Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-01-31
THURSDAY. JANUARY s.. 1875.
Editorial Correspondence
AUGUSTA, Jan. ~, i


Editorial Correspondence.
Augusta. Jan. -, ISIS.
DEAR AMERICAN The Session has alread.
consumed four weeks, and it i, thought viii re-
qure at least three weeks more. Legislation
on new matters i now generally tsbooed ano
i, postponed to the next Legislature. The Com
mittees are hard al work. preparing their re
ports. so tina, the adjournment may no, be de-
lsyed on their account.
The Temperance Committee have had sever
al hearing. on the Druggists Bill,-one, on the
proposition to make the penalties for violations
OF the liquor law more severe, and another Is
to come off the present week, on a petition to
allow the manufacture and sale of lager beer
a. promoter OF Temperance in the State.
- far ~ the first i concerned, a reaction
seems to have taken place in the public mind
in regard 10 the safety Of allowing Druggists tC
sell spirituous liquors. The names Of many
persons found upon petitions for the bill arr
now also found on circumstances against the
bill Clergymen and members Of Reform
Clubs have publicly recanted. and daily rcmon'
strances are received in large numbers.
The new Temperance law favored by Nca
Dow and introduced by him on Friday, is in
tensiiied to such degree, and the penalties ar,
so severe and the anomalies 80 strange and
mary elIous, that not one temperance man in ;
thousand can be found who fayors il. As h'
designaies it. it il a rat hole law. and it cannO
b. denied that it. author has shown great inge
nuity in pursuing and hoiiHg the "critter."-
We give some Of it, provisions below:
First conviction for single sale. eco ne and sin
months Imprisonment at hard labor in county jail
second offence. same nne, and one ear at hart
labor in state PRISON. Prohibits bring ng llquo
in the State, even for private parties Person
must be responsible for liquors found on thei
premises. and The burden Of proof rests on them
as 10 whom they belong. Apparatus found 10
selling liquor to be deemed evidence of guilt
Blonde required from parties arrested for hquo
selling Sl0s and no one convicted OF selling TO b
received as surety. Takes away all power fron
county attorneys To enter SoL PROS that Il b
done only by the court In default Of payment o
fines imposed. then additional year IN jail o
prison. Officers seixing liquors not 10 surrende
The same, except by order OF court horse an
wagon drawing liquor, both TO be seized and con
h-csted for the use Of the county or state
Person arrested common drunkari n be sen
summxrily 10 the county jail for one year, TO b
released on conviction of the individual Nho sol
hun The liquor Runners who shall take order.
make sales. 10 lie fined siooo and costs, and i'm
prisoned one year 10 the State Prison. An eItr7
son for selling liquor No compromise whAievs
to be made with parties, but they shall have III
benefit OF the full sentence. A hne OF Z go and
months in county Jail for displaying sign OF bq
uors, or advertising by that means the sale -
manufacture of the same. The sale OF two guam
uue~ to one person. at one time, TO constitute
change whatever will be made in the liquo
law, the present year.
bill has been introduced 10 exempt fror
taxation, mines, 80 far as the ore beneath tn
surface 10 concerned. This seems right. and
for the purpose Of developing the mines in Han
Geek County As well as elsewhere. and.encour
aging capital 10 invest in them, liberal polio
should be pursued by the State. By the Con
s,itution, real estate must be taxed sccordin
10 its value, hence there is = difficulty in enact
ing law 10 apply TO the surface only, and hoy
il can be done and the Constitution remain In
tact. is 8 question difficult Of solution.
4 petition, allowing 10 women the right O
suffrage, was presented last week, and ale
some debate was referred TO the Committee Of
the Judiciary. 1t is doubtful, if there will b
to make an argument.
The Committee on Legal Affairs will repor
bill sboli.hing the Common Council in tn
city OF Ellsworth. Several other cities hav,
made similar application, and in none are III
reasons so strong for the measure As in on
city. and in others there is more or less of OF
position.
The appointments Of Hon. Nathan Webb I
be L. 5. Dist. Attorney, and Gen. A. b. Mul
ray 10 be U. 5. Marshal in place of S. $ MAI
bic, cause some comment in political circles
1t is universally cosceded that the Appoin,
ments are most excellent ones. and the carpin
criticisms made in some quarters, because the
were not favored by our men, evince 3 marrow
and unworthy partisSnship. which, if contin
ued, will work mischief in the end.
II is probable that the Game Law. as report
ed by the Commission, will pas. wiihou
amendment. it being generally satisfactory
but the Fish Law, as reported by the sam
Commission. seems 10 give satisfaction 10 nc
body, and will not become Law unless essen
TALLY modified. The idea tina; our bows ma
20 TO Tunk and fish for trout and t0gue in Jul
and August. when mosquitoes and black fie
are legion, and sloodihirsty AS tigers. and tn
fish tAsteless and worthless. and be debarre
from doing the same in February and Marcel
when the bears are still in their dens, is pei
fectly preposterous. Isn't it, Jske'
Thus far, there has been little gaiety at tn
Capital, but As the Session goes on. evidence
of an intention TO mingie the useful with III
agreeable become apparent The ladies ar
DOW here in force, and with commendabl
public spirit are inaugursting . legislative n
ception at the Augusta House next week, to b
followed, undoubtedly. with other entertain
ments Of like character.
This evening, the first Of series Of Sociabl,
will be given at the Augusta House, and "
shall then ascertain who Of our Solons are wo
shippers at the Terpsichorean shrine.
When this becomes public, the AMERICA
may attempt TO sketch some features Of the o
easion for the benefit of its readers, 30 few
whom ever join the festive dance. Down Ess