The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-09
Especial to the Press.1

Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Feb. s, 1876.
The general railroad bill was disposed OF to-
day with less debate than was at first antici-
pated. A decided majority of the House was
| in favor of the amendments already made, and
all of these that are valuable in perfecting the
| bill were consolidated and adopted.
The following are the provisions of the bill as
passed by the House to be engrossed: Sections
/. and provide for the formation of railroad
corporations Any number of persons not less
than ten,a majority being citizens of this state,
may form company for constructing and run.
ming railroad, and for that purpose make ar
ticles OF agreement, give the name of the com.
pany, the gauge, the places through which the
proposed road will pass, the capital stock,
which shall not be less than $4,000 per mile for
the usual gauge and $4,000 for the narrow
gauge, the number of shares of said stock, the
articles aforesaid to be signed by every sub
scriber Of the stock. 1t is provided further that
| said articles of association shall not be filed
| until five per cent of the capital stock alone
| required is paid the directors named in the ar
| ticles of association. The third section pro-
vides that when the the railroad commissioners
are satisfied that the conditions above stated are
complied with, they shall approve of the
same, and the Secretary of State shall issue a
certificate of the fact which shall be conclusive
evidence of the establishment of said CORPORA
ton.
Section provides for the calling of the meet
ing of the corporation by notice signed by five
Of said subscribers to all the others.
Section proscribes the manner in which the
| capital stock of companies may be in .reased-a
| two-thirds vote being required.
Section provides that the corporations SO
| organized must present to the railroad commits.
sioners petition for the approval of location,
with map of the proposed route, with report
and estimate of the cost made by skilful en-
g!neer from actual survey, upon which presen-
tatlon hearing will be appointed, that parties
Directing thereto may be heard. If it shall
appear that the road will be public conyen-
fence, the corporation may proceed to build its
road when they shall have filed with the coun-
ty commissioners plan of location and anoth-
er copy for the railroad commissioners. The
location SO given shall not vary from the route
presented by the board, except to avoid ex-
pense on constructing and must first be an
proved by the railroad CONF issioners. The
location aud variation must be filed within two
years after the articles Of association are filed
with the Secretary of State; but no railroad
shall be made across navigable tide waters
without special act of the Legislature.
Section declares that unless corporations so
formed begin the construction of their road
and expend ten per cent. thereon within three
years from the issue of the certificate of the
Secretary of State, their corporate existence
and powers shall cease.
Section requires every corporation organ.
lied under the act to cause map and profile
OF land taken or btained use of therefor to be
filed with the Secretary of State and the offic-
ers for recording deeds.
Section gives corporations the right to es
tablish and collect fares and tariffs, but when
responsible and interested parties complain to
the railroad commissioners that such tariffs and
fares are exorbtant, the commissioners shall
give hearing and have power to revise and
establish them for term not exceeding one
year.
Section 10 provides that the salary of the
railroad commissioners shall be S. per day for
actual service, to be paid by the state after
being audited by the Governor and Council.
The Hobson amendment swept out all of the
amendments except those which are incorpo-
rated in the bill in the above synopsis. All of
the powers and duties of county commissioners
remain the same. The section making the
commissioners elective was stricken out.
The contest oyer the bill relating to DAMAGES
received by persons on highways was quite ami.
mated, and measure intended to SO change
the law as to give greater advantages to those
bringing suits was so modified as to give the
advantage to cities and towns.
The Railroad Committee voted to report bills
to allow the Eastern and Boston & Maine rail-
roads to build union depot at North Berwick
and to authorize the Maine Central to connect
its depots in Lewiston and discontinue the Sa.
battus branch
The Temperance Committee will report leg
islation inexpedient on the sheriff enforcement
act.
The chairman of the Commerce Committee
refused to assign another day than Thursday
for hearing on the bill creating state harbor
commission. The bill, however, meets with
little favor, as the measure which has already
passed the House makes provision for the du-
ties given to the commission 1t is also said
that it will cost $4,000 year to maintain the
commission.
All of the members of Governor Conn or's
staff have seen honorable service in the late
war. Col. Peaks is young lawyer in Pitts
field who served as private in the first caval-
ry.
The Androscoggin delegation voted this aft
ernoon to report reference to the next legisla-
ture on the petitions for Superior Court in
that county.
The Ways Committee voted to report refer
ence to the next legislature on the petitions to
build bridge across Long Creek in Cape Eliz.
absth. Mr.. Haskell of that town appeared to
oppose the petition, with Judge Cleaves as
counsel.
The Railroad Committee to day finished all
the business referred to it,
The Military Committee voted tonight to
recommend the appropriation of $4,000 to
clothe the companies, and 5000 to enable the
Adjutant General to collect and preserve scraps
of history of the Maine regiments in the rebel
lion.
There is fair prospect that the leg islature
will get through with its business so as to ad-
journ the last of next week or the first of tho