The Portland daily press., 1881-02-16

Mr. Strout, in relation to the matter, submit
ted bill providing that if any convict under
sentence of hard labor for life should wilfally
kill the Warden of the State Prison or any
officer or employe of that institution upon
trial and conviction shall be punished by
death.
This bill was discussed by the committee,
and Mr.. McKusick desiring that the bill be-
sides providing for the protection of officers in
the State Prison, should also be law for the
protection of any officer who has prisoner in
charge under conviction of life sentence for
murder, he was instructed to draft bill to
submit to the committee.
The committee considered bill in relation
to divorce which was presented in behalf of
the petitioners who ask for change in the
divorce laws. This bill provided that
divorce from the bonds of matrimony may be
decreed for adultery or impotency or when
either party has separated from the other
without his or her consent and united with
religious sect or society that processes to be-
lieve the relation of husband and wife void or
unlawful and has continued united with such
a society for three years, refusing during that
time to cohabit with the party who has not
united with such sect Or society; or when
either party is sentenced to confinement to
hard labor in the State Prison, or in any jail or
house of correction for the term of life, or for
five years or more; and no pardon granted
after divorce for that cause to the party so
sentenced shall restore such party to his or her
coniugal rights A divorce may be decreed
in favor of either party, when one party has
deserted the other for five years consecutively;
for extreme cruelty, utter desertion, gross and
confirmed habits of intoxication contracted
after marriage, or for cruel or abusive treat
ment.
After considering this bill the committee
finally voted 6 to 8 to give petitioners leave to
withdraw. A minority report will also be
made and on Thursday both reports will be
made to the legislature.
The Railroad committee gave hearing to
parties interested in the bill relative to the
powers and duties of the Railroad Commits
sioners, and also relative to the transportation
of passengers and freight over railroads. Gov
Washburn and S. G. Andrews of Portland
and Senator Bisbee of Oxford appeared and
favored the bill; and George c. Yeaton of Ber-
wick appeared for the Boston & Maine rail-
road, and Nathan Webb of Portland appeared
for the Eastern railroad, in opposition The
hearing was an exciting one and occupied the
entire afternoon. Nearly every railroad cor
poration in the State was represented among
the crowd of spectators which packed the
committee room. The committee voted to re-
port the bill in new draft
Tn, fba
tion with the Finance committee gave hear.
ing on the bill taxing railroad corporations.
which was fully explained by Josiah III. Drum
mond of Portland. The matter was referred
to subcommittee of five who are to report at
a future meeting.
The Agricultural committee has voted to
report no appropriation for the State College,
for 1882, and only So, 500 for 1881.
The Fishery committee after a spirited hear
ing on the petition to forbid the taking of
mackerel by seines voted leave to withdraw
One member will make minority report
Same was voted ON prohibition of sale of lob
sters less than 10a inches in length A bill
will be reported to prohibit the taking of sal
mon and alewives in the town of Waldoboro
The Insane Hospital committee gave an
other hearing this afternoon which was large
ly attended.
George Motherwell, former attendant who
had been discharged, stated that he had known
OF cases of abuse by attendants during the
seven years of his service in the hospital, but
in no case had he notified DR.. Harlow or DR..
Neal, who had the attendants of that part
of the institution in charge. His reason for
such remissness was fear that he might fall in
to disrepute among the other1 attendants. He
stated that the attendants were not in the
habit of informing against one another. He at.
tributed his discharge to voting the Greenback
ticket, but acknowledged that lie had previ-
ously voted the same ticket, and prior to that
had voted the Democratic ticket He also
testified that just before hiss discharge he and
some 20 or 80 other attendants had been away
to party one night, unknown to Dr. Harlow,
and remained large share of the night.
Mrs. Motherwell testified that during her
connection with the hospital as an atten-
dant. she had known of cases of abuse of
patients by attendants but had never inform
ed DIR. Harlow, and would not specify any
particular case. She cited ease where a
patient who had been in the hospital about
four MONTHS and was married woman, was
seized with premature child birth. She called
the attention of DR.. Harlow to the case and
the woman was properly cared for.
Dexter B. Kimball and Edgar Colman, might
watchmen at the hospital, testified, but their
statements revealed nothing new.
Further hearings will take place on the af-
ternoons OF next FIR iday, Saturday and Tues
day.
The Council will act upon the recent nomi-
nations tomorrow. The probability is thew
will be rejected.
The report of the Valuation commission will
besmade tomorrow or next day. 1t is said the
State will show gain of twelve millions over
the valuation of 1870, the estimate being now
on gold basis against an inflated currency
basis ten years ago. Three or four counties
will show loss while several will show a large
gam. Bath and kockland lose heavily. The
manufacturing towns show large gains. Port
land will show an increase. The total number
OF polls will not be less than 10000.