The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-11
BY TELEGRAPH.
FROM AUGUSTA.
Legislative Matters.
The Portland school Bill Sigaed-The
Defeat of the Bill AbOIishing Capital
Punishment, etc.
Especial to the Press.l


AUGUSTA, Feb. TO-
The House made day of it on the capital
nunishmept question, and Rev. DR.. Tefft occu-
pied a large part of the time-as much or more
than all others. There was not only full
house but the galleries were we'll hlled with IN
tarested listeners, and many ladies and GENTLE
men filled the area in front Of the members
seats. Mr. Tefft opened the ball by presenting
substitute for the original bill, which is given
in substance elsewhere. He began by under
taking to prove that the Old Testament did not
sustain the theory of death penalty for murder.
If it did for murder then there were thirty 9TH
er offences punishable in the same manner. In
the covenant which God made with Noah after
the flood, which says whoever sheddeth man
blood, etc., the speaker held that the Hebrew
was SO written that 1t might be translated
swhatever' He also held that the logical sense
of the covenant required that rendering as it
was there being set forth what Noah and his
descendants should eat. God made covenant
with Adam, setting forth what he should sub
sist upon, and this passage in the covenant
with Noah was an extension of this bill of fare
80 as to include animal food. The speaker said
he knew this was right, and called God to wit
ness.
A large part Of the argument was devoted to
the assumed Bible support OF capital punish
ment, which seemed to many out of place, as
the question was not so much one of theology
and morals as of political economy and what
society required for its safety. The most forcl-
BILE portion of DIR. Teffts argument was that
part in which he brought forth cases where IN
nocent men have been hung, and that the rum
shop supplied the gibbet; that the most OF the
men who defended the rumshop advocated the
gallows.
Mr.. Talbot sharply reviewed some of Mr..
Teffts points, and made logical defence OF
the death penalty.
There were twenty-one absentees, including
one member who is dead. Of the absentees,
the friends of the bill claim majority OF them
are for the measure. A member, who Is a
cousin of the murderer Gordon, voted for the
death penalty. 1t is understood that bill will
be introduced to repeal that part of the existing
law which requires the Governor and Council
to review capital cases,
The annual meeting of the Maine Woman
Suffrage Association is to be held in the Rep
resentative's Hall on Friday afternoon and
evening. A business meeting will be held at
the office of Joshua Nye, Esq, on Water street,
at 1O3 o'clock, on Friday. Lucy Stone and her
husband DIR. Blackwell, will both address the
association. Mrs. Abba Goold Woolson and
Rev. Miss Haines will positively speak, and
Miss Eastman of Massachusetts is expected.
The bill relating to the schools of Portland,
providing for school committee composed OF
one member from each Ward, to be elected by
the people at the election, was signed by the
Governor to-day and is consequently law.
The report of the constitutional comm isson
will be presented in the House tomorrow.
The greater part of the committees will re-
port this week or early next. The Railroad
Committee will report finally tomorrow, and
many others will clear their dockets tomorrow.
Many of the members think the Legislature
will be able to adjourn finally week from Sat
urday; others think few days more will be
required.
Gov Dingley has appointed and the Council
confirmed E. M. Stilwell of Bangor, and Hen
ry o. Stanley of Dixfeld, fish commissioners.
ITO the Associated Press.]
AUGUSTA, Feb. 10-The Railroad Commit
tee will report bill relating to the mode of
choosing directors. Cities or towns holding
stock may choose any free holders; also bills to
incorporate the Castine and Ellsworth Railroad
Company; to incorporate the Milo, Brownvilie
& Sebec Railroad; will report adversely on
amendment to law relating to damage on lands
taken for railroads.