The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-02-15
TUESDAY MORNING, FEB. Is.
BY TELEGRAPH.
AUGUSTA.
Bill to Change the Pauper Laws.
CHARTER OF THE CAPE ELIZABETH
RAILROAD COMPANY.
The Athens & SkOwhegan Narrow
Gauge Bill.
TUESDAY MORNING, FEB. Is.
AUGUSTA.
Especial Despatch to the Press.l

Especial Despatch to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Feb. IA.
The bill to amend the statutes relating to
probate bonds provides that the Judge of Pro-
bate on due notice to all parties interested,
may, in the exercise of just discretion, dis
charge the surety on a bond from all liability
for any subsequent, but not for any prior
breaches thereof, and require new bond of
the principal with sureties approved by him.
The petitioners who ask for change in the
law of dover belong at Mechanic Falls. They
represent that the law as it now stands is UNI
equal and unjust to the widow and very often
causes much hardship, especially whereithere
is little or no personal estate. They want a
change so that the widow may hold part of
their deceased husbands real estate in fee SIM
pie.
An order was introduced in the House this
morning providing for a change in the present
law relating to the support of paupers. Hith-
erto the state has been compelled to support
all paupers in places of less than 200 population
and valuation of less than 100000. If the
proposed amendment is adopted the state will
get rid of many claims in this line, for all pau
pers residing in places having population of
200, and valuation of $4,000, will have to
be supported by such places.
The bill declaring women eligible to certain
school offices, which is pending in the Legisla.
ture, is similar to the Massachusetts, law and is
as follows:
Sec. mo person shall be ineligible to the
Office of supervisor of schools or of superin-
tending school committee, ON account of SEX
Sec. 2-This act shall be In effect when APP
proved by the Governor.
The following is transcript of the bill to in
corporate the Cape Elizabeth Railroad Co., as
amended by the House today and passed to be
engrossed:
Sec. Moses G. Palmer, Lewis Pierce
Jr., Charles E. Jose, Charles B. Mer-
rill, L. D. M. Sweat and John E
Palmer of Portland, and John NJ. Robbins
of Lewiston, their successors and assigns, are
hereby constituted corporation by the name
of Cape Elizabeth Railroad Co., with authori-
ty to construct, maintain and use railroad to
be operated by horse or steam power, for the
transportion of freight and passengers, from q
point at or near Ferry Village in Cape Eliza
beth, thence along the coast as near as practi-
cable to some point in the vicinity of Prout's
Neck or Lbbys Neck, with all the rights and
privileges, and subject to all the duties and
liabilities of the laws Of the state.
Sec. 2-The capital stock of said corporation
shall not exceed one hundred thousand dol
lars, to be divided into shares of 500 dollars
each. and no share shall be issued for less than
its par value.
Sec 3-Said corporation shall have power to
purchase and bold such real estate as may be
necessary or convenient for the purpose of
said railroad.
Sec. 4-Said corporation or their directors
may from time to time determine what parts
Of their railroad they desire to operate, and at
what portion of the year they desire to operate
the same; and shall not be holden to operate
any part thereof, or at any portion Of the
year, except as they may determine as afore-
said.
Sec. 5-Said corporation is hereby authoriz.
ed to issue bonds for the purpose of construct
ing its railroad, or for money which it may
borrow for the purposes sanctioned by law;
but the bonds so issued shall not exceed the
amount of capital stock paid in by the stock
holders. Said bonds shall be issued in sums
not less than 500 each, payable in not more
than twenty years from their date, with inter-
est payable semi-annually.
Sec 6--This act shall be void unless the
same shall be accepted by said corporation,
and ten per cent. of the capital stock paid
within three years from the date of its APP
prevail.
Sec. Nothing in this act shall deprive the
Legislature of the right to amend, alter or re-
peal said charter, or render said company in
dependent of the general legislative power of
the state.
pleted on or before the first day of January,
A. D., 1885, this act shall be null and void
Sec. 9-This act shall take effect when ap-
proved.
An amendment to the charter of the Sebois
Dam Co. was reported in the Senate this at
ternoon that provides that instead of the pres
ent toll the company may demand toll of 40
cents for each thousand feet, board measure,
oil Jr;u +1,o;r 10
be erected at Or near the outlet of Trout lake;
also they may demand 20 cents for each thou
sand feet, board measure, that may pass over
the dams and improvements erected or to be
erected on the east branch of Sebois stream,
and maintain these prices until they hrve re-
ceived the pay for repairs at eight per cent. on
money used, then prices of toll shall be re-
duced.
The bill to incorporate the Skowhegan and
Athens Railroad Co., which is pending in the
House, appears to contain some very extraor-
binary andiunusual provisions. 1t appears like
a narrow gauge scheme with broad gauge
charter, apparently overriding individual
and corporation rights and bidding defiance to
executive and legislative authority, and reliev-
ing the railroad commissioners of their duties,
so far as this road is concerned. The law
makers had better examine the bill more care
fully than the railroad committee seem to
have done.
Another railroad charter, which is pending
also needs scrutinizing. 1t is that of the Ken
nebec & Franklin Railroad Co., the proposed
narrow gauge road between Farmington and
this city. Those who are not interested in
this project construe one of its provisions as an
escape from State taxation. The bill seems to
be without any paternity as no corporations
are named.
The subcommittee on apportionment of
councillor districts will probably report to the
full committee tomorrow night No material
changes will be made.