The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-08
The State Capital.
The First Week Of the session-Whnt the
Legislature has to do-Sfate Officers.
Gossip, etc.
AUGUSTA, Jan. z, 1876,

THE FIRST WEEK.
The first week of the session is over. Three
sessions were held during two days. but in
that time the work that is usually performed in
three was done. In that time the irregulari-
ties in the votes of Senators have been settled
and all the vacancies filled, two of the three
cases of contested elections in tho House have
been settled and the other disposed of by the
Committee on Elections, the new Governor has
been iuaugnrated, and he has made his COM
munication to the Legislature, the heads OF de-
partments with the exception of State Treas
urer, have been elected, the Executive Council
has been chosen and sufficient members have
accepted and been qualified to enable the Ex-
ecutive Department to proceed to business
and all this in two days. Who will growl be-
cause this so thoroughly Industrious body has
adjourned until Tuesday to allow the presiding
officers time to make up their committees?
THE SESSIONS WORK.
At first thought there does not appear to be
much business to require the consideration of
the Legislature We understand that the cap
ital punishment question will come up again.
Some legislationswill be required under the new
constitutional provision prohibiting special
legislation. The expediency of legislation re-
lative to the amendment of the sinking fund
act of last year, the disposition of the school
funds and the policy to be pursued toward our
normal schools, the disposition to be made of
the business of the Land Agents Office which
was abolished by constitutional amendment,
are among the topics for legislative considera-
consideration. Several of these questions are
important and will require the exercise of the
best judgment of the members of the Legisla-
ture. Then there are the savings banks some
OF the managers of which are anxious to tink-
er the ''statoots" relating to them, and already
the friends of institutions holding more than
1874, 100000 of capital are suggesting measures
which will relieve the same of the little taxa
ton they now BEAR Mr.. Pike has already in
troduced bill to prevent parties from trading
IN the commodity of money the same as in
others the same as in lumber, flour or cheese
The railroads will not trouble the Legislature
to any extent, though the friends of certain
interests may be compelled to ask for law es-
tablishing and defining certain principles re-
specting connecting roads. Mr.. Veaze of Ban
gor,.has been about here day or two trying to
induce members of the Legislature and of the
noble and numerous third house to believe that
our probate laws are out of fix. We can't full
ly comprehend him, and Furthermore, being
obliged to spend our winters at Augusta as
representative of the PRESS, do not consume
our days and nights in narrowing anticpations
as to the disposition which may be made of our
estate after some fair minded brother of this
noblest of calings shall have told his readers of
rpmark alslp and hithorfn r,r
tues in those ever truthful productions known
as obituaries. But to continue: The physicians,
some OF them-are anxious to have a state
bosrd of health instituted. Will the 'spathies"
collide or unite in this matter? Then there is
the venerable porgie-the much legislated fish
is it possible that we shall not hear of him or
the less unctuous and more tenacious DEM
zen of the briDy deep-the lobster? Are there
no grievances, no wrongs or no irregularities
here? The Fish Commissioners report leads
one to believe that our inland fisheries, which
these gentlemen say are worth more to Maine
than her forests and lumber mills, will need
legislation. These are a few of the topics which
will undoubtedly require legislative notice.
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Messrs. Mason, Warren, Buffum and Rich
ards, of the last Executive Council, are re-elec
ted. Col. c. A. Wing of Winthrop, succeeds
Mr.. Williamson of Starks, Mr.. Preble of Bath,
takes the chair of Mr.. Grindle, while Mr. Per-
kins of Pennington, is succeeded by Mr. Stan
ley of Kinsfeld. This last change occasions
considerable comment, because Mr.. Perkins,
who has only served one of the two years assign
ed to the county by the apportionment when it
hap haa fhoa 1,
those VINO have served one year to second.
Mr.. Perkins has been faithful and efficient
official, and the loss of his experience to the
board is a matter of regret.
THE STATE OFFICERS ELECT
Three new officers have been elected to take
charge of the several departments of the state
government Mr. Chadbourne, the Secretary
of State elect, is about forty years of age. He
has been conversant with public affairs in the
state for several years, having served as Clerk
of the House of Representatives eight years
with conspicuous fidelity. He has more per-
sonal friends in both parties who would do him
good turn than most any other man that
could be named. He is man Of integrity, and
will administer the Office with economy and in
telligence.
Hon. l.. A. merry, the Attorney General, is
about forty years of age. He is lawyer of
unquestioned ability and high attachments.
The "law Office of the crown" is in excellent
hands
Gen. j. P. Cilley has military record as ia
nous as that of that unequalled regimen THE
First Maine Cavalry. He bears those grievous
marks of service from which men only suffer
who take their stand on the 'git edged hell of
battle" Gen. Cilley is man of moral worth
and of so retiring disposition that he would not
have received vote had not his conspicuous
record been more eloquent than words
Hon Silas q. Hatch has proved so excellent
and careful an officer that he will doubtless be
reelected to the extent of the constitutional
Limitation. He regards every man as his foe
who has any designs against the peoples mon
ey, OF which he is the custodian. He shifts
resolve calling for money from afar, and takes
an active part to insure its defeat. He is liter
ally the Watchdog of the treasury, aad al
though not yet elected, is sure to be when his