The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-03
ISpecial to the PRESS.1

The Committee on Gains set themselves to
work to-day and this evening, to the task OF
clearing their docket in the cases of the claims
of the towns for money paid on demand OF the
Adjutant General, and voted to report in favor
of the same. In the case of Messrs. Cook &
Weeks, who purchased lumber teams tress-
passing on state lands claimed by the European
g. North American Railway Company, anu
which were replevied aud held by the owners
owing to some defect in the law, it was voted
60 refuse the parties the amount paid at auc-
ton by them with interest.
The committee also considered the claims OF
several towns for reimbursement for money
paid during the war and not adjusted by the
equalization act of 1860. The facts are as fol-
laws: After the call of Oct. H. 1864, Adjutant
Ger eral Hodsdon caused letters to be written
to 15O towns, etc., which had not filled their
quotas, that unless they sent to him at the rate
of 5000 per man for their respective defclen-
cies, such credits of men as had been assigned
them would be withdrawn and given to other
towns. Only q towns responded and OF these
several have been paid. Sixteen remain un-
maid and the amount due them is about $1,000
The claim is undoubtedly just one. Senator
Stevens, Mr.. Talbot of the House and others
presented the claims. Ex-State Treasurer
Caldwell and Adjutant General Murray testl-
fed respecting the matter. If interest is al
lowed, the amount required will be over $780,
600.
The Committee on Fisheries had very
breezy time this evening over the question OF
repeating the lobster law of last year. bill
was agreed upon which practically prohibits
the packing of Holsters from August LIST to
October 18th, but does not prohibit the CATCH
ing or selling of Holsters. The committee also
voted to report bill making the East Penob'
scot River subject to the statute for fishways.
A subcommittee of the Education Commit
tee, consisting of Messrs. Corthell and Stone.
will give a hearing to those interested in the
supervision of city schools with a view of Sc
curing uniformity in the same. ...
The Education Committee will give hear
ing on the Bridgton Normal school petition.
1t is understood that the delegation OF Cumber-
land will support the measure and the friends
of education are hopeful. The offer OF the
Bridgton people is most favorable and generous
The Judiciary Committee have not yet fully
agreed upon bill enforce the railroad tax.
The bill was amended so that property seized
for taxes should be repleviable by the company
and its assignees. 1t is considered a very vexa-
tous subject, 5st
The committee also informally agreed that
members in favor of abolition of capital pun
ishment should report bill, and Mr.. Emery
will do so in the Senate in a few days. AS be-
fore stated the committee stands In favor OF
abolition to against.
The committee will also report bill allow
ing Nell Weston an opportunity to substan-
tiate his claim against the state in the courts.
The trustees of the Normal schools held
meeting this evening" all the board being pres
ent 1t was resolved to have the course ex-
tended to three years. the first year being con-
sidered preparatory course. Those who can
pass examination in the preparatory course can
enter year in advance.
The Montville division case, a three-sded
contest, was being heard at II o'clock, the com.
mittee being determined to sit it out
The judiciary Committee will also report a
bill allowing fourteen days for filing accounts
in set off.
The Constitutional commission met this
morning at 9 o'clock, all the members being
present but Mr.. Gilbert.
The first topic taken up was the sixth propo-
sition OF Mr. Libby, as follows:
All railroads, canals aud toll bridges shall be
public highways, and all railroads and canal
companies shall be common carriers. Every
railroad company shall have the right with is
road to intersect, connect with or cross any
other railroad, and to connect at the line OF
this state with railroads of other states; and
they shall receive and transport each others
passengers and freight cars, loaded or empty,
without discrimination or unreasonable delay
The matter was debated at length and Mr..
Kimball presented an amendment to strike out
the words: All railroads, canals and toll bridges
shall be public highways; and" SO that it shall
begin: "All railroads, ETC., shall be common
carriers" No vote was taken. ..-
Mr.. Madigau presented the following:
Resotyed That for the encouragement of
manufacturers, municipal corporations may, by
a two-thirds vote, exempt for period not ex-
ceeding ten years, property to be thereafter IN
vested therein in manufactures to an amount
not exceeding five per cent. of their state valua-
ton, and such property SO exempt shall not be
included in the state or county valuation for
the purpose of taxation.
The above was Automatically Messrs. Madi-
gan. Pike and Haines, and opposed by Messrs.
Robins, Kimball and Rust, and tabled for
vote at another time.
The proposition to empower nine jurors to
decide on the second trial of civil case where
there has been a disagreement at the first, was
aiken up, discussed and then Withdrawn by the
mover. Judge KeIt said he had been struck
all his life with the remarkable common sense
fairness of the vast majority of verdicts
rendered by jures. When jury went wrong,
il went very wild.
It. is now understood that the commission
have considered all the subjects short of to-
tai revision of the constitution, and that here
after its work will be confined to the prepare
tion and presenting of reports.
No regular session will be held in the morn
ing as the members will be employed in putting
their work in form in committees ...r
A pressure is being made in certain quarters
to put the work Of the commission over to the
next Legislature. The argument used is that
the people should have time to consider the
proposition of so great moment 1t may be
safely said that certain parties fare using their
efforts to bring this about.
AS matters now look the appropriations for
the various charitable and educational institu-
tions will be quite as large as last year. The
various sections of the state are uniting their
dalaoations tn nrovida for their own section.