The Portland daily press., 1875-01-19
BY TELEGRAPH.
FROM AUGUSTA.
legislative Matters.
Comment on the Coming mcssagc-The
RAILROAD Tnx-RailrOad Accident, ETC.,

RAILROAD Tax-RailrOad Accident, ETC.,
Especial to the Press,l
AUGUSTA, Jan. IS.
Monday is dull day and little business was
done as there was not quorum in either branch.
The expected special message of Gov Ding
ley is yet topic of general comment in official
circles. There are those who are striving hard
to make it unpopular before they know what it
really contains. He will simply lay before the
Legislature in detail the expenditures of the
government the past year, and suggest those
items where he thinks reduction may be
made without detriment to the public interest,
The Republican party has pledged the govern
ment to pursue a policy of strict economy IN
the conduct of state affairs, and the people de-
mand that the pledge be kept.
The letter in Saturdays PRESS relative to
railroad taxation is yet commented on. The
writer assumes that the Governor is judge of
the laws ard should execute only those he
deems constitutional. There are those who be-
Iieve it is the duty of the executive to enforce
the laws made by the Legislature, and for the
courts to determine their constitutionality. If
he finds difficulty in the enforcement he
should notify the Legislature of the fact and
ask for remedy. As to the application of an
injunction being novel, it is answered that that
is the remedy provided by the Massachusetts,
statute which has been in force dozen years.
The question before the Legislature is not the
consttutiouality of the law but the means of
enforcement. When case is made up the
courts will determine that fact
rrt al. 49,,
meets tomorrow. There appears to be an eff
fort to bring this method of revising the con-
stitution of the state into disfavor by the use
of one and another argument. 1t is not the
purpose of the commission to offer the people a
new constitution. but rather as committee of
the Legislature, to consider certain Portions the
amendment of which seems very necessary. L!
is thought that three weeks will afford ample
time to do the work. Hon. j. G. Madgan, one
of the commissioners, telegraphs from Mead
am Junction, on the European & North Amer
lean Railway, that he is 'snow bound.'
The train which left Portland at one o'clock
for Bangor was thrown from the track about
half mile this side of Riverside, Vassalboro.
The engine, postal and baggage cars were tip
ped over, but the passenger cars sustained no
damage. The accident was caused by the track
men having a rail out. Signal was set but it
was not seen by the engineer in time to stop
the train. as it came around curve. A train
came down from Watervlle and took the pas
sengers on. A wrecking train was dispatched
from this city. 1t was reported that the Pull
man train will be detained from two to four
hours. No one was hurt, and the damage is
light
Representative Powers of Houlton, fell on
Friday and sprained his ankle so severely that
he has been unable to leave his hotel.
At II o'clock tomorrow both branches of the
Legislature will vote for United States Sena =
tor
Senator Haskell will introduce bill to-mor-
row to increase the number of directors of the
Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad Company so
that another may be given to New Hampshire,
as required by the laws of that state. S.