai
bot, Libby and Pike, with instructions to draft
such provisions as they deem expedient.
A resolve was passed to 2, providing for the
abolition of the Executive Council,
Mr.. Rust presented proposition providing
for the election of senators by plurality vote.
The balance of the day was devoted to the dis
cussion of the method of submitting the amend
ments TO the Legislature. f. rq
The first of the remonstrances to which at
tention was called yesterday, made its appear
ance in the House to-day. 1t is printed and is
as follows: We, the undersigned, members OF
Farmers Clubs and others, deeply interested in
the cause of agriculture, respectfully remon-
strate against the recommendation of Gov.
Dingley, for the practical discontnuance of the
publication of the annual State Agricultural
Reports-so valuable and useful to the farmers
of Maine, etc. The friends of the Secretary OF
the Board have sent these documents all over
the state for signature, assuming that Governor
Dingley recommended the practical dscon-
tinuance of the reports" when in fact he made
no Recommendation at all, but the following
suggestion: eff a smaller number of copies OF
pamphet in paper covers, of less than half the
size (of the last 700 pp) embodying only the pro-
ceedings and brief abstract of papers, could
be substituted several thousand dollars might
be saved, should the Legislature consider such
a course advisable. This kind of business may
be carried SO far that some parties who desire
TO see fair play will call out some facts which
will make these hasty maligners feel disagreea-
BILE. These petitions have been circulated by
the Secretary of the Board. r..e...i ..r
The claims of fifteen or twenty towns which
paid money into the State Treasury in lieu of
volunteers in 1864, and which they claim was
not reimbursed to them under the act for the
equalization of bounties are coming promi-
nently before the Legislature There is great
deal of uncertainty about it. A number OF
these towns are in districts represented by Dem
ocrats, and it is said that an attempt will be
made by them to resist all appropriations until
these elsims arein the way of adjustment. The
story will not wash. Some one suggests that
the claims are only to be spoken of with bated
breath. Why? 'ma
The Financial Committee began the consd-
Grafton of the Governors retrenchment mes
sage this afternoon. 1t is understood that the
subject will be carefully investigated, and the
few items upon which money can be saved will
H. TIL tba OF fund nf 1871
is abolished, the reduction can hardly exceed
$25, 900, even by leaving out the military
There was an unusual degree of interest at
tending the hearings to-day. Mr.. Jewett OF
Belfast, amused the Railroad Committee in the
matter of the bridge of the Penobscot River q
Bay Railroad across the river near that city,
the question being whether it should be located
below the wharyes as the company desire, or
above, as it is the wish of many citizens. Tbe
matter was put over for the week.
In the Interior Waters Committee Messrs,
Lewis Barker and W. Fl. McCrilis of Bangor.
made the proceedings decidedly lively over the
subject of supplying pure water-whether that
fluid shall be derived from Treats Falls by
dams, or from Hot Cake or some other pond.
The Railroad Committee voted to authorize
Bangor to loan its credit to the Northern Aroos-
took Railroad Company.
, There was a crowd of business in both
branches to-day, it being the last day for petit
tions and the introduction of new private legis-
lation. A large number of committees made
reports. '1l sgIf slI'ta.a~
The Auburn parties desiring to be set off into
new town had no case, it being shown that
the proposed new town received largely more
from the city government than it paid.
The contested election case Reed contestant
for seat held by Capt Montgomery of Booth
bay, which has been considered to-day, will be
decided in favor of Reed, six members of the
committee being reported in favor of Reed.
The Education Committee failed to come to
any agreement on the petition of the officers of
the Industrial School for Girls, asking for S.
O00 ..,..,. ..t....., . .Ir ..
The Judiciary Committee find the work OF
preparing bill to enforce the railroad tax
rather difficult one. The surroundings of
some of the roads are SO peculiar, particularly
the st. Lawrence, which is leased to the Grand
Trunk, and consequently has no franchise, that
it will be difficult to enforce tax without
provision for injunction. The measure OF the
committee may not be expected for two or
three days. f'"' ''
% Quite number of Cape Elizabeth gentlemen
are here preparing for the ferry hearing to-
morrow. i-fii r''.-i''' -'
The hotels are crowded again tonight with
parties who are attending to business or are
looking over the Legislature.
[By Associated Press.]
AUGUSTA, Jan. 27.-The Committee on Edu-
cation vote to report a bill amending school
laws allowing distribution of 20 per cent of
school moneys among small districts in towns;
bill to incorporate the st. Augustine School for
Boys at Topsham; bill to enable Bates College
to give the Maine Central Institute $4,000; bill
to enable towns to abolish district system; bill
for compulsory education, compelling scholars
between and IA years to attend school GER
tain specified time; adversely on state uniform
ity of text books s..I -.. s.....
Committee on Railroads assigned Wednesday
next for consideration of petitions for charter
of railroad from Augusta to Lewiston, and for
further consideration of the Bay & River Rail
road bridge at Belfast. M
The Committee on Interior Waters vote to
report bill renewing charter of Bangor Water
Company, extending the time three years, linn
ting the comnanv tn the privilege of taking