Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-02-28
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY IS. Is7s.
Editorial Correspondence.

Editorial Correspondence.
AUGUsTA. Feb. 10, ISIS.
DEAR AMERICAN:-The present week VIII
undoubtedly bring 10 an end the .Fffy-seee''"
Legislature of Maine. The past few dsH> nave
been busy ones. both 10 Senate and House.
Members have become impatient and vote
measures tp or dozen with little consideration
II i, wonder that our laws sre a. good a.
they are. when such trivial reasons sway leg
i.lators in their votes on really Important maj
tiers. indefinite postpoHenem l. the readies'
motion TO end doubtful propositions, and IN Inc
last DAYS of the session is often carried. Inc
result is that many proposed unwise laws are
never enacted and few good ones are post
poned to later day.
The Druggists bill failed in the House by the
surprising vote Of IL Nays TO y leas.
Although our Democratic friends gave the
larger portion of the negative vote, yet large
msiority of the party in the House, voted with
the Republicans. thus establishing the fact that
the prohibiiory law OF the state Is sustained
By majority of both parties.
The laws for the protection OF game and hsh
will undoubtedly pass and are 30 modified that
they will be less Objectionable 10 the Eastern
portion of the state than heretofore Our
Tunk boys may now enjoy their sport al Hti-
tuD, from January Isl Of each year TO October
LIST. They must not however sell their fish out
of the State, bu: may, as they G!tcGys do, make
presents to their friends. of the spechled beau
ties or the monstrous ,ogue.
The porgy, has been and is. a. full OF legisls-
= - 49,,
on the coast which he annually reNisits, no.
body is agreed as 10 toheH, ,chere and h0'c he
should be caught. The Hancock County dele
CATION, who know a. much about porgy a. sny
OF the assembled wisdom, could not agree.
Allen OF Brooklin and Msyo of Eden spoke,
and spoke well in favor OF allowing the largest
freedom to the porgy and his csptors, while
Hinckley Of Surry, Webb OF Deer Isle and
Comb. OF Gouldsboro spoke equally a. well,
fayorins restrictions. No wonder the House
yacilla,ed in its action, now voting one thing
and now another. The probability Is. that If
law i. passed, it will not 90 into effect until
another yesr.
4 Normal School has been established al
Gorham. Ii passed both branches by hand
some majority. To Col Robe is due the credit
of initiating and carrying through the measure
In addition to this, the town of Gorham itself,
made q princely donsiion 10 the State in aid OF
tons system, land in Hancock County there
has been y steadily growing sentiment In their
favor,) certainly il is act of justice to the
Western part of the State to give to il the adj
vantage which may be derived from them.
The Bill providing for 4 County Board Of ex-
amiuers of teachers referred to the next
Legislature. Even its friends were of the opiD-
ion that the time had not yet come, when such
. law would be sustained.
The dog law having been fully discussed il
the Senate and House was on Monday repealed,
and the law of the Revised Statutes revived,
leaying il optional with towns TO tax snd IL
cense or not. Donaldson ought 10 be happy, |
for hereafter, unless Ellsworth in:erferes, his
dogs can hsve their day and roam and swim at
their own sweet will.
The Agricultural College has received an ap-
preparation OF $500, a sum much less than
usual. An animated and able discussion took
place In the House relative 10 the merits Of the |
institution. The impression seemed TO prevail
that il would be beneficial to the State al large,
scope, namely, = College Of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts and not 3 literary or scientific
institution in competition with the other col
leses Of the State.
II was also thought that it called too loudly
on the State for heavy appropriations. There
can be no question that if it is conducted in the
future as in the past, it will become obnoxious
u the people and that they will refuse it sup
port. Let the Trustees be warned in season.
Another matter on which there is . great d.
yersity of opinion is, the State tax. From the
report of the Treasurer, it was supposed that 4
tax OF "a mills would furnish sufficient rev.
enue. The House rested content with this
recommendation until few days ago, when
to their surprise the Committee on Ways
and Means brought in 4 Resolve assessing 4
tax of five mills. IL appears that for the Two
or three past years. State has been running
behind and the Treasurer. has now become
convinced that five mills are required to pay
deficiencies and meet the usual requirements
OF the treasury. This is indeed unfortunate
and the House is unwilling To believe the fig
ures shown. 1t has consequently ignored the
demands presented to il and voted four mills
instead Of i've. In vain, have the Committee
endeavored to induce ii TO increase this amount
TO i've mills. To-day the Resolve stands al
four mills, and unless q compromise of four
and half mills is effected, it is probable that
1t will not be changed.
Those best informed in the finances Of the
STATE are Of the opinion that our credit As
State will suffer unless the tax is increased,
but SO sensitive is the House to the necessities
of the people. suffering from poverty and de-
preston. that it is unwilling TO take thought
o( consequences. II this yeKsiious subject
wers settled, an adjournment would probably
be had on Thursday, but as it is, we cannot
expect to see Ellsworth until next week.
1t is to be hoped that the Assistant Editor.
who draws pen portraits of the Hancock
County delegation for the AMERICAN will look
in the glass aud sketch himself. II he should
dsttsx the subject, - much rs he did some OF
as, the ladies' would all go for him.
ACGUsTA, Feb. p, 1873.
DEAR AMERIcAN;-rhis day at O'Clock A.
NJ, the Speakers gsyel fell Tor the last time,
and the Legislature wE declared adjourned
without day. The session has been ffty-oDe
dave e.. laa~<b and ~ovna EIGHT DAYS LONGER