Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-01-03

! prehension of the average woman.
Members came and went. but a goodly
| proportion spent the afternoon in the
Capitol, smoking. talking, lounging or
writing, till the shades of night began
to fall. Some dispersed to committee
rooms, where the important thinking
and discussing of legislative work is
supposed to be done. Bills introduced
are referred to some one of several
committees who investigate and re.
port, and whose advice is generally
followed, apparently without further
thought, unless it be in reference to 3
matter upon which strong feeling ex-
lists or personal or pecuniary interests
are involved.
One of our strong minded Western
women lawyers was present, lobbying
for some bills of her own drafting con
corning Jail regulations, and provid-
ing for the working of the prisoners
therein; and also for the security of
additional relief to married women
with vicious husbands. AS she was to
have hearings before several of these
committees. | was smuggled in with
some others 10 their sessions. | was
surprised TO find that the members of
| the committees seemed TO be unaware
| of the contents and even OF the exis-
tence of these bills till she called their
attention to them. While she read
them, and explained the necessity :or
such changes in the laws as she asked /,
some listened, some loungcd, and one
or two got up and went out. a few
1 asked intelligent questions, and showed
a real interest in the subject under
at the necessity of having to give ten
1 minutes serious thought to question
upon which they would soon he called
to lcgislate, and which involved the
wcll-hcing of thousands Of their fellow
mortals. When the lady inquired
after the fate of another bill intended
/ To accomplish an object similar to one
\ of hers, the chairman Of the committee
\ could not remember for the life of him
/ whether they had recommended it's
passage or its indefinite postponement ;
and not one Of the members present
could help him out Of his dilemma.
/ a general principle seemed to pre-
/ vail 10 the effect that if bill involved
the consideration of an important sub
! icct, that was sufficient reason for rec
cmmending its indefinite postpone
mcnt as the members of committees
/ did not consider it anv part OF their
! business TO waste their time in investi-
eating important subjects when there
4 We're so many parties that must be at
/ tended, cigars that must he smoked.
\ ladies' that must be entertained, and
7 political and pecuniary interests of
their own which could not be neg
lected. All found out in my first
few Gays at the capital what some OF
those important matters of state which
must take precedence Of temperance
I legislation, justice TO women, and So
I cial, civil and political reform, were
/ They were that Senator A. should have
good time. and Honorable b. c..
| should extend his influence ana in
crease his popularity, that Esquire ID.
| and his associates should make a few
thousands by a new turn in the corpo-
ration laws; that r. should be the
next Senator TO Washington, and so
be able to give f., G.. and H., valua.
j bic collectorships that |. should be
State Attorney, and J. Chief Justice.
so that he could pay off influential
creditors and that X. should be re.
| elected Governor, and so help the re-
4 mainder of the alphabet to the various
things they wanted. | could under
( stand it. if am woman!
One day a delegation of ladies' from
the Woman's Christian Temperance
/ Union visited the Legislature with a
petition numerously signed asking for
| law forbdding the sale of intoxicat-
ing drinks il any locality unless au'
! thorized by vote of a majority Of adult
I citizens of both sexes. In the face of
a strong and violent opposition the
rules were courteously suspended for
! half an hour to allow the ladies to pre-
sent the petition, and speak in favor OF
: the legislation asked. The quiet,
/ thoughtful, and unanswerable argu-
ment made by the lady who led the
petitioners was responded to by vol
icy of yells and groans from the eppo-
! sition; and SO great was the confu-
sion that an adjournment was rend-
cred necessary. Here, again, l was
| rau,;pJa1 of tho county iail fhonUb h
the inmates of that humble institution
usually wait till the members of the
| Christian Association are out of hear
ing before giving vent to their emo
tions. No other reply was ever made
to the arguments of this lady, though
the petition was not granted, doubtless
owing to those same profound reasons
which we women are not supposed
to be capable of comprehending.
J A bill inaugurating certain meas
ures of prison reform, recommended
by the State Board of Charities and
Reform, was defeated simply because
it involved an important question upon
a subject which the members knew
nothing about, and couldn't be both
cred to Investigate.
Now, of course / can't understand
much about such things, being only a
woman; but it does seem to me that it
would be good thing to send men to
our Legislature who would not be
obliged to indefinitely postpone bills
on important subjects because they
don't know anything about those sub
jects, and can't spend time to learn.
What do you think! j. W. L.
| What are you reading this winter
| How are you spending your long winter