The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-02-02
THE LEGISLATURE
Senate.

oSA1b6
AUGUSTA, Jan. 81.
Mr. Dearborn of York offered an order in
the Senate instructing the educational com
mittee to inquire into the expediency of au-
thorizing assessors and experimenting school
committees or supervisors of towns, cities and
plantations to unite adjoining school districts
or parts OF districts, and to appropriate rot
more than - per cent of the apportioned
school fund of such union districts to be ex-
pended in the conveyance of children to and
from schools in said union districts at the dis
erection of the aforesaid board
In favoring the passage of his order Mr..
Dearborn gave the following statistics In
1860 the whole number of scholars in the State
were 244 92O; in 1870, 22S, 167; in 1872 216,3S5.
Decrease in 10 years, 49, 25 or more than II
per cent. Twelve hundred or more than one
quarter of the whole number of schools run
ming, have an average of twelve scholars or
less, mans of them less. Over one hundred
districts are without summer schools.
In the Senate resolve providing for the ap-
pontment of a commissioner to revise the
militia laws, pending its passage to be en-
crossed in concurrence, was opposed by Mr..
Strickland (Fusion) of Aroostook, who con-
tended that if such revision was considered
necessary, the interests of economy demanded
that the State should not be put to the expense
of employing special commission. He thought
that it could be done just as we'll by the Ad-
jutant General. The resolve was tabled
A petition was presented signed by Jonathan
Spear and seven others praying that the
vi i,,t ba oil
of Rockland be set off and incorporated into
town.
a petition was presented of George A. Mat
thews to incorporate the Monson & Dexter
railroad company, asking for authority to con-
struct railroad from Monson to Dexter.
House.
Mr.. Strout of Portland, presented the petit
ton of the Southgate Dyking Company Re-
ferred to the committee on interior waters.
Mr. ingalls, of Wiscasset presented an order
instructing the committee on elections to re-
port the votes upon, the :'Resolves providing
for certain amendments to the Constitution OF
the State of Maine" approved Feb 9, 1877.
also the votes upon the Resolution concern
ing an amendment to the Constitution OF
Name" approved March 4, 1879.
On motion of Mr. Wilson of Orono, the
House ordered that the Judiciary committee
be directed to inquire into the expediency OF
abolishing Imprisonment for debt in all cases,
except for fraud and the wages OF laborers;
also directing the committee on legal affairs to
inquire into the expediency of repeal OF ex-
isting laws as to interest, and the restora-
ton of the former law absolutely prohibiting
the paying or receiving, directly or indirectly,
larger sum than 6 per cent. interest. That
the Same committee be directed to inquire II
some some more effective law cannot be en-
acted to compel individuals and corporations
to make, deliver and return to the assessors of
the several cities and towns a more full and
perfect inven tory for their real and personal
property liable to taxation, and it shall be
compulsory upon the said assessors to require
such inventory to be signed and given under
oath.
Mr.. McCusick of Calais presented an order
directing the judiciary committee to inquire
into the expediency of changing the time OF
meeting of the County Commissioners OF
Washington county, so that they shall be re-
quired to meet on the first Tuesday of October
Tuesday of April at Calais, instead OF meet
ing on the first Wednesday next after the first
Tuesday OF October and January at Machias,
and the first Wednesday next next after the
fourth Tuesday of April at Calais.
Passed to be e'agroSsed-A bill to incorporate
the Ocean Street Railroad Company; bill to
amend chapter 1877 of the public laws of 1877,
relating to the election of experimenting
school committees
A petition was presented of J. D. Warren
and others for incorporation of the Gardiner
Water Power Company, for the purpose OF
purchasing and maintaining property and the
reservoir and dams ON the Cobbossee stream
aud its tributaries.
Mr. Milliken of Burnham, by his request,
was excused from serving on the committee on
bribery and Mr.. ingalls, of NViscasset, was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy.
Mr. Verrill of Portland introduced bill to
amend an act to incorporate the Portland
Turnverein Society to hold property not ex-
ceeding $4,000. twas referred to the com
mittee OH legal affairs.