The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-11
THE LEGISLATURE.
Especial Dispatch to the Press.l
Senate,

Special Dispatch to the Press.l
Senate.
AUGUSTA, March TO-
Ought not to pass was reported on bill re-
lating to the taxation of Railroads.&c.
Ought not to pass was reported on bill to es-
tablish the compensation of the State agent for
collection of unadjusted claims against the
United States. Read and assigned
bill was reported to incorporate the Saco
and Biddeford Telephone Co. Read and as
signed.
Ought to pass was reported on bill relative to
trustees and other officers of public institu-
tions. Read and assigned.
Legislation inexpedient was reported on Or
der OF inquiry relating to the expectancy OF
amending the statutes so that the superintend-
ent of the schools shall act as treasurer
A bill was reported to amend Sec. l., Chap.
142, Z. s., relating to the reform school which
provides that the compensation of the trustees
shall be actual expenses only. Printed.
Bill giving salary of $4,000 year to the
State liquor agent was debated at length by
Messrs. Harris Patten, Dingley, Bennett and
others, and was indefinitely postponed by % to
IL.
The Senate refused TO concur with the House
in indefinitely postponing the Rockland divis-
ion bill, by 16 to II; and insisted on giving the
bill passage.
The amendatory liquor bill in relation to
common nuisances and sale of intoxicating
liquors was discussed by Messrs. Strickland,
Barker, Lamson and Patten, and then passed
to be engrossed by 10 too.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The bill in relation to the reform school was
indefinitely postponed in concurrence.
The bill to incorporate the Commercial Club
of Portland was taken from the table, and ar
signed.
The bill to abolish the office of land agent
was discussed by Messrs. Strickland, Flint,
Barker, Dingley and Patten. An amendment
was offered by Mr.. Dearborn that the Office be
closed in one year. Lost. The Senate refused
to indefinitely postpone the bill, and passed it
to be engrossed, with the amendment closing
the office in six months.
The bill to incorporate the Canton Bridge
Company was taken up, and certain amend
ments which were offered were rejected,
Peuding the adoption of House amendments
the bill was tabled.
Resolve authorizing a temporary loan of
100000 was read and assigned. Also resolve
providing for an amendment of the constitu-
ton changing the term of office of senators
| and representatives, and the bill relating to
| the compensation and number of judges.
Leave to withdraw was reported on the petit
| tion of the inhabitants of the District of Co.
| lumbla praying that the legislature instruct
| our members of Congress to use their influence
in securing to the inhabitants of that District
the right OF suffrage, representation, etc.
A resolve was reported appropriating $726.24
for the claim of Edmund D. Wiggin, employed
| by the Attorney General in 1878 as detective
| in the case wherein j. Wilson Barron, treas
| urer of the Dexter savings bank, lost his life
This sum is in full of all claims of Wiggin
| against the State for services. Tabled to be
| printed.
A resolve was reported appropriating $1,000
| for the payment to the Dexter savings bank of
claims against the State arising from the en-
| ployment by the Attorney General. in 1873 of
+. ID. Wiggin as detective. Tabled to be
printed.
House.
The following report from the investigating
committee on loss of State seal, election re-
turns and other State property was made:
AUGUSTA, March TO-
To the Honorable Speaker of the House of
Representatives:
In accordance with the resolve passed unan-
imously by the House of Representatives
| which directed you to issue your warrant for
the arrest of Prince A. Sawyer, formerly
Deputy Secretary of State, that he might be
brought before the committee on loss of the
State seal and public documents; your COM
mittee have to report that Mr. Sawyer was
brought by the Messenger of the House before
your committee, and that the said Sawyer re-
fused to give any testimony, whereupon he
was remanded to the custody of the Messenger
of the House.
ANDREW HAYES,
Chairman on the part Senate.
A. G. BRADsTREET,
Chairman on the part of the House.
The report was tabled on motion of Mr..
Bradstreet.
Legislation inexpedient was reported on Or
der OF inquiry relating to posting libes and
monitions in liquor cases in the municipal
court of Portland
Ought not to pass was reported on bill to
amend chap. 50 of the Revised Statutes
relating to proceedings in court
A communication was received from A. f.
Haynes, Messen ger of the House, stating that
in pursuance of the Speakers warrant he had
the committee as directed by the warrant
/ A resolve establishing State valuation for
the present year was reported from the finance
committee, and under a suspension of the
rules was passed to be engrossed. This resolve
re-establiSheS the old valuation of 1870 with
such corrections as have been since made by
the legislature
A resolve was reported from the Finance
Committee authorizing a temporary loan of
S3Oo.OO0. reimbursable after sixty days and
within twelve months. Under a suspension
OF the rules the resolve was given passage.
Bill restoring the compensation ard number
OF judges of the Supreme Court was taken up
Mr.. Hatch of Bangor moved division of
the question.
Mr.. Hale of Ellsworth favored the measure.
All that is asked for in this bill is to put the
Court back to what it was last winter before it
was assaulted and the people can do no better
thing than to put this court back to what it
was before interfered with. He had not heard
OF single remonstrance against the restora-
ton of this court to its old status While he
did not believe in paying large salaries TO pub
TIC servants, and would not favor the restora-
ton OF any OF the salaries of our public officers
that had been cut down, being willing to try it
while longer to see how it worked, he would
make an exception to the compensation of the
Judiciary: Our judges are poorly paid SER
wants. There is no other State where the
O aauIrr 1,nsI kIoxv~
He showed that by the reduction in the mum.
Der OF judges the citizen was affected. The
Judges should be ample to do the work. No
State Court stands better than ours. Is any,
body actuated by spirit or desire to cut down
this great court? We should restore this old
time-honored court to the place it held before
Mr.. Hatch withdrew his question, and pro-
posed to amend instead by having. the bill
simply provide for compensation of $1,000
yearly, payable quarterly.
Mr.. Plaisted of Lincoln rema ked that he
protested against this bill in behalf of his con-
stituents.
Mr.. Strout of Portland favored the bill, the
features of which he explained and presented
facts in connection with it. He showed that
the labors of the court had largely increased
for the past twenty years. The great wrong
that was committed in cutting down the num-
Der and pay of the Judges had not been asked
for by the people: 1t was piece of hasty and
unauthorized legislation, and the people now
ask, without regard to politics, that the court
be put back to what it was so that its useful
ness and efficiency may not be impaired.
Mr.. Perry of Camden opposed the amendment
and the bill.
Mr.. Swan of Minot said he should not discuss
the question in partisan spirit He presented
his objections to the bill. Was in favor of
letting the law stand SO that it can have trial
before making change.
Mr. Dickey of Fort Kent favored restoration.
not only of the number and salary of the
the judges, but he was also in favor Of increas-
ing the salary of the Governor to $1,000.
Mr.. Wilson of Orono favored the amendment
and appealed to Democrats and National
Greenbackers to make themselves all right on
this question by voting for it,
Mr.. Gushee of Appleton entered h is protest
against the passage of the bill. There is no
State officer who is paid so literally as are the
judges.
Mr. INGALLS, of Wiscasset favored the nassa %