The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-18
Mr.. Talbot Pressing His Census
Bill.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE Dr-
VoRCE LAWS.
Bill to Allow Voting by Proxy.
Special Despatch to the Press.l

lcally business session. The committees are
getting to work and the State House is lively
these winter afternoons. At this stage in the
session, the interest centres about the commit
tee rooms. All the matters requiring legisla-
tion are assigned to the proper committees for
investigation, and are by them reported back
to the house in which they originated. There
have been few debates as yet. Some eloquent
eulogiums were pronounced in both branches
upon the character and eminent attachments
of the late Lot M Morrill,. On Tuesday Of
this week, there was little breeze in the
House over the bill introduced by Mr.. Talbot,
OF East MRchias, to require new census Of
the State to be taken. Judge Hall. Of Rock
land, in neat speech, completely used up the
gentleman from East Machias, and his bill was
defeated by vote of 110 to 80. Judge Hall
speaks In such clear-cut wide awake way
that he always commands the attention of the
House. Before the winter is out there will be
several opportunities for debate, but as vet the
eloquence has been kept tightly corked up.
STATE CENSUS.
Mr.. Talbot of East Machias does not pro
pose to give up his fight on the matter Of a
State census. To-day he introduced the fol-
lowing:
Ordered, That the justices of the Supreme
Judicial Court be required, for the informa-
ton OF this House. to answer the following
questions, viz:
Question 1. Can the requirements of the
Constitution "that the legislature within
every period of aBenost ten years, and at least
i've, shall cause the number of inhabitants of
the State to be ascertained, exclusive OF for
e1gners not naturalized and Indians not taxed
and shall. at the narind nj
meration, lX and apportion the number of rep
resentatlves among the several Counties" be
complied with without causing the number of
lhe inhabitants at the time of, or immediately
before making SAID appOrtioAnaant, to be ascer-
tanned?
2. Can thellegislature comply with said re-
qurements of the Constitution in reference to
said enumeration, by adopting in 1883 an emu
State in 1880?
8. Can the legislature, for tie purpose be-
fore named, and in compliance with the re-
qulrements OF the Constitution, adopt an emu
meration OF the inhabitants OF the State as
OASIS OF such an apportionment as the Consti-
tuition requires, made by the United States in
1880, which examination does not specify or
discriminate, or furnish any basis for correctly
computing the number of such inhabitants
who, at the time of such enumeration, were
foreigners not naturalized and Indians not
taxed.'
REFORM IN THE DIVORCE LAWS.
Numerously signed petitions are coming in
from all over the State, asking for reform in
the divorce laws. AS matters now stand it is
easier to procure a divorce in Maine than in
any other State in the Union, not excepting
Vermont, Connecticut or Indiana. Within
the past ten years over 2,40O divorces have
been granted in Maine. The judges of the
Supreme Court of Maine and the leading
members of the bar believe that the present
law should be amended, and there is little
doubt it will be By the present legislature
The points asked for are as follows:
/. That in every suit for divorce the petit
tion shall be contested by the county attorney
IN case no other defence is made
2. That the judges be authorized to enter
DEGREES of divorce as conditional, to be made
absolute after six months, unless cause is
shown against it,
3. That where divorce is granted for a
crime against the laws, the evidence to be given
to the county attorney, and he be required to
prosecute the case in the criminal court.
4. That when divorce is granted, its term
shall not apply to the ibelee SO as to allow an
other marriage of the libeee except with the
libellant, while living without further action
of the court.
5. That provision be made for collecting
statistics of divorces in order that the peo-
pie may be Kept informed of the condition of
things.
6. That the powers of the judges be limited
SO that divorces shall only be granted for speci-
fed causes.
PRoHIBIToRY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Eaton of Camden got an opportunity on
Friday last to deliver his speech in favor Of an
amendment 10 the Constitution prohibiting the
manufacture and sale OF intoxicating liquors.
After little debate the bill was committed to
the judiciary committee. So great is the press
of work upon this committee that the amend
ment cannot be reached for lsome time. The
committee may recommend certain modiica
tions. When the bill is reported back to the
House fierce debate may be- looked for. The
Democratic element, to man. will oppose the
passage of the measure. while the Republican
and Greenback members will generally sup
port it.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
A bill establishing State Board of Health
will probably be introduced this session, and if
it does not discriminate in favor of any theory
Of practice, will doubtless pass the legislature
CONGRESSIONAL APPoRTIoNMENT.
There is a growing feeling that no congress
sional district shall be carved out to please any
individual, but that four fair districts shall be
made; districts in the interests of the people,
regardless of the personal interests of those
who represent or those who desire to repre-
sent them. 1t is generally conceded that the
counties of Aroostook, Penobscot, Washington
Piscataquis, Hancock, Waldo, Somerset and
Kennebec will be designated as the eight east
ern countless and that these counties will be
divided into TWO districts, making the third
and fourth. They contain about one-half the
population, wealth and polls Of the State. This
would leave Knox, Lincoln, Ssgadahoc, Frank
lin, Androscoggin. Oxford, Cumberland and
York as the western half OF the State, and
from these counties would be made the first
and second districts. The committee on con-
gressional apportionment have laid down a
rule that no county shall be divided if it is
possible to avoid it. Cumberland and York
counties will undoubtedly comprise the first
| district, as at present. The committee will
| give public hearing in the Senate chamber
next Tuesday evening, to all persons who are
| interested in the matter Of congressional ap-
| portionment, and have suggestions to offer.
VOTING By PROXY.
Senator Lebroke of Piscataquis to-day pre-
sented the petition of Albert W. Paine OF
Bangor, praying for an act to provide for vot,
| ing by proxy at public elections, accompanied
| by bill. 1t was referred to the committee on
| judiciary. The bill provides that any legal
voter whose name is on the list of voters il
any city, town or plantation in the State, and
not personally present, may vote by proxy al
all elections for Presidential electors, Repre-
sentatiYes to Congress-, and State and county
officers, provided the authority to do SO be in
writing or printed. Any person guilty of forg
| ing any such authoritygor proxy,in altering the
same after it is executed and acknowledged
or who shall knowingly cast such altered ol
forged ballots shall be subject 10 the penalty
provided for forgery. The petition states the
benefits to be derived from such law as fol
lows:
1. 1t will assure the exercise of the elect
i've franchise 10 a very numerous class where
now the party is disfranchised by absence
from home, sickness, inclement weather. o.
other disabling cause
2. 1t will save large expense and waste o.
time.
9; 1t win ensure greater integrity of tn,
poll
DIVISION OF ARoosTooK.
A petition for the division of Aroostool