Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-31

ON THE JUDICIARY.

yesterday afternoon. Rev. Geo. s. Dicker
man Of Lewiston. addressed the commit
tee and presented bill embo tying radica
changes in the present law. His bill take
away the discretionary powers of granting
divorces possessed by the court, and change
sec. 2. chap. GO of the revised statutes SO tina
it shall read as follows:
divorce from the bonds Of ma.rimony NAV be de
cided by the Supreme Judicial Court in the count
where either party resife- at the commencement Q
proceeding for eau of adultery. impotence, ex
IRENE cruelty. utter desert. on continued for thre
consecutive years next prior to the filing of the lbe
gross and confirmed habits Of intoxioation, crue
and abusive treatment, or on the libel of the wifi
when the husband being of sufficient ability, Rrossl
or wantonly and cruelty refu or negect- to prOvid
suitable maintenance for her, provided the partie
we're married in the state or cohabited here afte
marriage, o. the libeant resided here in good fait
one year from the eomDen' enent Of proceed
Either party may be a witness.
Secs 18th and 18th of the same chapter ar,
stricken out AMI two others substituted. Th,
18th allows either party to marry again afte
divorce the same as though the other wa
dead with the exception that the party agains
whom the divorce was granted shall no
marry for two years, and then only on per
mission granted by the court.
Rev. Mr.. Dickerman stated that he wa
here as the representative of several churches
The decay Of the family life has brought abou
the efforts nov being made to strengthen tn,
divorce laws. Let family life decay and tn.
Nation itself decays. There were in Maine
in 1880, 537 divorces; 1881, SIP; 1882, 529
He discussed at length the evil effec
that our present laws have on Society. Mr.
w. II. Vinton OF Gray, then came before the
committee speaking in favor of the petition
ers. He also presented a restrictive bill
similar to the one presented by the Rev. Mr.
Dickerman. The Rev. Geo. ID. Lindsey o.
Portland. Rev. II. w. Tilden of Augusta
Bishop II. A. Nicely of Portland, ex Gov
Arson p. Morrill, appeared in favor of the
petitioners. The committee then discussed
the matter at considerable length ant
voted that a bill should be drawn up tC
be presented to the legislature substantially
in accord with Rev. Mr.. Dickerman's bill
excepting that the libellee should not marry
before the end OF two ears after the divorce
was decreed. and aftrrwards only with the
consent of the court; also that the libs Ham
should not marry within two years unless thu
consent of the court was obtained.
The Lewiston and Auburn Horse Railroad
are having rough time of il getting theil
matters Strengthened out before the judiciary
committee. The city If Lewiston, it seems
granted to the railroad certain privileges and
guaranteed to perform certain acts if the
built the road and have operated it for
year and half or more. and now they wan
the acts of Lewiston legalized by the legisla
ture. Certain Lewiston citizens do not wan
the contract made by the city legaliZed. Last
evening the committee gave a hearing at Ho
tel North. Y. NJ. Drew, of Lewiston. and
and Geo. o. Wing, Judge Geo. S. Woodman
+. L. Guild, Col. Thomas Littefield, all OF
Auburn, appeared for the road. and judge
Cornish and A. X. Savage, of Lewiston. with
NJ. Carter, of Auburn for the city. No &C
ton was taken last evening by the committee
US BANKS AND BANKING.
Voted to report a bill Incorporating Portland
Trust Co. The savings bank bill was con
sidered and provision allowing banks to in
vest in Nebraska and Kansas State or muni
cipal bonds stricken out. Voted to allow in
vestment on fir,t mortgages of railroad.
chartered under the laws of New jersey; tC
have two examinations annually BY an ex.
aminer; allow banks TO take mortgages il
New Hampshire; that DEGREES of courts
where there has been scaling down shall be
final; that the State tax on deposits shall be
l of one per cent. The present tax is pei
cent. The bill presented by the officers OF
the savings banks to the legislature asked for
tax of of one per cent. and as a compro
On LEGAL AFFAIRS.
Will report ought to pass on bill to amend
chap 80, sec. |, laws of 1873, relating tt
towns holding money for securities ought tC
pass on bill AN act to amend chap. 81, laws
of 1881 IN r lttion to the taxation OF horse
railroads ought to pass on bill an act to
incorporate Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Association of Portland. Voted legislation
IanE ina m i'm
tional amendment changing the basis o.
apportionment so that it shall be on lega
voters instead of the population.
ON REFORM SCHOOL
Maj Rowell. manager Of the Industrial
School for girls, appeared before the com
mittee and presented the wants of thai
institution. The committee will visit the
school Friday and recommend the usual ap
preparation.
On TEMPERANCE.
Will report legislation nexpodient on pc
tition to prohibit the sale OF tobacco tc
minors under Is years of age; voted that the
report of the State liquor agent Is not in ac-
cordance with the law AMI recommended
that an investigation be made by the Cover
nor and Council.
Or CONGRESSIONAL APPoRTIONMENT.
This committee met last evening ant
simply affirmed its action of the evening be
fore.
COUNTY ESTIMATES.
The following are the county estimates as
received by the Secretary of STATE for 1888
and 81:
1888 1884.
Androscogyin. 100000 $50. 00(
Aroostook. $4,000 l"'oot
Cumberland, 10000 5o,oo,
franklin. 1000 ',oo'
,nn 50f