The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-02-17
The Bribery ca.aa Ara,n.

l AoA31OiHOW 1uSu0Oy Vic uSlOu AlcInueI HULL
Appleton, will make another effort to force
the House to include the cases of Clark OF No.
bleboro and Cushman of Sherman in the brib-
| cry investigation. But the majority of the
| House thoroughly understand the end, aims and
| designs of these Fusion marplots, and any fur
| the attempts at bulldozing will be summarily
| disposed Of
| There Is strong belief among Republicans
| that the bribery charges of Swan and Harri-
man were put up jobs during the revolutionary
period of few weeks ago 70 divert attention
from the real purposes of the conspirators, and
to keep the Fusionists united in the work of
stealing the state; that since then the charges
hav ebeen reiterated for political effect and the
persistency and shameless audacity with which
they have been pushed to the exclusion of the
legitimate work of the legislature, shows that
the Fusionists have become utterly reckless in
this disgraceful business. and would sacrifice
everything to fasten bribery on the Republic
can party. According to their own confession
Swan and Hartman are guilty of having COM
mitted an offence which it Is NOR the duty of
the legislature to investigate than it is their
charges against Mr.. White, an outsider, be-
cause they being members of the House, come
within jurisdiction of that branch, while Mr..
White does not, and it was only at his request
that an investigation was called for, in order
that he might prove his innocence of the accu-
sations brought against him. If am not mis-
taken Messrs Swan and Hartman, so long as
they have acknowledged that they accepted
brides, will be dealt with by the House and
brought before its bar and held to answer for
a crime, the penalty of which is heavy one.
If they are expelled from their seats, as it
is highly probable they will be on their own
confessions of guilt, they will have only them
selves to blame. They cannot masquerade in
such role as they have attempted without
laying themselves liable to disgrace and pun
ishment, whether there is basis or not for
the charges they make. Exeunt Swan and Har
riman before the legislature finally adjourns.
Taxation OF Railroads.
Mr.. Hale of Ellsworth caused an order Of in
quiry to be adopted in relation to changing the
law so that railroad and other corporations
may bear their proper share of taxation. This
is eminently proper, and is in accordance with
the wishes of the Governor, who called atten-
ton to the subject in his message. The pres
ent tax law was passed in 1874, and the basis
| of assessment being on the market value of
railroad stock, the state does not derive that
revenue from the thirty millions of dollars in
railroad property which she should, the an
nual tax paid the state not exceeding $4,000
Last winter the legislature neglected to do
anything about the matter, Notwithstanding
the court after four years litigation, decided
that railroad property like other property was
subject to taxation, and the result was the
state failed to receive any tax from che Maine
Central corporation account of the low
value of its stock. With the present rate of
assessment, which is Il per cent. if the prop
erty of railroads should be taxed like other
property. there would be derived at least $780,
600, three-fourths of which would go into the
state treasury, and the remaining ene-fourth
would go to those towns where shares are
held The tax payer will rejoice if their bur-
dens can be lightened by such legislation as
Mr.. Hale's order suggests.
The Valuation Commission.
The State Valuation Commission has beer
reconstructed since the original appointments.
in consequence of several gentlemen declin-
ing to serve. AS it now stands the commission
is as follows:
Androscoggin-Abial NJ. JONES' Lewiston.
Aroostook-Eben Woodbury., Houlton.
Standardization Knowlton, Portland.
Franklin-Joseph w. Fairbanks, Farming
ton.
Hancoek-S. T. Hincks, Bucksport.
Kennebcc-Joseph A. Homan, Augusta
Knox-Samuel Bryant, Rockland
Lincoln-Geo. B. Sawyer, Wiscasset.
Oxford-Enoch G. Harrington, Fryeburg.
Penobscot-Elisha Shaw, Newport
Piscataquis-A. W. Gilman, Foxcroft.
Sagadahoc A. PEBBLE, Bath.
Somerset-James B. Dascomb, Skowhegan.
Waldo-Nathan F. Houston, Belfast.
Washington-James O. Pope, Whtneyville
York-John Hall, North Berwick.
The valuation commissioners held their
first session this afternoon in the Judiciary
room, the commissioners being all present
with the exception of those from Aroostook,
Washington, Knox and York. s. T. Kinks of
Hancock was chosen temporary chairman, and
Geo. B. Sawyer of Lincoln clerk.
Reception to Gov. Davis.
reception will be given Gov. Davis within
two weeks at Granite Hall, which is expected
to be brilliant affair The ladies are already
beginning to discuss the toilets which the
edicts Of fashion dictate to be worn, and there
are many futtering hearts at the coming society
event, which promises to be the best of the
season.
The Republicans of this, the Third Con-
gressiona district, will hold their convention in
this city Tuesday, March I'd, to choose two
delegates and two alternateS to the Chicago
Convention. Only two names as yet have
been mentioned as delegates, and those are
Joseph Fl. Manley of Augusta and J. R. Bod
we'll of Hallowell.
Appointments by the Governor.
John A. Waterman of Gorham has been ap-
pointed trustee of the Normal School in place
of Mr.. Woodbridge Of Rockland, who has re-
moved from the State; James E. Morse of
Whiteield has been appointed Warden of the
State Prison, and Dr. John s. Cushing of
Skowhegan has been appointed trustee of the
Insane Hospital in place of John Ware of
Waterville, removed