The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-02
AUGUSTA.
Neal Dow's Liquor Bill Indef-
initely Postponed.
Attempt to Remove the Amend
ments from the Capital
Punishment Bill.
Mr.. Haskelrs Reform School Bill
to be Reported.
The Anti.Quackery Bill to be Favorably
Reported.


Especial Despatch to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, March l.
The House had stormy session this FORE
noon. The fight began over the resolves ap-
portioning the State for senators and repre-
sentatives which came down from the Senate
amended and recommitted to the committee
After vigorous debate the House voted not
to adopt the amendment-8S to Sand passed
the resolve to be engrossed just as reported
from the committee. They will 60 back to the
Senate to morrow and that branch win prob.
ably recede from its action of yesterday taking
one representative from Kennebec county to
add to Sagadahoc. 1t is thought that if the
resolves are recommitted it will so delay mat
ters that adjournment cannot be reached for
some time and members who are anxious to
get home will be influenced by this consider
alton.
NEAL Dow's LIQUOR LAW AMENDMENTS.
The committee on temperance reported in
pamphlet form the section of the revised
statutes containing the prohibitory law as
revised by Hon. Neal Dow of Portland. 1t
was not properly presented as there was ne en-
acting clause to the bill. The House had
simply the pamphlet to act upon and voted to
indefinitely postpone the matter, after slight
debate.
DISSATISFACTION WITH THE AMENDMENTS TO
THE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT BILL.
Mr.. Meader of Waterville moved to recon
slider the vote whereby the House yesterday
passed to be engrossed the bill to restore the
death penalty, and a sharp discussion ensned
-. Tk ~ IxIo -. t.sJ
amended is SO emasculated and eviscerated
that it would be impossible to ever execute
criminal under its provisions. 1t is probable
that the vote passing the bill to be engrossed
will be reconsidered and that the amendments
giving the respondent the closing argument
and permitting the jury to accompany their
verdict with a recommendation of mercy in
which case the judge shall commute the
sentence to Imprisonment for life will be
rejected. The advocates uf capital punish
ment are confident that they are strong
enough to pass the bill substantially as report
ed from the committee.
THE BILL TO REIMBURSE TOWNS.
The committee ON financial affairs this after
noon voted to report resolve instructing the
State Treasurer to reimburse those towns and
cities which in 1880 paid tax on excessive
valuation. There are about two hundred of
these towns in the State and 1t will take some
fifty thousand dollars to reimburse them. The
money is to be paid out of any funds in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated. There
will be minority report. 1t is doubtful il the
Legisl ature will give the resolve passage.
MR.. HAsKELL's BILL TO BE REPORTED.
The committee on reform school to-day
voted to report the bill substantially as report
Cd by Hon. Thomas 81. Haskell of Portland
They voted to report a resolve appropriating
five thousand dollars to erect and equip
mechanical school; three thousand dollars to
pay debts, and $13 900 year for the expenses
of the institution for 1883 and 1884.
POOLING RAILROAD EARNINGS.
The committee on railroads will report
ought not to pass on the bill to prevent con-
solidation of railroads. Mr.. M. A. Stafford of
Kittery appeared in favor of the bill, and
Thos. H. Haskell and Josiah 81. Drummond OF
Portland, and George G. Yeaton of South
Berwick opposed. The bill was copy of the
New Hampshire law prohibiting the pooling
of railroad earnings.
THE REFoRMAToRY FOR WOMEN.
The committee on the judiciary have decided
that the matter of providing Reformatory for
Women is subject worthy of consideration,
and will recommend the Governor and Coun-
Gil to make inv estigations regarding the build
ing required, etc.. for such an institution, and
report the same to the next Legislature.
LEGISLATIVE SALARIES.
The House has passed bill increasing the
salaries of the Messengers of both branches of
the Legislature from $3.50 to $500 per session,
but on Tuesday the Senate, by an almost
unanimous vote indefinitely postponed the bill
Previous to 1879 these salaries were S225 an
nually, at which time all the salaries were cut
down to the following figures: President of
the Senate and Speaker of the House, $500
each; Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the
House, 5000 each which includes the making
up of the journals; Assistant Secretary and
Assistant Clerk, $500 each; Messengers and
Assistant Messengers of both branches, $3.50
each; Pages, $75 each; Reporters of both
branches, $500 each Chaplains, $3.50 each.
The salary of the members is also fixed at $3.50
in full for all services. The pay roll of the "a
days session of two years ago amounted to
1913, S,150, and of the Senate TO 81, ,404 .65 total,
$35, ,554 65 or about $4S00 per day.
ITO the Associated Press.]
THE MEDICAL BILL TO BE REPORTED.
The committee on legal affairs will report
the medical bill on which there were SO many
excited hearings. 1t provides for the register
alton of practitioners of medicine and surgery
and that none can practice in the State unless
registered.
REPAIRS TO THE STATE HOUSE.
The committee on public buildings will re-
port resolve appropriating $1,000 for repairs
on the State House.