The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-07

reply to Haynes, with the speech made by
Daniel Webster on a certain occasion, he spoke
with an eloquence born of the belief that he
was assailed from personal motives and in a
tender quarter, his salary. He denounced the
effort to cut down his salary as emanating
from enemies in Augusta, and drew an impos-
ing picture OF the magnitude and responsibility
of his duties, which produced marked effect
on his auditors. Mr.. Haynes in return repealed
the charge with vgor, and made very effec-
tive statement but unfortunately for him he
got by the stopping place, and the last of his
remarks indicated that he was very much out
Of temper, circumstance that was very unfa-
vorable for the acceptance of his report which
was accordingly rejected. With wisdom born
of experience Mr.. Haynes renewed his attack
the next day more coolly, and taking advan-
tage of the prevailing disposition among legisla'
tors to reduce the salaries of public officials
succeeded in reviving the question of the accep-
lance of the minority report, and in modified
form it was finally substituted for the regular
report. To-day the bill fixing the salary at
$4,000 Gnstead of $500, the present amount)
aftera close vote was passed to be engrossed, land
has now gone before the Senate. The division
of sentiment in the matter has been generally
non partisan, and what the action of the Sen
ate will be remains to be seen.
To-day was busy one in the House. In the
morning session large number of bills were
finally disposed of, and corresponding num-
Der passed to be engrossed.
In the afternoon three bills came up, the dis
cussion of which protacted the session to a late
hour. The first was the bill providing for a
State Board of Health, which was advocated
by Messrs. Cleaves, Locke and Haynes, and op-
posed by Messrs. Pike and Caleb Warren of
Denmark. The able arguments of the first
named members poed into insgni6cance be-
fore the discriminating appeal of Caleb War
rem, who declared that the movement to pro-
vide Board of Health was got up by the
doctors with the view to getting access to the
treasury, and that people were already so
healthy that the doctors failed to get a living.
The legislative mind is ever prone to be affect
ed by the ''old codger'' line of argument, espec-
tally when stated with vIgor which makes it
laughable; this case was no exception, and the
bill went under by decisive vote.
The bill approprating $15,21S for the State
College of Agriculture was carried through
triumphantly without amendment, the opposi-
ton headed by Mr.. Pike being few and scatter
ing. Much credit is due Mr. Robbie of Gorham
for the carrying through of this excellent meas
ure, as the chairman of the committee which
devised it, and as its champion in the House.
1t is due also to the good sense and broadness
Of comprehension of the members generally,
that the bill found so many ready advocates
and received solid vote that left its opponents
in helpless minority. But the personnel of
the present Legislature is above the average,
and with proper allowance for human ina
bility to always do the right thing or to omit
doing the wrong, it may be relied upon to act
with discretion and public spirit.