The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-06
BY TELEGRAPH.
FROM AUGUSTA.
legislative Matters.

Especial TO the Pressl
Printing-MiIeage of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
meut, ETC.. etc.
There was barely quorum present in the
House to-day. a large number OF members be-
ing either at home or visiting the Orono Col
lege or State Prison.
The Argus made very big boo over the ex-
penditure for printing shoot laws. The propo-
siton was Objectionable only because it was
made by an order which does not go to the
Governor for approval The cost of 5000 copies
will be about $3.50.
The question of mileage of members is one
that is at present disturbing the members. The
constitution and the statute conflict. The for
mer makes no provision for the mileage of the
Senate, but provides that the members of the
House shall have their travelling expenses paid
to and from home once. The past three years
the Legislature has construed the constitution
and law in such manner that mileage is al
lowed at the rate of twenty cents mile each
way. This construction was first given by Mr..
Carleton at Whitefeld, at II o'clock at night
session. The matter will probably be adjusted
by the Judiciary Committee to which it has
been referred. If nothing but expenses is paid
as suggested by Senator Holbrook's order, many
members would lose large part of their pay.
The Financial Committee held protracted
meeting this afternoon, at which it was under
stood that the subject of retrenchment was
fully considered. The members agreed to keep
their own counsels and conclusions until they
were prepared to report. 1t is fair to assume
from the make up of the committee and as well
as the consideration its members are giving to
this important subject, that their report will be
acceptable to the real friends of retrenchment
in the Legislature.
The Committee on Railroads to-day decided
to report a bill relating to fencing railroads,
providing that if fences are not built within
thirty days after notice by owners of land abut-
ting, such roads shall pay to such owners $780,
Such notice is to be given between the 10th OF
April and the last of October. In the matter
of the location of the Penobscot River q Bay
railroad at Belfast, it was voted to insert pro-
viso that the location across the harbor cannot
be below Lanes wharf. The extension of the
charter was then granted for five years.
A hearing was also given on the charter for
railroad from Augusta to Lewiston, passing
through Hallowel, Gardiner. West Gardiner,
Monmouth, Litchfield, Greene, Wales and
Webster, the company to have more than 10000
shares of stock at $50 share, the location to
be made previous to Dec. 31st, 1878. 1t was
represented that the road could be built for
$4,000 mile, and save twenty miles. No one
opposed. The charter will be granted.
1t is understood that the members of the
Legislature at the Augusta House will give a
grand hop next Thursday or Friday night,
probably the latter.
cannot learn that there is any foundation
for the declaration of Boston paper that the
politicians at the Augusta House have decid-
ed to nominate Hon. j. III. Drummond for
Governor.
Constitutional Commission.
AUGUSTA, Feb 5.
The fifth report was presented by the Com
mittee, of which Mr.. Talbot is chairman, and
is entitled bribery at Elections" and is as
follows:
Sec. l. No person who shall receive, expect
or offer to receive or pay, offer or promise to
pay, contribute, offer or promise to contribute
to another to be paid, or used any money or
other valuable thing as compensation or re-
ward for the giving or Withholding vote at an
election, or who shall make any provision to in
fluence the giving or Withholding of any such
vote, or who shall make or become directly or
indirectly interested in any bet or wager de-
pending upon the result of any election, shall
vote at such election; and upon challenge for
such cause, the person so challenged before the
officers authorized for the purpose shall receive
his vote, shall swear and affirm before such Of
ficers that he has not received or offered, does
not expect to receive, has not paid, offered or
promised to paw, and does not intend to pay;
contributed offered or promised to contribute,
and does not intend to contribute to another to
be paid or used, any money or valuable thing
as compensation or reward for giving or with
holding vote at such an election, and has not
made any promises to influence the giving or
Withholding any such vote, nor made or become
directly or indirectly interested in any bet or
wager depending upon the result of such cleo
ton.
Sec. 2. The Legislature, at the session there
of next after the adoption of this section shall
and from time to time thereafter may, enact
laws excluding from the right of suffrage per-
petually or for term of years, all persons con-
victed of bribery at any election, or of voting
at any under the influence of a bride.
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.
SEC. l. The election of such state and couu-
be chosen on the Tuesday next after the first
Monday of November, commencing in the year
eighteen hundred and seventy-six.
SEC. 2. Section of article 2 is hereby abro-
gated. OeCtlOn OF arUlCle III Is aUeDueu Dy
striking out the word September, and substi-
tuting therefor the word November. Section Z
of article of the amendments is amended by
substituting the word November for the word
September in the seventh line of said section as
printed in the Revised Statutes of 1871. Section
of the said article is amended by substituting
for the words the second Monday of Septem-
ber," the words, "the Tuesday next after the
first Monday of November"
The rest Of the section consists in SUBSTITUTE
ing November for September the time of hold
ing the election.
Mr.. Pike presented the seventh report en-
titled "Abrogation of the Council" Section
provides that part second of article five shall
be abrogated. Section provides for the strik-
ing out of the words Council" and "coun-
cilors'' wherever it occurs. 1t also provides
that the Secretary of State shall count the
votes, which is now done by the Executive
Council. Section provides that at shall be
the duty of the Legislature to provide by law
for proper officer, without whose sanction no
money shall be drawn from the Treasury
Mr. Pike also presented the following report,
entitled Qualification:
Sec. l. After the amendments proposed
herewith shall have been submitted to popular
vote. the Chief Justice OF the Supreme Judi
cial Court shall arrange the constitution as
amended under appropriate titles and in proper
articles, parts, sections, emitting all sections,
clauses and words not in force, and making 40
other changes in the provisions OF Language
thereof, and shall submit the same to the Leg,
islature at its next session. And the draft ana
arrangement when approved by the Legisla-
ture shall be enrolled on parchment, deposited
in the office of the Secretary of State and be
the supreme law of the state, and printed copies
thereof shall be prefixed to the books contain
ing the laws of the state.
Sec. 2. Section of article 10 is hereby
abrogated,
Mr. Pike presented report 8 entitled: 'Bien-
NAL elections and Riennia1 coSs;ons Sootiop