The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-11
General Satisfaction with the
Makeup Of Committees.
The PrOhibitOry Amendment Gem
ing up To-day.
WHERE.THE STATES LIQUORS ARE
SOLD.
Appointments by Governor ROBBIE
[speclal despatch 70 the Preas.l

Especial despatch to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Jan. 10.
The wheels of legislation are beginning to re-
volve. Now that the committees have been
announced the work of the session will begin
10 downright earnest. 1t is difficult matter
for the presiding officers oflthe two branches to
make up their committees SO that every one
will be satisfied. The task was an especially
delicate one this year on account of the unusu-
ally large number of men of ability and repu-
tation IN both the House and Senate In the
lower branch there were twenty lawyers, from
which 10 select the fourteen members of the
judiciary and legal affairs committees to which
the House is entitled. But on tho whole the
composition of the committees gave general
satisfaction. The judiciary, which is regarded
as the most important committee of the Legis-
lature, is remarkably strong The chairman,
Senator Lebroke of Piscataquis, is widely
known, not only for his solid legal attainments
but for his brilliancy and abli6y. Hon.
Charles Mclaughlin of Portland, who occu-
pies the second place on the committee, will
add greatly to its strength. Although not
lawyer by profession he has practical knowl-
edge and excellent understanding of,leeal prin-
ciples, and his wide acquaintance with men
and affairs will make him valuable acquisi-
ton.
In the House the committee contains such
we'll known lawyers as Judge Hall of Rock
land, Llewellyn Powers of Houlton, Clarence
Hale of Portland and Herbert M. Heath of
Augusta.
Senator Stubbs of Franklin, chairman of the
oor mil of
practice as lawyer, and is a shrewd and able
man of business Gen. Mattocks of Portland,
chairman on the part of the House, is too well
known to the readers of ths PRESS to need any
words of comm endation from us. Senator
Young of Cumberland, chairman of the finance
committee, is emphatically the right man In
the right place. As treasurer of Bowdoin
College he has exhibited his great practical
skill as financier and as the head Of this i'm
portant committee will render effective service
to the State Hon. George e. Weeks OF Au-
gusta, chairman of the committee on railroads
is successful business man and has had con-
siderable legislative experience. The make up
OF the other committees is excellent, and the
interests of the public will be carefully con-
sidered by them in their deliberations.
THE PRoHIBIToRY AMENDMENT.
The present is emphatically business ses-
sion of the Legislature. In State the size of
Maine mass of matters demanding legisa-
tion must necessarily accumulate in two years.
Many of the acts asked forwill be of local and
special nature, while others will affect the
whole State. Tomorrow the House will con
sider the resolutions submitted by Mr.. Eaton of
Camden, providing for an amendment to the
constitution forever prohibiting the manufac-
ture of Intoxicating liquors and to prohibit
their sale except for medicinal and mechani-
cal purposes and the arts. There will undoubt-
edy be considerable discussion over the
proposed amendment, but an amendment to
the constitution in some form will probably
pass both houses by the necessary two-thirds
vote and be submitted to the people at the
gubern atorisl election in 1884. At an early
day the attention of the Legisture will be call
ed to the alarming number Of divorces granted
in Maine, and change in the law will be ask
ed for. making it more difficult for the marital
bonds to be sundered.
BANGOR AND PIscATAoUIs EXTENSION.
One of the important matters to come before
the Legislature is a bill in the Interests of the
Bangor and Piscataguis Railroad. 1t is pro
posed to extend this road from Blanchard TO
Moosehead Lake, distance of fourteen miles,
at cost of about $3.50, 600 which sum will have
to be raised by an issue of new bonds. The
city of Bangor now holds first-mortgage bonds
of the road to the amount Of 1926, 600. In Or
der that the new issue may be disposed OF to ad
vantage authority will be asked of the Legisla-
an 70 10 ha frcf-y
bonds, the city of Bangor coming in second.
This is novel proposition, and will be likely
to bring out considerable debate. Senator Nc
Laughlin of Portland today intro luced an
order protesting against any change in the sys-
tenn of headland lights on the coast of Maine.
1t was referred to the committee on commerce.
A memorial to Congress will probably be
adopted.
TOWN LINES.
The historic fight over the division of Rock
land will not be renewed this year; but the
question will come up of annexing portion of
the town of Winslow to WaterYille. Within
few years Waterville has grown very rapidly
owing to new manufacturing enterprises being
established, and the time cannot be far distant
when another cotton mill will be erected on
the Winslow side of the dam. 1t certainly
would be very advantageous to Waterville if
that section of Winslow lying across the river
from the business portion of the town should
be annexed.
PAY OF LEGISLATORS.
The prospects that the present session is to-
be long is attracting attention to the inade-
quacy of the compensation which Maine allows
harl Tvao -.
generous salaries allowed by other States,
$3.50 for the session seems ridiculously small
OF course to many members of the Legisla-
ture the salary is no object; but probably many
members make decided pecuniary sacrifice
when they come to Augusta. Board here in
the winter ranges from Sc to $40 week. It
would not be extravagant to double the stipend
now received. The sixty-hrst legislature cam
not increase the salaries Of its members, but it
can if it chooses vote that future members
shall receive something like adequate pay for
their services
MESSENGER OF THE COUNCIL.
Maj. c. j. House of Monson was today ap-
pointed messenger to the Governor and Coun-
Gil. Two year ago Maj. House was ousted from
this position by Governor Plaisted who wanted
the place for his son. But the whirlgig Of
of time brings its revenges, and now Major
House is in and Plaisted is out
SENATOR MoRRML's DEATH.
The announcement of the death of Hon.
Lot NJ. Morrill, was unoffically received at the
State House to-day, soon after the sad event
occurred. In view of the eminent services of
the deceased both the House and Senate will
probably adjourn as token of respect on the
day of the fcneral.
REPORT OF THE LIQUOR COMMISSIONER.
The report OF the State Liqaor Commissioner
has been transmitted to the Senate. In 1882
the sales of liquors at the various authorized
agencies in the State amounted to $5S,S17.42
The amount of liquor in the principal cities
and towns in the States where agencies are es-
tablished was as follows.
Auburn .........,..,,,.,.,,. So. .3aS 80
bang r... .,..,,,.,..,......... S,O36. 10