The Portland daily press., 1876-02-04
FIFTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE.
AUGUSTA, Feb. 8.

Campmeetlng Association.
The Committee on Ways and Bridges re-
ported reference to the next Leg stature on bill
to regulate the building of the Oeerlng Rail-
road
The Committee on State Lands reported a
resolve appropriating $500 for the road between
Kingsbury Mills and Blanchard in Piscataquis
county.
Senator Haskell presented resolve in favor
of Chas. J. Schumacher of Portland, to pay him
$35 for painting of the State of Maine coat of
arms, the same having been placed in the
Washington Mansion under the direction of
the Ladies' Mt. Vernon Association.
Ordered-That the Judiciary Committee iu-
quire into the expediency of amending chap
256, Sec Z, r. S., relating 20 commitment of
insane persons
The Judiciary Com nittee reported a bill au-
thorzing BARRIERS to do business on Sunday if
municipal Officer deem it expedient.
Mr.. French offered an order asking for an
act requiring certified copy of the physicians
certificate upon which commitment to the
Insane Hospital is made, to accompany the
patient. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
rence Among these was the bill requiring
towns to tax dogs, which was indefinitely post
poned by that branch and concurred in by the
House.
Petitions, ETC., Presented and Refered-Remon-
tide waters in Sullivan; BIZ providing additional
remedies against fraudulent conveyances; remon-
STRANGE of James L.: Wales and 60 others of Bridg-
ton against Normal School at North Bridgton; of
Q. G. Cook and IS others of Casco against same; of
Granville Fernald and At others of Harrison and
Bridgton, against same.
Orders pasSed-Order presented by Gen. Shepherd
directing the Ways and Means Committee to ascertain
the amount necessary to raise by tax to meet the de-
mands Of the State Treasury by Mr.. Sawyer of
South Thomaston, directing the Judiciary Commit
tee to inquire into the expediency of amending Sect
40 chap of the Revised Statutes by striking out the
words, Sand shall assess the taxable polls therein
onesixth part nearly may be, of the whole sum
to be raised.'
Reports of Conanlittees-By Legal Affairs
Committee: Bill an act additional to ch 20
Il. s., relating to arrangements for the benefit
of creditors; bill amending the election laws so
that the names of persons may be added to the
voting lists by afidavits of per sons applying
therefor. (Printed.) Also bill to legalize the
doings of Theo. Naylor as Trial Justice: bill
establishing line between the towns of Corn
ISL and Parionsfield. (Read and assigned.)
next Legislature on petition of j. G. Ingra-
ham ct ais. of Hodgdon for authority to sell
church property; on petition of Selectmen of
Chester for an act relating to wide-rmmed
wheels; also Legislation inexpedent;'' on or
der relative to the expediency of legalizing the
records of the town of Palermo for the last
twenty years; same on petition for law tax
ing dogs.
By the Judiciary Committee: Bill to amend
sections 81 and 30, ch 6 of r. S. and sec of
oh. rs of laws of 1876; bill amending sec. 46,
CHI. r. S relating to organizing plantations.
Printed.
By Land Committee: Resolve deciding lots
of land to Fl. B. Hersey and Caleb Sherman:
also reference to the Judiciary Committee the
order relating to the claims of Madawaska set
tiers.
The Military Committee reported bill to
put the Montgomery Guards on footing with
the other military companies of the State
| Printed.
The Committee on Claims reported leave to
withdraw on petition of John Allen of Pressure
Isle for payment of lot of land.
The Committee on Manufactures reported
bill giving the Maine Dairymen's Association
represen tation in the Board of Agriculture.
The Fisheries Committee reported bill to
repeal the act regulating fishing in Pleasant
river.
A part of the Claims Committee made mi
nority report in the case of the Lakevlle Plan
tation, for reimbursement of money sent there
to by the State Treasurer by express
The general railroad bill was then taken up
Mr. Frank of Portland moved to amend by
striking out the part Of the bill which makes
the approval of the Railroad Commissioners
final in matters of location. Mr.. Pike of CAL
ais and others claimed that the amendment
made the bill nullty. Mr.. Porter when the
am was carried BY rising vote moved
called for the yeas and nays which were ordered
and the question being so taken, the amend
ment was defeated, yeas 26, nays "a. Mr..
White OF Bucksport moved to strike out the
section making Railroad Commissioners elect
i've. The amendment was advocated by
Messrs. White, Powers and Neatly and was
adopted without division. Mr.. Cleaves of Port
land moved to amend this bill by providing
that the county commissioners in the county
where the land is located estimate Tie DAM
ages instead of the Railroad Commissioners, in
sec ID of the printed bill. The amendment
was advocated 10y Messrs. Cleaves, Bass and
others and opposed By Messrs. Anderson, and
Others The amendment was adopted. Mr..
Martin OF Camden moved to so amend the bill
| as to make the railroad companies pay the
commissioners, instead of the State. Mr.
White opposed the bill at length on the ground
that men usually act in the interest of their
| employers. Mr.. Talbot desired to amend by
putting all the powers named in the bill upon
the county commissioners. Mr.. Bass said that
| there was a disposition on the pprt of some
gentlemen to make light of an honest bill and
| an honest attempt to perfect it, He thought
| the State should pay the commissioners since
it got $4,000 year from the roads as taxes. Mr.
| Lamson of Richmond favored the amendment.
Mr.. Porter said that the State could not COM
| pei the railroads to pay the commissioners.
| The amendment was lost by decided VOTE
Mr.. Talbot then insisted Oh his amendment
| Mr.. Warren of Westbrook insisted that his
| amendment to strike out part of a sec
| ton should take precedence as it was offered
first Mr. Talbot said that his amendment was
| to perfect the bill, while Mr.. Warren's was to
strike out. Mr.. Talb0ts amendment was to
| impose all duties now imposed upon the rail-
road commissioners upon the county commits
sloners of all the counties, the decision of
majority thereof to be final. Mr.. Cleaves
"That kills the bill, and is a destructive meas
ure more than that of the gentleman from
Westbrook. Mr.. Talbot to Mr.. Cleaves:
| Speaker decided that Mr. Talbot's amend
ment takes precedence. Mr.. Davis of Portland
moved TO Iecommit Messrs. Powers and Pike
opposed recommitment. Mr. Pike said he was
not in favor Of the present bill. 1t did Mt
please the House. The fact is we are on the
eve of presidential election and members
were a little ticklish about voting on this meas
| ure. (At this remark several members in both
parties shook their heads) Mr.. Powers said
that the bill had been but little changed, only
10 respect to the election of Commissioners and
that of Mr.. Cleaves which leaves the matters
of damages to the County Commissioners. Mr..
Talbot said that Mr.. Cleaves' amendment had
principal powers and conferred the same upon
County Commissioners Mr. Powers said that
the Railroad Commissioners had only to ap-
prove the location. They did not lay out the
road. By the bill. in case of difference of opin.
ion, the Railroad Commissioners were to be the
tribunal The amendment of Mr. Cleaves
simply retains the matter of settling damages
where it now s-with the County Commission
ers. The motion to recommit was lost Mr..
Talbot withdrew his amendment of Mr.. War
len, which is to strike out the part OF the sec
ton comforting upon the railroad commission
ers the powers heretofore exercised by county
commissioners, which conflicts with the amend
ment of Mr.. CIeaves. Mr.. Porter desired to
strike out all after the third section which pro-
vides fol- the organization of companies. With
drawn. A motion to table and print on the
ground that "no fellow knows what's in the
amendment, was lost. Mr.. Porter moved to
indefinitely postpone. Mr.. Talbot opposed
this. The constitution required the Lesisla-
ture to pass general law. He would enact
the first three sections providing for the organ.
ization of companies. The motion to be indefi-
ntely postponed was lost. Mr.. Porter then re-
sumed bis motion to strike out all after the
third section. Gen. Anderson asked Mr.. East
man relative to an amend ment offered by him.
A long explanation. Gen. Anderson moved to
lay the bill on the table to be printed and Tues