The Portland daily press., 1883-02-05
AUGUSTA.
THE DISCUSSION OF THE PRO-
HISTORY AMENDMENT.
Proposed Enlargement of the In
sane Hospital.
A BILL WHICH rs EXCITING
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Bill for the Restoration Of the Death
Penalty,


| LILO 4Aoaoo udu u 1uuuy littlo bconlOu cotuA
day morning, and then adjourned over to Mon
day forenoon, at II o'clock. After the morn
ing hour the resolve for a constitutional pro-
hibitory amendment will come up on its pas
sage to be engrossed, but will probably be ia
bled until Tuesday, on motion. The House
has already devoted two days to discussing the
matter, and more fountains of rhetoric are tc
be tapped. The debate should properly have
| come on the final passage of the resolve, which
takes two-thirds vote It would have passed to
be engrossed without any difficulty had not Mr.
Moore. of Thomaston, a bright little wasp Of a
Democratic lawyer, set trap, into which the
members deliberately walked. Desiring to
precipitate discussion, he offered an amend.
ment to the effect that the vote by the people
on the proposed amendment to the constitu-
| tion should be by sealed ballot. This was voted
down, and then came little debate over the
cider clause, which, it was decided, should re-
main Mr.. Moore then spoke in opposition to
the passage of the resolve, and his keen thrusts
stirred mp DR.. Eaton, of Camden, the friend
and champion of the proposed amendment,
who made q fiery speech. By this time the
| mischief was done, the House was by the ears,
and the remainder of the forenoon was devoted
to oratory. On Friday the debaie was resumed,
Messrs. Talbot OF East Machias, Piper of Ken
duskeag, Rogers of Bath, Thompson of Bruns-
WICK, Powers of Houiton, speaking in opposi-
tion, and Messrs. Thatcher of Bangor, Ives OF
Castine, Eldridge of Dexter, Hall OF Rock
land, Spear of Hallowell, and Eaton of Cam
den in favor of the passage of The resolve.
There was fair sprinkiing Of spectators. Ths
speech which attracted the most comment was
that OF Mr.. Thompson, of Brunswick. He has
the appearance OF a man in i'll health, and his
voice IS not strong, but he holds the closest at
tehtlou OF the House. HIS speech was power
ful and audacious, but iDjudicious. 1 fear that
1t will recoil upon himself The Republican
party is pledged by its platform adopted at the
Portland convention last June to submit CON
stitutional prohiDitory amendment to the peo-
pie TO act upon, and it must carry out its prom
ise if it lies within it's power. Honesty and
consistency demand it. Mr.. Powers, of Houl-
ton, also spoke against the resolve The House
always listens when he addresses it. He is q
natural orator, and man who would attract
attention anywhere. Judge Hall, of Eockland
who spoke in the affirmative, las ringing
voice and a clear-cut way of saying things that
Is very effective. He is man OF fine culture
and can make very pretty speech.
FINAL REPORTS BY COMMITTEES.
Some of the committees will make their
final reports this week. The Committee on
Agriculture have completed their work. The
Committee OF Insane Hospital hope to make
their final report this week. On Wednesday
afternoon they are to give public hearing
upon new insane hospital. learn that They
are in favor of recommending an appropria-
tion of $4o 600, which will enable the trustees
to complete the new pavilion which is building
on tine female sde of the hospital, and to erect
and suitably equip similar building for the
male patients. When this is done the Maine
Insane Hospital can comfortably accommodate
500 patients, which is the largest number
which should be under one management. AS
it is now, the hospital cannot acce@e 10 all the
demands for admission, and more room has be-
come an imperative necessity. I do not be-
levs that the people OF Maine wish TO pursue
parsimonious aud niggardly course towards
their pubic charitable institutions, but are IN
favor Of granting generous sum for the csre
OF the unfortunate who are unable to pro-
vide for their own necessities
Nav INSURANCE LAW.
There is q stir i'll Insurance ciIcles all over
the State over the order introduced in the
House some days ago by Mr.. Wentworth, Of
Gardner, requesting the COMMITTEES on Mer
camille Affairs and Insurance 10 report bill
Ito prevent excessive insurance." At suoss-
quent meeting of the committee Mr.. Won't
worth presented bill called "salued policy
.
uf total loss, shall be compelled TO pay the full
amount written upon the policy, provided that
sucn insurance shall have been in force thirty
days, If an annual policy, add sixty days ii for
a longer time. AS the law now stands, when
there is dispute about the value OF property
destroyed by fire, the insurance companies re-
Ter the matter to two disinterested parties and
pay the amount OF their appraisal. If Mr.
eutworth's bill becomes q law quite num-
Der Of leading companies threaten to with
draw from the State. They say that there is
ii tile profit in taking risks in Maine, and with
this additional burden they do not care TO have
business here. Remonstrances are bling clr-
culated against the BILL and at the meeting of
the committee next Wednesday Joseph B.
Peaks, of Dover, Prentiss Loring, of Portland,
aud other prominent insurance men will ap-
pear to oppose it.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
The bill restoring the death penalty for muir
der in the first degree has been perfected, and
will be presented early in the week. A strong
| sentiment is developing against it in the Legis-
lsture, and doubt very much whether 1T can
receive passage. The ministers of the city
1 diarucppv ba or hair On nd 10
evening services. Tonight Rev. Mr.. .Upiohn,
rector of st. Marks church (Episcopal} and
Rev. Mr.. White (Universalisp both lectured ON
capital punishment" The former gentleman
believes in the death penalty in cases where
| deliberate homicide with malice aforethought
ls committed, while the latter is strongly op-
posed to the gallows
COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
Several important hearings before the vari'
| Gus committees are assigned for this week.
Tuesday afternoon the Judiciary Committee
near arguments on the subject of establishing
reformatory prison for women. Wednesday
there will be a hearing before the Committee
GU Railroads, Telegraph and Expresses upon Q
proposed bill relating to the regulation o.
freight charges on railroads. Thursday after
,oon the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad mat
tor comes up, and a, large delegation.o promi
nent business men from ''the Queen city Of tht
East" are expected over. The same Afternoon
he Committee on Legal Affairs will hear al
| person interested in petitions and bills regulat
ng the hours of labor in manufacturing cor.
| porations.
REVISION OF THE STATUTES.
| When there is scarcity OF news of Wed
.lesday or Friday afternoons correspondent
yander into the Judiciary room, where th
| Committee on Revision of the Statutes is a
work. If Judge Goddard is present the vis
| cor is sure to derive more or less entertainment
/ nd instruction. TO facilitate matters TIN
work of revision has been divided among sew
eral sub committees, and the progress bereat
ter will be much more rapid. The committe
are adopting many of Judge Goddard's sug
1estions, and strike out every redundant wor
| and simplify the phraseology wherever poss
ble. When completed we shall have Ole Q
he fnest Qualifications of laws of any State il
he Union.