The Republican journal., 1881-02-17
Letter from Augusta.
Especial Correspondence of the Journal

iSpcClal Correspondence OF the journal
AUGUSTA, Feb. u, 1881
Several tediously duh hearings have been had be-
fore the committee investigating the alleged mis-
management at the Insane Hospital Exceedingly
thin,' is the popular opinion thus far; and those
who have grievances to file have been all the time
putting in their side of the case No wonder an old
fellow in one Of the back seats inquired Of me- the
other day, "When is the investigation to begin?"
Not a fact has as yet been elected that could be
tortured into a reflection upon the officers of the
Hospital. 1t is known now, after fortnights in.
vestigaton, that bad meat was twice placed upon
the tables What family that has "kept house, for
a couple of years has not had that experience? A
patient taken by two attendants and carried
into his usual place in the Hospital but the testi
mony had failed to give the fact that the maniac had
escaped, and the attendants after hard struggle,
had succeeded IN returning him to his quarters
The water supply was short during severe drOuth,
and so was 1t everywhere, compelling people to
economic with that which usually is as free as the
air we breathe. The institution will stand all the
better in public estimation after this investigations
and am glad it was ordered. search warrant
will fail to detect anything rotten about the Maine
Insane Hospital.
As far as the House is concerned the Rockland
division appears to be settled by the decisive
vote of IL to 81. But there were twenty-one alb
sentees (nclutling Swan and what sensation it
created as swans name was called') and so per-
sistent and hopeful are the friends of division, they
determined to appeal to the tribunal of the Senate,
III hopes to obtain a reversal of The verdict. 1t
comes up tomorrow by assignment and if there
hasn't been logrolling then no matter! This seventh
ward discus sion has Income IN indi mart
of each legislature, and, what is more, each year
the contest increases in interest. This year both
sides represented before the committee by
of the best lawyers in the State. The appear
ancc of the witnesses and the finished arguments
on both sides, gave an intensely interesting
view of higher grade of court scenes On which
ever side of the question might find myself, I
couldn't help q thrill of pride in listening to the
opening Of the case the floor Of the House, by
Judge Hall Of Rockand who plead for the integrity
and life Of his town with an cloquence ability and
fervor worthy the cause. Sidney NJ. Bird, Esq,
the other member from Rockland who followed on
the other side, presented solid phalanN of facts
and figures, enough to make ones head swim.
Strout of Portland, put in the clincher in his bril-
liant twenty minutes speech just before the vote
taken. severe and cutting portion of his
speech was Wncfc ne turned upon tne gentleman
from East AIachis, who spoke upon the other side,
the sarcasm and nnucnloes in which Mr.. Talbot
50 freely INDUCES, and which no without pos
sessing bull Dog disposition, and a lions face,
would dare hurl about in public assembly. No
body ought to cry when cities like Rockland, bur
dened and groanng under great public debt,
which requires their entire energy to grappe with,
are allowed to remain intact. Divorce in these
cases ought not to he made easy.
OF the committees on apportionment that having
in charge the Congressional apportionment has al
together the most to do 1t is well known that our
State unfortunately loses district; in view OF
| the law requiring Il representative i'll each district
of 10000 inhabitants. There are two pretty well
di@ested plans for redstrictns the State, before
the committee, which will give. The first may be
called the lighting plan as they will be nearly
divided politically that biennial contest may be
looked for in every district but one, indeed regard
ed lis inevitable. Th, is it.