The Portland daily press., 1875-02-08
BY TELEGRAPH.
FROM AUGUSTA.
legislative Matters.
Especial to the Press.l
Eaud Agents Report.

the large sales of land made the past year, and
the various expenditures on roads and bridges
The line between Maine and New Hampshire
has been surveyed its entire length, and sulta
BILE and enduring monuments established.
The court has rendered decision sustaining
the states title in the logs and teams seized IN
thellumbering operations upon Township NO.
IL, r. 3. The replevin suits brought against
the Land Agent for timber cut OF the puohc
lots in Silver Ridge and Oakland plantations
and seized by him as trespass timber, nave
been disposed of in a satisfactory manner
The only other suit now pending in connection
with the state lands, is that involving the ie-
gality of proceedings in the organization OF the
nlantation of Vanceboro', so as to limit the
right of the party to cut undes his deed from
the state. There are certain claims OF seI-
tiers on the disputed territory" that remain
unsettled.
The Swedish colony, introduced originally
into this state in 1870, continues to thrive. ana
to give satisfactory evidence of its final sue
cess. The first years of such an enterprise are
attended with more or less encouragement
but these discouragements are gradually melt
ne away and the colonists are becoming con-
tented unhappy in their new home A few
families have been added the past year, the
erops have been extremely abundant, and the
colonists have been very fortunate IN gatner-
ing them in. Some who strayed OH 10 the
Western states. have returned satisnee that
they can do better here. During thepast sea-
son about 500 additional acres OF land have
been felfed and cleared for next years crop,
and many improvements msde upon the build
ipps. About $50 farms in ali have thus far
been taken up by as many different families
and single men, and some 1000 acres in all
brought under cultivation, the whole popuia
ton now actually on the territory being apou'
GOO Besides this quite number OF Swedes
have gone into other parts of the state, and
proye a very industrious, temperate, intelligent
and honest population. The colony now EN-
braces the entire township of New Sweden,
eyery available lot in which has been taken up
and also parts of the adjoining townships OIL
Woodland, Lyndon and Perham.
About 900 acres of timber lands remain to
be guarded and overseen, until payments are
made for the same or lands sold and money re-
ceived therefor.
A slow but constant success has attended the
settlement Of our vast public domain; about
forty townships have been so far settled that
interpretations into towns or organization into
plantations have already taken place. ana
others will soon follow, 54l, 644 acres having
been thus far actually taken up by about 4oOo
families, Number of acres thus settled or tax
en- up during the past year, for which new GER
ifcates have been granted, has been $780,
q nd during the same time 1928 acres have
been conveyed to those whose previous con-
tracts had been satisfied by performance OF
their settling duties The towns and planta-
tions that have grown up unoer the fostering
care of the state, through its land office, snow
q present population of about q, 450 souls. The
present number of acres remaining unsold and
unsettled in the townships thus set apart, IS
about lag. 900. The settling lands of Maine are
-sasfpg the richest in New England, and if
properly husbanded and cared for, the enter
prise of peopleiDg them with rich populatloh
must prove successful. The Land Agent is
confident that the services of the department
cannot at present be dispensed with. Paid
into the state treasury, the past year, from this
department, $64,C5622.
Value of lands contracted to actual settlers
by land certificates, during thepast seven
years, $11S,6O627; lands contracted to Swedish
immigrants during the same time, $500;
lands conveyed for cash and cash securities
$1SO,617.71.
Constitutional Commission.
Mr.. Rust presented rep ort in form entitled
'sElection of Governor by plurality as follows
SEC. /. The Governor shall be elected by a
pluralitylof votes given in by the qualified elect.
ors." 1t also provides for changing majority
to minority" whenever it occurs.
Adopted7 to 3,-Messrs. Gilbert, Libby, and
Robins voting no
The same gentleman presented report en-
titled, ELECTION of Senators by plurality"
Section first provides that senators shall be
elected by a plurality of the votes given by
qualified electors, and further provides for
striking out the word majority" where it oc-
ours and inserting instead thereof the words,
"plurality." Adopted to-, Messrs Gilbert
and Robins voting no.
Mr.. Pike presented report entitled: "Land
Agency" as follows: Section 10 of art. of the
amendments is hereby amended by striking out
the words, "Land Agent and" Unanimously
adopted.
After protracted contest, the following was
adopted unanimously in lieu of the section
numbered IA, and is the amendment which will
be sent to the Legislature:
SEC. IA. Corporations shall be formed under
general laws, and not be created by special acts
of the Legislature, except for municipal pur-
poses, and in cases where the objects of the
CORPORATION cannot otherwise be attained; and,
I, fhau chalI foraVaP he SuhIpct
to the general laws of the state.
The following was adopted as an amendment
to art. 9:
Amend sec. s, art. 9, by inserting after the
word 'sreal' the words 'fand personal"
SEC. 5. All taxes upon real and personal
estate assessed by authority of this state, shall
be apportioned and assessed equally according
to the first value thereof
Also to amend. the same article by adding the
following:
SEC. 8. The Legislature shall never. in any
manner, suspend or surrender the power of tax
alton.
The following report was accepted to 2.
sAmend article six, section seven, by strik-
ing out of the first line fireworks Judges
and"
Add to said article the following:
Sec g. Judges of Probate shall be appoint
co Dy Tue Executive power lu6 SAINT DIS Fdby
other judicial officer, aud shall hold their Of
flee for the term of four years. Provided, how
ever, that the present officers shall hold their
office for the term for which they were elected.
The following, relating to the appointment
of Judges of Municipal and Police Courts:
Amend the constitution by striking out sec.
5 of art. 6, and insert the following:
Judges of Municipal and Police Courts shall
be appointed by the Executive power in the
same manner as other police officers, and shall
hold offices for the term of four years. Pro-
vided, however, that the present incumbents
shall hold their offices for the term for which
they were elected
DR.. Robins submitted the following report
from committee, and he was very vehement
in supporting the measure, that the state
should be restricted from giving aid or endow
ing the higher institutions of learning. 1t was
proposed to be substitute for art. of the
constitution.
A general diffusion of the advantages of edu-
cation being essential to the preservation of the
rights and liabilities of the people; 20 promote
this important object the Legislature are au
thorized and it shall be their duty to require
the different towns to make provision at their
own expense, for support and main tenance of
comU on schools; and by such other measures
as the Legislature at its discretion may devise
to establish and maintain system of public in
e ~ hn,af 90 II