Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-19
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Senate.
Senate met ACCORDING to adjourn

Senate met according to adjournment.
No chaplain present.
The journal of yesterdays proceedings was
read and approved.
Papers from the House disposed of in concur
renee.
Report of the Judiciary Committee, reporting
legs lation iuexpedient on order ing to con-
ferriog upon county commissioners the right TO
regulate toll on tell bridges, was tabled motion
Of Mr.. CARNEY, pending lis acceptance in concur
renee
An act additional to chap. 4 of the revised
statutes relating TO elections, was read once.
Mr.. WHEELwRIGHT moved its indefinite post
ponement.
Mr.. HASKELL opposed. He would like 10 have
the bin put on its passage under 0 suspension Of
the rules.
Pending its passage to be engrossed, Mr.
BROWN of Piscaaquis moved to amend so that
the aldermen of cities shall be in session four; in
stead of FIVE days preceding an election.
MIR. HASKELL objected as any amendment now
offered would kill the bill. Inc friends of the
measure satisfied with it so far as il goes
Mr. WHEELwRIGHT withdrew his motion.
The amendment was also WITHDRAWN and the
bill given passage in concurrence.
Bill an act to limit dividends Of savings banks
to pa per cent. semi-annually, came from the
House, that branch insisting on its prevjoas vote
indefinitely postponi1g the bill, aud asking for
committee OF conference. The following were ap-
pointed on the part Of the Senate; Mes-ts
Wheelwright of Penob cot, Carney Of Lincoln,
and Watts of Knox.
Bill an act to amend Sec 49, chap. 2 of the re-
vised statutes relating TO the State library, came
from the House indefinitely postponed The Sen
ate receded from its former action and conculred.
Resolve in favor of Crystal plantation. came
from the House, that branch insisting on its pre-
vious vote passing the resolve and asking for
committee on conference.
The Senate insisted on lis previous vote to in
definitely postpone, and the following were APP
pointed conterees on It's part: Mossrs. kves of
Franklin. Carney Of Lincoln, AID Thompson Of
York.
Mr. BRowS, from the Committee on State
Ian is and state Roads, reported olive IN favor
OF road through Dnnn's Notch, Oxford county.
[Appropratng SSJ0l Printed under rule.
An act relating to the taxation Of insurance
companies, was read once.
Mr.. WHEELwRIGHT offered an amendment TO
sec y, first line, by adding after the word com
panes" the word "hereatter.'
The amendment adopted, and the resolve,
under suspension Of the rules, was passed TO
be engrosSsd.
Report of the committee Oh resolve in favor Of
Wilton Academy, reporting ought not to pass. was
taken from the table, on motion of Mr.. hYEs, ana
accepted in concurrence.
Mr.. SwAsEY, from the Committee on the judi
cIary, reported OIL au act repeaiin% chap. ii, laws
of 1872, aud chap. PA laws Of 1874. keai and
assigned.
Mr. BAKER, from the Committee on Education,
reported legislation inexpedlert on order relating
to amending the school, Law. that 50 much of the
school money as is obtained from the "rAIll tax
shall be distributed on a basis OF attendance upon
schools, instead OF upon the number OF scholars.
Resolve in favor of Mt Cease sppropriatiag
800 was taken from the table.
Mr.. HASKELL Withdrew his amen (mect % add
after the words "Shin pond" the wp,0, and r.
pairing roads.
Mr.. BROWN of Piscataqus moved to an nd by
striking out -four" and inserting three, that
$500 shall be appropriated.
Pending the adoption of the amendment, the
resolve was tabled on motion of Mr. WEBB.
Resolve relating to the pay of the officers of the
State prison, was taken from the. table, an l. pend
ing its passage to be engrossed. Mr.. BRAcKETr
moved its indefinite postponement.
Mr. WATTS opposed. He though. the salary
of the Warden given 10000 was too high
these times and that So 600, as the resolve pre-
posed, was about right. lie thou lit Mr. Rice
would be sats fed with the reduction. lie thought
the pay Of the guards was little enough lie
moved the yeas and nays on the question
Mr. PRESCOTT said that Mr.. Rice had been of
fered 81 900 to 20 to another prison. and he was
too valuable a man for the State to lose. He
might stay a while if the salary was cut down,
but he coull not tell how eng he would remain.
He thought this matter Of salaries should be left
with the Governor and Co-nci. He favored in
definite postpone ment.
Messrs. BRAcKErr ard HASKELL spoke briefly.
MIR. SwAsEY inquired how much would be
saved to the State by the proposed reduction:
Mr.. IIINCKLEY replied two thousand dollars.
Mr.. SwASEY said he would favor any PROPOSE
ton in the interest of judic,ous economy, but this
was not. He referred to the investigation of the
State prison by legislative committee, and said
that Mr.. Rice, the Warden, had been ighed in
the balance and found to be honest, capable
and faithful. He was the right man for
the place he fills. If he was wiling TO
stay for $1,000, then Mr.. SwAsEY would no:
object. But if he would not remain in case
his salary was cut down, then it was not for the
interests of the Sta'e, in dollars and cents to al
low him TO go. The influence he throws
prisoners and the spirit he maniiests is too valus
BILE and beneficial to have him yacate so important
and responsible position as he now fills with
such efficiency, competency and credit. The in
tercsts of the State would be jecpardised 10 try
the experiment Of the possibility of a man
doing well in the management Of the prison
Mr.. Rice. Such an experimental policy might
cost the State in one transaction three times the
amount saved by the proposed redu ton. The
employees of the prison should receive a cCmpen-
sation proportional to the amount Of danger and
responsibility OF the places they fill. II takes
more of man to he warden of the prison than to
be governor of the State. He did not believe
that we should take such risk as is proposed II
this was political movement, II there is a cat uu-
der the meal, let Us know it.
Mr.. HASKELL said this was the ir,t iutmaton
he had head Of the movement being of political
character lie cid not view it in any such light.
Tue committee on finance was made up alike Of
Republicans and Dem Gratis, and he did not be-
heve that in the consideration Of the reduction Of
salaries of State officers which were referred to
them, they were governed by party cousdera-
lions. lie was willing to admit that Mr.. BIC. was
honest and competent and wa, an excellent man
for the place, bu: there were Others he believed
who were capable of filling tie place at a less
compensation than is paid.
8 Mr.. CARNEY moved TIE matter be tailed, and
it was 20 ordered.
An act 10 set off Bartett'S island from Mt.
Desert to Trenton, was taken from the table and
read twice.
Pending its passage to be eogrossed the question
was on its indefinite postponement.
Mr.. ToLMAN opposed, and hoped the action Of
the House In giving the biil a pts>sgc would be
sustained.
Mr.. lIINCKLEY favored the motion he had made
to indefinitely postpone, and gave reasons.
Me.srs. WATTS AMI 1uURLoUGu spoke.
The bill was indefinitely postponed b. large
majority.
Bill an act to abolish the death penalty and to
regulate the manner of amply ing for pardon in
certain cases was taken from the table, the ques-
ton being the adoption Of Mr.. Wheelwright's
amendment, pending its passage to be engrossed.
The amendment is as follows:
Sec. -. So much of this act as relates to capital
punishment shall not take effect till it shall have
bcpn accented hy "A majority of the votes piyen in