The Portland daily press., 1876-02-25
FIFTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE.
A Brief History of its Work.

A BfleI History OF HtS work,
The Changes Made i'm the Laws-An Alb
s;ract of the Important Acts, ETC., etc.
The ffty.fifth Legislature of Maine met
Wednesday, January 9Th, and adjourned We'd
nesday, February 23d,-a session of fifty days,
including Sundays, during which 2l3 acts and
100 resolves were passed, and received the ap-
proval of the Governor In addition to the
important matters which received favorable
consideration, a large number of important
subjects were considered aud passed by. Ths
scheme to restore the old usury law caused
long debate in the House and was finally de-
feated by vote of two to one. The Senate by
one majority passed an act limiting interest to
eight per cent, but the House defeated it. A
bill to restrict the dividends of savings banks
to five per cent. was lost in the House. The
proposition of the Maine Medical Association
for the creation of Board of Health did not
receive favorable action. The attempt to abol-
ish the Office of the Fish Commisso ners sue
ceeded in the House, but was defeated in the
Senate. The barnacle remains.
The House asked for the opinion of the Su-
preTe Court on the constitutionality of the
school mill tax, and was answered affirmative
ly. An effort was made to repeal the free high
school act, but that fiiled. Bridgton he's no
Normal School as yet, but progress was made
The bill to regulate municipal indebtedness
failed. 1t was too big q thing for late day in
the session.
GENERAL LAWS
Under the recent amendment to the Const-
tuition of the state, the Legislature was requir-
ed to make special laws to avoid the necessity
of special legislation which SO cumbers legisla-
lures and not unfrequeutly works injury. Pur-
suaut to the constitutional amendment the fol-
lowing general laws have been enacted:
An act providing for the incorporation of
railroad companies, watch provides that any
number of persons not less than ten, majori-
~ being citizens of this state, may torm
railway company, the capital stock to be not
less than $4,000 per mile for the usual gauge
"A feet, 81 lnches) and $4,000 per mile for mar
rover gauge. Articles of association cannot be
filed until per cent. of the capital stock in
cash has been paid to the directors, when the
Secretary of State will issue a certificate,
which will be conclusive evidence of the es-
tablishment OF the corporation. Capital stock
may be increased by two thirds vote. A pc
d
OF the proposed road, with report of estimate of
cost from actual survey, must be presented to
the Railroad Commissioners, upon which pre-
seutation hearing will be appointed, that par
ties objecting may be heard.
A general law was passed. in relation to the
erection of wharves and fish weirs in tide wa
ters which requires application for the same t.
be made to municipal officers, provides for
hearing, and the granting of licenses to appl-
cants. No wharves or fish weirs are to be
praptnd in ply or lvip hats
towns without the consent of the municipal
officers of both towns, and in no case is any
wharf to be extended beyond legally establish
ed wharf lines.
A general law was also passed for the organ
lzatlon OF savings bank and trust companies 1t
provides that not less than ten persons shall
make application to the Secretary of State and
Bank Examiner, who shall make special in
quiry to ascertain if such an institution is
needed in the locality, and if the petitioners
are proper persons to be allowed to form such
company. If he decides favorably he shall
certify the fact to them and they will be allow
ed to organize.
similar general act has also been passed
relative to the incorporation of insurance COM
panes. In this case the Insurance COmmis-
sioner is required to determine the fitness of
the persons petitioning, of whom there shall be
ten or more-a majority residents of this state
Persons desiring to form a mutual company
will guarantee a capital stock of $l0O, 900, one
porated. Purely mutual companies cannot is
sue policies until policies to the amount of $780,,
900 have been applied for Companies shall
not declare dividends exceeding six per cent.
semi-annually.
similar law has been passed for the organ
ization of telegraph companies.
The law for the incorporation of manufac-
turing and mining corporations has been made
to apply to all other business associations, and
the general act for the Incorporation of char
liable and literary societies has been made to
include oranges OF Patrons of Husbandry.
STATUTE TINKERING IN GENERAL.
If any one thinks the Legislature has Rot
done its part towards muddling, or as some
would have it, perfecting the statutes, let him
look at the following list of additions and
anendations which cannot be classified under
any general head:
Act amending sec. chap. 13S r. S relating
to fugitives from justice such as bank robbers,
which empowers only Justices of the Supreme
Court, on application Of the Attorney General,
or any county attorney in any county where the
offence is committed, to offer reward not ex-
ceedne $1,000 for the arrest of any accused per-
son who has escaped from the state.
Act amending Sec chap. 81 r. s., relating
to mortgages on personal property by striking
out the final "r'' in the word smortgager" on
the = line and inserting sc" therefor.
Act amending secs. 81 and 55 chap. r. S.,
duu SeC 4 Cndp. 70 laws OF 1910, relating 10 uu-
ties of County Commissioners. Can't tell
what 1t means
Act amending sec, chap. "a r. S., relating
to auc:ioneers, which provides that municipal
officers may license suitable persons for auc-
tioneeis, and that persons SO licensed shall be
exempt from any liability to deduct21 per cent.
from the gross amount of sales as provided in
sections.
An act providing for the organization of
business corporations III provides that all
LA., T., uo.1
road, savings banks, trust companies, safe de-
posit companies aud telegraph companies may
be organized the same as is now provided for
manufacturing companies. The capital stock
cf road companies shall not be less than $4,000,
or more than $500,000.l
Act amending sect. 65, chap. IS, r S., relat-
ing to damages on ways as amended by chap.
215 Of the laws of 1874 so that an action for
damages sustained or death caused by any de-
feet in public highway, must be begun within
year after such injury, and further that no.
flee must be given to the municipal officers of
the town or city responsible for the safety of
the ways within forty days after such injury,
stating the nature of the injury and of the de-
feet in the way. lit also appears that the town
officers must have had notice OF the defect be-
fore the action can hold
Act amending sec 38,chap 81, r. S., so that
inbbolders can sell the unclaimed baggage of
guests in arrears for board under the same pro-
visions as express companies sell unclaimed
parcels.
Act amending sec. 5, chap II, r. S.. relating
to equity powers by adding new specification
which no one but lawyer can understand.
Act authorizing assignees of judgments to
bring scire facids
Act providing for the framing of issues in
equity cases. No one except lawyer has any
business with this
An act permitting the defendants to give
bonds in trustee processes 1t provides that the
defendant may give bond to pay such judg-
ments and costs as have accrued within thirty
days from the date of final Judgment, which
releases the trustees from any further liability
in the matter.
An act amending chap. 55, sec. 1, R. S, re-
lating to Libraries, charitable societies, ETC., so
as to include in the list of societies that may
organize under that section, oranges oil Patrons
of Hus6andry.
An act to amend sec. 18, chap 81, r. S., re.
lating to the partition of real estate, which pro-
vides that the expense of the partition shall be
divided equitably among the owners of the
property divided; and in case any neglect to
pay their portion an execution may be issued
against them.
An act amen1ing sec. II and Is, ch 59 r. S.
relating to the solemnization of marriages by
which all persons solemnizing marriages
shall keep record of such as are solem-
nized by them and by the fifteenth of
each month make return thereof for the pre-
cedng month instead of annually before the
-, &c I'll Id ft.ax-