The Portland daily press., 1880-01-28
CAPITAL NOTES.
THE MILITIA LAWS TO BE
REVISED.
Nominations Made and APP
pointments Confirmed.
TREASURER WHITE REFUSES
TO SURRENDER.
[Special DESPATCH to the PRESS

Especial Despatch to the PREss.l
AUGUSTA, Jan. 81.
The Fusonists still continue to talk about
the State House officials being frightened by
an imaginary foe, and are setting all sorts OF
back fires, in the smoke Of which they hope to
escape the merited condemnation and punish
ment they are sure to receive from an outraged
and long suffering people for their meditated
attempt to dislodge the legal authorities from
the building. It is the staple topic of con-
versation with them. But although they dis
claim all intention of resorting to force and
violence and try to divert public attention from
their aggressive designs by pronouncing the
whole thing a scare and seek to fasten the
responsibility of it on boys and practical
ioke1s of maturer age, they cannot hoodwlnk
or deceive anybody who is cognizant OF the
facts, all of which will be given to the public
in due time. All their talk about Gov. Davis
being an usurper and traitor to the Constltu-
ton, and that we are living under Mexican
rule will fall harmless and will not change
public opinion an iota. The general express
sion of views that your correspondent hears is
to the effect that the time has come when the
power and authority of legal constitutional
government should be felt, and that immedl-
ate steps should be taken to bring before the
tribunal of justice those who are conspicuous
ly guilty of melting rebellion and civil strife.
The day for parleying and dallying with these
consprators is over, and what is now demand
ed is the supremacy of law and order.
The Expenses of the Militia.
The talk of the fusionists about the enor-
nous expense which the occupation OF the
Capitol with troops will saddle upon the peo-
pie is incorrect. AS an economic measure IL
is cheaper to employ the only constitutional
force that the state has for the preservation OF
law and order than force of policemen.
Where it has cost $500 a day for these civil
guardians of the law, it now only costs S1.75
day for every soldier, and this includes rations.
So it is really saving to the state OF $2.25
day per man to have the soldiery in the State
House instead of policemen.
Treasurer White Refuses to Allow Elk
animation of His Accounts.
This morning the fusion Treasurer White
refused to allow the finance committee to ex-
anime his books and accounts. He declined
by saving that he should be governed by the
decision of the court and has bondSnae'a! The
committee will suspend further action until to-
morrow.
Precautionary Measures.
Reports are flying that fusion roughs and
strikers are ON the way here from Biddeford,
Portland, Lewiston and other points. Tele-
graphic advices have been received at the
Adiutant Generals Office which go to show
that bodies of men are moving in this direc-
ton, and the appearance of strangers this at
| ternoon on the streets, and their suspicious
movements have led the Mayor to strengthen
the police force. Fogg and Blood say these
men who are here and who are on the way,
intend to prevent the arrest of any fusion Off
cial should it be attempted, and also the dis
persion of the bogus Legislature. Guards
| from the soldiery in the State House were
| posted today for the first time at the east and
west public entrances to the rotunda, on the
inside, and other precautionary measures were
| taken to prevent any surprise
Committee Meetings.
This afternoon several committees were IN
session, but most of them confined their doings
to organizing and getting ready for work. The
| committee on education voted to report an
| amendment to the statutes SO that the office OF
supervisor of schools shall in the case of a
vacancy occurring after the gannual election
| be filled for the remainder of the year by APP
pointment by municipal officers except in
| town meeting The judiciary committee will
| report bill providing punishment OF one
| year and fine of $4,000 to be imposed on any
| person who knowingly or wilfully falsely as
sumes the functions and duties of state officer.
ITO the Associated Press
The Militia Laws.
| The militia laws of the state have not been re-
I vised since 1865 and the Legislature will I'M
| doubtedly authorize a revision the present
winter, besides taking measures to put the
militia on more substantial footing. The
| following resolve will he introduced tomorrow,
providing for the appointment of commits
| sion to revise the militia law:
| Resolved, That the Governor be requested to
| appoint q commission, consisting OF tve ofhcers
! OF the state militia, to revise, amend or add to
| the laws relating to the militia as IN tnelf
| Judgment they believe to be for the best inter-
| ests of the state and report the same to the
| present Legislature.
Nominations Confirmed.
| The Governor and Council confirmed today
the following nominations: A. W. Wildes'
! Railroad Commissioner; john d. Myrick,
| State Librarian; B. F. Harris, Superintendent
of Public Buildings; George w. French OF
| Thomaston and Rufus Prince of Turner,
| Justices of the Peace for the State.
Jeremiah Maxwell ofsBangor has been APP
| pointed keeper of the state arsenal.
The Educational Committee.
The educational committee will report bill
providing that the selectmen in case OF death
or resignation of supervisors of schools OF
school committee may appoint their success
sors.
The State Valuation.
There were some doubts expressed the frst
of the session concerning the taking OF the
valuation, and suggestion was made that it
be deferred until next year, but it is now de-
termined to proceed at once in the work The
Legislature will proceed at once to take and
complete the valuation in the usual mode. In
doing this they will make use OF all the lnfor
nation they can obtain in relation to towns
which may be unrepresented, and if the bur
den falls heavily upon these towns it will be
the fault of the Representatives who have
been chosen and do not choose to take thell