The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-02-24
TUESDAY MORNING., FEBRUARY "a.
BY TELEGRAPH.
AUGUSTA.
Review of the Work of the
Legislature.
THE HOUSE STAGGERED BY
THE GORsEDTH OF BARDs.
Ex-Councillor M cody Makes Some
Damaging disclosures.
Especial Despatch to the Press.]

~~N-
lows:
There was a charter granted to the Artesian
Water Co. of Rockland, with bapital stock of
100000. The !ncorporators of this company
are as follows: Davis Tillson, Amos F. Crock
EFT, Thomas w. Hix, Jr, Michael A. Achorn,
VIM. S. White, Geo. W. Kmball, Jr., and
VIM. H. Glover.
The law relating to river fishing has been
amended SO that weirs shall be stripped so as
to render them incapable of taking fish on and
after June 18th, annually.
The law relating to taxes has been amended
SO that towns when their taxes are payable, at
their annual town meetings, may determine
when the lists referred to in section 70 of the
Statutes shall be committed.
The name of the Trustees of the fund for the
support of the Episcopate of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, in the Diocese of Maine,
has been changed to the Trustees of the Do
ceasan Funds in the Diocese of Maine.
The city charter of Rockland has been
amended so as to provide for the election of
Mayor by plurality of votes
The Schools Log Driving Company has been
incorporated.
The laws of 1879 relating to crimes formerly
ton from the State Treasury for counsel for
the defence shall be authorized.
The fees of inspectors of lime and lime casks
and their deputies have been fixed at one-half
mill for each cask inspected and branded
The fees of the Judge of the Police Court at
Rockland will hereafter constitute his salary.
The capital stock of the Auburn Aqueduct
Company has been increased to 100000 and
the certificates of stock issued by the company
are made valid.
The city charter of Bangor has been amend
ed so that the assessors shall consist of three
nor more than seven, to be elected annually by
the city council. A part of the board NAV
hold office one year, a part two years, and
part for three years.
A municipal court has been established in
Waterville.
A large number of propositions were dispos,
ed of finally the past week by adverse action
of the committees. The judiciary committee
reduced their docket more than one-half. The
work of the session is being so reduced that
final adjournment is looked for in three weeks.
There are several important matters in the
hands of committees, one of which is the re-
moval of all county officers illegally counted-in
by Gov. Garcelon, and the appointment in
their places of those who were elected.
Tomorrow the matter of incorporating new
town out of Ward in the city of Rockland
will come up in the Senate, and before it is
disposed of will be likely to create an animate
ed contest in the Legislature. A large share
share of the wealth is in Ward Z, and all the
limestone quarries and all the FARMS The
principal reason given for division by the citi.
zens of Ward is the high taxes to which they
are subjected. If they are allowed to set up
housekeeping in town of their own, they are
willing to assume their proportion of the city
debt. The assessed volume of farms and build
ings in Ward amounts to over $500, 900; value
of quarry property $l4S,650
The judiciary committee gave hearing on
the matter of the overflow of highways by
mill owners today. A further hearing will be
had on Thursday.
The committee on ways and bridges gave
hearing this evening on the proposition of
making the Gardiner bridge free.
In the House, this afternoon, quite num-
Der of bills were read twice and assigned for
tomorrow. The mileage bill was read for the
first time and then tabled in order that it may
be examined. The bill provides for reduc-
ton of one-half of the present mileage, or 81
for every ten miles of travel from the place of
abode at each session. The bill to charter the
Bridgton u Presumpscot railroad, which is
matter of interest to the citizens of Portland.
was read twice, and on motion Of Mr.. Brad
street OF Bridgton, was assigned for Thursday
next. The resolve appropriating $4,000 for the
Maine General Hospital, and another resolve
al riofio for
phan Asylum of Portland, were each read once
and assigned for Wednesday next. Fourteen
bills were finally passed. In the Senate a re-
solve was reported appropriating $4,000 for
uniforming the volunteer militia.
When the bill with the unpronounceable, |
occult, mystical and unexplainable title to |
incorporate the Penobscot Valley Gorsedth of |
Bards and State of Maine Branch of the |
Druidic University of America, came ND on its |
several readings to-day in the House, Prof. |.
Young, linguist and scholar, asked for an |
explanation, as he was utterly at loss to know |
what the bill meant. Mr.. Cutler of Bangor |
Immediately drew forth a MS. which he |
stated would furnish the necessary informa-
ton, and sent it to the gentleman from Bruins |
wick for his enlightenment. After wrestling |
with it for some time Prof. Young finally an |
nounced that he was as much in the dark as |
ever, and he could only conclude that it was
the production of some inmate of the Insane |
Hospital. After an exchange of pleasantries. |
Prof. Young was prevailed upon to read aloud |
the explanation, and undertake, if possible. to
interpret the paradoxical document. Prof
Young cheerfully complied, and after he had
finished, for the first time, probably, in his life
he was nonplussed. He had struggled with
hagiographa, had investigated geognosy, had
found plain sailing in technology, and knew
the difference between stratarithmetry and
prosopography, but here he was bogged by
Druidic explanation as clear as mud. finding
himself not enough of bard, vate or priest to
penetrate the Celtic meaning hidden in the I
labyrinthine explanation, for the "Gorsedthn
had stuck him and he threw up the sponge.
1t was suggested that the whole matter be
printed and sent to the Supreme Court for a
decision, but the suggestion was dsregarded.
The united erudition of the House is not sufi
Gent to grapple with this mysterious bill, and
If it passes tomorrow with its gyrascutus and
Its grand junguntus, no sane member will ever
be any the wiser whether it will turn loose a
hippogrif or consign everyone to the preada-
mite period
1t is expected that the investigating COM
mittee On election returns will give their first
public meeting tomorrow, although it is not
fully decided. The committee have examined
several parties privately but it has not been
thought proper to give their testimony publici.
ty yet lest it might defeat the ends of justice.
Among the number who have been examined
is ex-Councillor Moody whose testimony is
very damaging to those engaged in the fraud.
ulent transactions which will be so fully ex-
posed.
Tomorrow the final hearing on the porgie
question will take place. Judge Goddard will
appear before the committee for the remon-
strants.
E. W. Woodbury. of Bethel, who was ap-
pointed one of the trustees of the Insane Hos
pital, in place of j. W. Bates, formerly held
the same position.
There is report that Cameron, the state
binder, who had $4,000 paid him under the