The Portland daily press., 1876-02-03
Especial to the Press.l


General Railroad bill by Mr.. Pike of Calais.
He did not dwell at length upon the first Sec
tions of the bill relating to the organization of
railroad corporations. He considered at length
on the 9th section, which provides that the
Railroad Commissioners shall be elected at the
next state election and every second year there
after on the principal of minority representa-
ton. By this each voter is to vote tor two per-
sons and no more, and the three persons having
the highest number of votes shall be declared
elected. Mr.. Pike says that this system would
compel political parties to put forward their
best men. He had no fault to find with the
present board. 1t was an excellent one. Still
party exigency might hereafter make it COZ
venient to reward a: partisan by an appoint
ment as railroad commissioner. He desires to
put it beyond the power of the Executive to
yield to party demands
Mr.. Pike briefly alluded to sec 10, which is
as follows:
Sect. TO- Said corporation shall have the right to
establish and collect such tolls for the transportation
OF passengers and freight its road the direc
shall deem fair and reasonable, and have lien
on its freight therefor but upon what shall at any
time be deemed by the railroad commissioners suf-
fcent complaint. by interested and responsible par
ties that the tolls are unreasonably high, they may
revise and establish them, after due notice and hear
ing, for time not exceeding one year. And the
commissioners before directing said hearing shall
give opportunity to the company complained OF to
reply to the charge made against it.
Mr. Pike also moved to amend Sec IL, fixing
the compensation of the commissioners at S.
per day by making the same payable by the
state. He said that the railroad companies
now paid the commissioners in order to keep on
good terms with them. There was no law re-
:. Al 4 rl.o
nual tax of $50, 900 from the roads, and it was
but reasonable that the state should pay its
officers. The balance of the amendments are
given in the regular report.
A very spirited debate sprung up over the
amendments comforting the power of settling
all land damages upon the Railroad Commits
sioners as provided in sections IL and 10, in
which many of the younger members of the
House participated Mr.. Frank took a
prominent part in the debate and spoke with
clesrness and to the point. AS much could be
said of Mr.. Cleaves, although he did not speak
at length. Gen. Anderson advocated the
amendment as at first given. He thought the
commissioners the best judges of the matter
and that the carrying of the matters into the
courts involved both parties in needless ex-
pense The lawyers expressed great surprise
at the delicate insinuation that as a class they
do not work for nothing.
1t is probable that other amendments will be
made to the bill. Many members think that
the Railroad Commissioners should be appoint
ed instead Of being elected, and it is probable
that move will be made tomorrow to amend
the bill in that respect. The opponents of the
original amendments carried their points.
Senator Swazey opposed the Orono College
appropriation this morning in as forcible
speech as could be made on that side. He would
reduce the appropriation to $4,000.
The Governor has received petitions for the
appointment of A. D. Cornish for Municipal
Judge of Lewiston.
The Legal Affairs Committee voted this af-
ternoon by majority vote, to report bill to
authorize aldermen of cities to put names upon
the voting lists affidavts of persons that they
are entitled to vote in the city to which they
present such affidavit. This is a very danger
Gus measure and will be followed by fraud.
Mr. Cleaves and others will present minority
report. Under this measure an alien will only
have TO sign or make his cross to an affidavit
made by ward politician to become voter.
Those who desire the purity of the ballot bsx
will oppose this measure.
The same committee will report Mr.. Cleaves'
bill preventing creditors from dividing their
accounts SO as to obtain several executions
against debtors thereon.
The same committee will report bill requil-
ing the Secretary of State to send out the cleo
ton return blanks by mail instead of having
the .sheriffs distribute them. The state will
save about $1,000 by the change.
The Financial Committee to-day gave
hearing to the friends of the Maine General
Hospital on the merits of that institution. Its
work and claims were ably set forth by Drs.
Greene, Tewksbury, Gilman of Portland, and
DIR. Horr of Lewiston. They made very ia
yorable impression upon the committee. They
ask for $4,000. Immediately after the friends
of the Homeopathic Hospital presented their
claims and designs. A. A. Strout presented
the matter with great force. This medical
school proposes to establish hospital on the
cottage plan. Drs. Burr of Portland, and Bell
of Augusta, also addressed the committee.
At a meeting of the legislative boarders at
the Augusta this evening President Hyde and
Mr.. Talbot of the Senate, Speaker Robbie and
Messrs. Strickland and Stone of Biddeford, were
made committee to make arrangements for a
legislative party to take place next week
Senator Bracket was chosen Treasurer The
party will be one of the most brilliant ever
held at the Augusta House. 1t is very gay at
the Augusta House, more so than for several
years.
large number Of people are still here, the
number of arrivals to-day being larger than
the departures.
1t stated that nearly every member of the
Fisheries Committee is prepared to sign re-
port abolishing the fish propagation scheme.
The general railroad bill when it passes will
be considerably changed. There will be de-
cided push to change the section which makes
the office of Commissioner elective.
The Committee on Towns voted leave to
withdraw to the petitioners asking for a divi-
sion of the town of Montville, but did vote to
set off strip TO Liberty. Hon. j. H. Drum
mond appeared for the remonstrants against
the division, and got his case.
W. w. Bolster has been re-appointed Bank
Examiner, and Geo. F. Dillingham; agent for
Penobscot Indians.
The Legal Affairs Committee will report
bills establishing one term of the Su-
preme Court at Fryeburg, Oxford county; TO in.
corporate the Maine State Camp Meeting As.
ISOLATION; allowing municipal authorities to
say whether barber shops shall be kept omen
Sundays.
The Committee on Insane Hospital will re-
port bill requiring a certificate of physician
before admitting patients to that institution.
To morrow public hearing on capital PUB
ishment will take place in Representatives
Hall. The Society of Friends will be largely
represented. s.
MATTERS in MAINE.
MIR. DevIin Again.