The Portland daily press., 1876-02-26
The Fifty.Fifth Lepislature.

1ue FuIy-HItu Legislature OF Maine Will
be remembered as one which made great
many changes in the statutes, abolished the
death-penalty and under the recent constitu-
tional amendment prohibiting special legisla-
tion, fixed policy which will do away with
the mass of special law.making which has
consumed much of the time of past legisla-
lures, been fruitful of much mischief and ex-
pensive to the state. That it has been an
industrious and progressive body is indicated
by the emendations and additions to the stat
utes.
Both branches were fortunate in their pre-
siding officers. Gen. Hyde was model of
presiding officer while Col. Robie by his i'm
partialty and evident purpose to secure to
every member his rights and to every meas
ure an impartial hearing, won the respect
and confidence of every member of the House.
Within the limits of an article like this it
will be impossible to name all the men who
have taken aconspicuous part on the floor or
in committee rooms. There are, however,
few men who were so conspicuously recog-
nized as leading men that it is no disparage-
ment of others to name them, In this class
was Senator Swasey of Oxford. He has been
chairman of three important committees and
has been most prominent in the debates of
the Senate. He has shown himself to be one
of the ablest ofthe young men in his party in
the state. The friends of Mr.. Brown of
Piscataquis and DR.. Sturgis of Androscosgin
have mentioned their names ia connection
with the Presidency Of the next Senate in
case Gen. Hyde declines to be returned from
Sagadahoc. Both gentlemen have been use
full members and either would make good
presiding officer. Mr. Wheelwrght of Penob-
scot has been one of the most Influential
members of the Senate. His experience, high
character and positive ideas give him promi-
nence in any body of which he is member.
Mr.. Haskell of Cumberland was the most in
fuential man on the Democratic side. He
has been too good business man to be much
OF a partisan and consequently had strong
friends on the Republican side. Mr.. Dom
worth was an able member on the Democrat
ic side and was generally quite sure to win
strength for any question which he advocated.
Mr.. Pike ofthe House has made his mark
in Congress and cannot be otherwise than
prominent in any legislature in which he par
ticipates. When reused, he has very few
equals in Maine. His tendencies are rather
conservative and he takes rather gloomy view
of matters generally. He is not willing to be
classed as a Democrat because he has fought
too many of those he would have to associ-
ate with, and besides il isn't quite natural for
man who went from the Whig to Republic
can party to turn up a Democrat in mature
age. The Democrats would like to send Mr..
Pike to their national convention. We are
informed that he recently told Republican
that he preferred Mr.. Blaine to any gentle
man yet mentioned in connection with the
Presidency.
2 Mr.. Powers of Houlton, it is bat just to
say, has steadily gained in the estimation of
men OF both parties since the Legislature has
been in session. He was beyond question
the ablest debater on the Republican side and
always received the attention of the House.
So far as parties have leaders or rather srokes
men on the floor, Mr.. Powers was one of the
most prominent of that class. In saving as
much as we have, we simply do Justice to Mr..
Powers as a member of the House. Mr..
Cleaves of Portland had weight in the House.
He seldom occupied over five minutes IN re-
marks at one time but in that time he made
his points clear and with power. Nealley of
Bangor and Haynes of Augusta were so
prominent members as to require notice.
They were both good debaters and have
an aptitude for public affairs. Both gen.
tlemen if reelected will be candidates
for Speaker and either will make a most ac-
ceptable presiding officer.
One of the most influential men in the House
was Gen. Shepherd of Skowhegan; man
able in council, dispassionate in judgment,
and able, when the case demanded it, to secure
the attention of the House. 1t is safe to say
that no man in the House possessed the conf
dence of the members of both parties to a
greater extent than Gen. Shepherd.
Gen. Anderson was, unquestionably, the
leader of the Democratic side, if men are
judged by their ability and the number and
character of their party associates who fol-
low them. Mr.. Talbot is a gentleman of
long legislative experience, well versed in the
business, and wthal man of positive
ability, but ne is not In accord with the young
er members of his party. He has been ex-
tremely partisan, induced possibly by a de-
sire to make himself prominent in his party.
Messrs Frank of Portland, and Eastman OF
Saco, were prominent among the Democrats
who frequently occupied the floor. Mr.. Da-
Wis of Portland, while not talking man, was
was most influential in committees. Messrs
Dutton of Lewiston and Hobson of Wiseasset
were of this class.
There were number of gentlemen on
both sides who would take prominent part
in legislation another year if their constit-
uents have the good sense to return them,
among whom are Messrs Rogers of Bath,
Chase of Bridgton, Greeley and Cook of
Lewiston, Philips of Orrington, and Meader