The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-11
BY TELEGRAPH.
FROM AUGUSTA.
Legislative Matters.
Retrenchment-TheL Land Scrip Envestl.
gatiOn-The Hospitals-RepOrt in Favor
of the Brid2tOn Normal School.
Especial to the Press.]

AUGUSTA, Feb. 10.
Retrenchment and economy are the order of
1 the day. The vote of the Senate reducing the
| appropriation of the Agricultural College to
$4,000, 1923, 500 being asked for, indicates it. The
| debate in the House to-day and its vote to re.
| duce the per centage of the assessment for the
| state tax, after the chairman of the Ways and
| Means Committee, Gen. Shepherd, distinctly
| informed the members that if the pending ap-
preparations for centennial, colleges and chari-
ties were voted, 81 mills on the dollar would
not be sufficient to meet the requirements of
the treasury, indicate also that it isn't liberal
year. The House gave unusual attention to
the remarks of the gentleman speaking on this
| vital question.
A nice little contest is probable on bill au-
| thorizing the Camden Village Corporation to
l build hall at cost uot exceeding $4,000. This
| village is one of the wealthiest and most -four
| ishing in the state, and strangely enough the
| force of the opposition comes from real estate
holders who live in an adjoining village. The
question is likely to take political turn though
all of the parties interested are Democrats.
The Republican members of the committee IA
vor the petitioners, but Mr.. Gould of Thomas
ton, the counsel for the remonstrants, seems to
have opened the eyes of the young Democratic
lawyers to the awfulness of allowing MAORI
ty of the voters of large village to vote mon
ey for hall.
The invitations are out for Governor and
| Mrs. Connor's reception at Granite Hall, Thurs.
| day evening.
The House Committee on Elections will re.
port the election of George Fl. Thayer of Ply
mouth, Republican, to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by the death of Mr.. Getchell
The land scrip investigating committee met
here this evening. Only three of the Republi-
can members and all FIVE of the Democratic
members were present. The papers in the de-
partments here were examined, and it was
agreed on all sides that the records were all
right The committee then considered the
matter of summoning gentlemen supposed to
know about the sale. The talk was quite gen.
eral, and suggestions were made to send for
this and that man, until some Republican nam
ed DR.. Jordan of Bangor. Then the first per-
Torrance in the circus begun. Bass went into
the air and exclaimed, "What do you want of
Jordan, he don't know id thing about it
he told me so last week." Gen. Anderson pro-
tested, and the Democratic majority voted
against calling Jordan. Gen. Shepherd then
moved to summon Hon. Hiram Ruggles, chair
man of the Council at the time of first sales.
The Democrats voted it down. At the sugges-
ton of Mr.. Pike it was agreed to send for any
person whom any member of the committee
would be responsible for calling. Gen. Ander-
son, under this arrangement, asked to have
Gov. Coburn and Mayor Cony of Augusta. Mr..
Bass named Mr.. Ruggles, Mr.. Pike named G.
2. Brown. and Gen. Shepherd named Dr. Jor-
dan. Gen. Anderson named Hon. VIM. Deer
ing of Portland, but said he was out of the
state Gen. Chamberlan's name was mention
ed, but it was not decided to call him at pres
ent. The gentlemen named will be summoned
to appear Monday evening, when the commit
tee will hold session in Representatives hall.
The Republicans have been anxious to press
the investigation, but since the appointment of
the committee no Democrat except Bass has
shown any disposition to go on. The meeting
this evening was urged by Messrs. Swasey and
Powers One Democratic member has ex-
pressed himself as disguised with the whole
matter.
The Finance Committee will report $4,000
for each of the hospitals, that to the homeo-
pathic being conditional upon its friends rails.
ing similar sum.
Several of the committees completed their
business to-day.
The new hall of the Insane Hospital was ded-
cated with appropriate services this evening
Among the speakers was Gov. Conner.
The Commerce Committee have reported I'm.
favorably on bill to provide for state harbor
commission; also in favor of bridge across
mouth of Sullivan Bay.
The Education Committee made majority
report in favor of the Bridgton Normal School.
The State Prison Committee report an ap-
preparation of $13,5OO for that institution.
The Fisheries Committee will report bill
abolishing the Office of Fish Commissioners.