The Republican journal., 1883-01-25
The State Capital.

AppDRTID\AIFNT.

SAYS: There Is strong pressure to defeat the
/ preferences Of Knox county and of the Old See
und Di>trct-knoN county doesn't want t.
Join HE old Second District and Somerset woult
bc tNcelirniy accommodated by Joining thl
second. The scheme to which YOUR SeconC
District folks with whom | have cOnyersed
seriously object is that part of the following
scheme which affects Your Second District
hat scheme which some are strongly pressing
j. a. follows
Fir,, Di>trict.-Cu Cumberland and YORK.
second Di>tuct.-OXforG. Franklin, Andro-
sco@9n. Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox.
Third Distret.-Somerset, kennebec Waldo
ana Hancock.
Fourth District -Areo>took, Penobscot. Pts
casaqui> and Washington.
some propose to vary this by taking Frank
lin from the Second and carrying il to the
Third,
Ii seems to me- as ii>interested observer
that this scheme is Il little hard on YOUR old
second District The Democrats like it very
wen: for they say it gives them as good q
| ciEIHc, 10 carry two districts as any arrange
mcnt they could have themselves fixed up.
| The decision 20 avoid division of county lines
Is very satisfactory. After the hearing which
the committee Will give next Wednesday in
the senate Chamber. the subject will doubtless
be acted on in the committee. But the chief
battle ground Will be III the Legislature where
an animated discussion of the whole question
may hc looked ior. The opinion is daily
strengthening that political or personal ron>id-
cratlun> should not prevail so much as the
preferences Of localities and the popular choice.
ii i for this reason that it is likely that an ap-
p rtionment will be finally effected which shall
be- fair, politically, and fair to the several local
iti2>.
! he Committee on Legislative Apportion-
mrnt met "Wednesday evening the 11th and
agreed to report TO the Legislature as follows
II 10 The number of Senators which each cOun-
ty should be tntit cd to under the new appOr-
comment: -Andro>coggin should be entitled to J
senators. Aroostook ;. Cumberland +. Frank
lin l. Hancock > kennebec ,, Knox ,. Lincoln
!. oxford >. Penob>cot 3. Piscataqus /. Saga
dahoc ]. Somerset |. Nald0 ;. Washington
and York 3. total 81.
TIE DIVORCE LAWS.
Numerou>ly signed petitions are coming in
from all over the state asking for a reform in
The divorce laws. which are 50 lax is to occa-
sion public scandal. As matters now stand it
i ea>lrr to procure divorce iii Maine than
any ether STATE in the Union. The evil has
grown - ilagrant. 50 demoraZng to society
and to the family that strong sentiment has
developed OF late that our divorce laws are far
too lax. and should be 50 amended that the
marriage bond can only be annuled where eX-
capional cau>" exists for separation. Most of
the religious denominations of the State have
adopted resolutions in favor Of divorce reform,
and the Judges of the Supreme Court and most
Of the leading lawyers believe that the divorce
laws should be made more stringent. The points
asked for are is follows:
j. That in every suit for divorce the peti-
tion shall be contested by the County Attorney.
in case no other defence is made
:. That the Judges be authorized TO enter
DEGREES OF divorce rs conditional. to be made
absolute after six months. unless cause is
shown against it.
,. That where divorce is granted for a
cfine against the laws, the evidence be given
tothe County Attorney and he be required TO
prosecute the case in the Criminal Court
/. That when a divorce is granted its term
shall not apply 10 the libellee 50 as to allow an
othcr marriage Of the libelee except with libel
iant. while living. without further action of the
Court
>. That provisions be made for collecting
statistics Of divorces in order that the people
may be kept informed of the condition of
things.
6. That the power of the Judges be limited
50 that divorces shall only be granted for speci-
ticd cause>.
CAPITAL CHIr-CHAT.
The Council las confirmed the nominations
nGtde by Governor Rebie on the 10th inst.
II i whispered that the legislative reception
party which is to be given 10 GOV. Robie. at
Augusta, viii eclipse all former affairs Of the
kind.
hder the law requiring returns to be made
t" lhe Secretary Of STATE by the different corpo-
rtiol> in the State. 800 returns have been re-
csivrd the year l>s2.
Tha recording Of the Old land titles obtained
from the Ila>sachusctts archives regarding
lands IN Maine will ill six volumes. Four have
already been filed.
uafor Penneli. Of Andre>coggin. has receiy-
ro thc following telegram:
WASHINGTON, u. G.. Jan, l6
iIoH. William y. Penn,.l Please say to the
x pG1lrano Vt tht Legislature that am profound
y 2l@l foi for Their expression of confidence.
WA. p. FRYE.
\ petition i7 being circulated here which has
received The i@nHturc> of Coy. Robie and mem
b j. THE Executive Council and most of the
- nator> and Representatives, asking Congress
to increase he pensions of soldiers who lost an
arm or Icg in service 10 $40 It month 1t will
be forwarded 10 our Senators at Washington
fer pre~c ntation
The question OF the division of Aroostook, if
i likely. will be one of the bones of contention
during the session. Caribou is in favor of the
scheme. Aroostook is large enough for a State
by it>rf, and sometime will have population
Of Il hundred thousand-but lust now the op-
ponrnt> of the scheme say the country has not
valuation or population enough to guarantee
the proposed division.
An attempt is to be made to have law en-
acted to prevent parties from obtaining policies
OF insurance on property in excess of its real
value. 1t has been the custom for insurance
agents to accept almost any representation and
issue policy thereon but when a fire occurred.
instead of the insured getting the amount of the
policy, he would be paid only what the actual
lo>> figured up. The company thus obtains a
larger amount for premiums than it would with
law such as is desired to have enacted.