The Portland daily press., 1883-01-19
Proposition to Turn the Reform
School Into an Insane
Asylum.
THE EASTERN MAINE RAILWAY TO
EXTEND IT'S LINE.
Petitions for Prohibitory Amendment
Pouring In.
Senatorial Apportionment Pro-
posed by the Committee.


~Ao1osAA, oan' Io'--Inere was ripple OF
excitement in the Senate Chamber this morn
ing and the faces of the grave and reverend'i
members of the upper house were wreathed
with smiles, when Mr.. Rust Of Waldo arose
and introduced the following:
Ordered, That the committee on State Re
form School inquire into the expediency and
practicability of converting that institution
into hospital for the insane.
1t was thought at first that the order was in
troduced by way of a joke, but conversa-
tion with Mr.. Rust discloses his sincerity
"Do you believe in abolishiDg the State
Reform SCHOOL," was asked
YES" was the reply. "The present institu-
tion has proved failure; it has not answered
the purpose OF its creation. think it is time
that there should be q radical change. The
Reform School has been in existence for over
forty years and under the administration of
some of the ablest mon of the State-men of
acknowledged capacity--every one of whom
has failed in his efforts. We must very soon
provide additional accommodation for the in
sane Of the State, and the buildings at Cape
Elizabeth are we'll adapted for second insane
hospital"
What would you substitute for the Refor N
Schoo.?'
tirely."
"Why?'
OeCduSo question the wisdom and sound
ness OF the doctrine, that the State should in
terfere and take children away from their
parents who are ther proper custodian What
right has the State to take boy IA years of
age or under, whose only crime is truancy or
stealing jack-knife, perhaps worth 25 cents
an offence which il committed by full-grown
man would be punished only by light fine, if
at all, and incarcerate him in prison for it
is useless to deny that that institution is pri-
son to all intents and purposes for seven long
years?"
"What would you co with hardened boys
who cannot be restrained at home?'
THAT is question which demands careful
consideration, and which have not time to
fully answer now"
THE LENGTH OF THE SESSION
The Legislature will adiouru tomorrow over
Sunday. The committees have reported little
business as yet andsthere is not much to do in
either House. Although it is too early yet to
speculate upon the probable length OF the ses-
sion it would seem as if it must be short one
Few questions are to come up which will occa-
sion debate. Many matters on which Fegisla-
ton was formerly required are now covered by
general laws of the State.
THE PRoHIBrToRY AMENDMENT.
About bushel-basketful OF petitions in favor
ola constitutional prohibitory amendment came
in to-day from all over the State and were re-
ferred to the committee ON judiciary.
SOLDIERS PENSIONS.
A petition is being circulated here which
has received the signatures of Gov. Robbie and
members of the Executive Council and mos
of the Senators and Representatives, asking
Congress to increase the pensions of soldiers
who lost an arm or leg in service 20 $40
month 1t will be forwarded 10 our Senators
at Washington for presentation.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
There will probably be considerable railroad
building in Maine in the next few years. Bill
to enable the Eastern Maine Railway Company
to extend its railroad ani for other purposes
has passed to be engrossed in the House and
will go to the Senate tomorrow The bill
authorizes the Eastern Maine Railway Com
pany to locate, construct, maintain and operate
a railroad from some point on its present line
to some point upon the island of Mount Desert
and branch line of railroad from some point
In the city OF Ellsworth to some point upon
Frenchman's Bay in the town of Lamoine.
The company is authorized by this act to issue
its bonds to an amount not exceeding $750,000.
1t is also authorized to lease its railroad or any
portion thereof to any other railroad company
OR any other steamboat company. 1t may
further lease or purchase of any other railroad
company its railroad connection Herewith. 1t
may maintain and operate any line of steam
boats connecting with its railroad. The com.
pany is to be allowed until March /, 1885, to
locate the railroad and branches, and unit
March 1, 1887, to construct the same.
A bill has also passed the House to be en-
gressed extending the time for commencement
of the Shore Line RAILROAD, Incorporated un-
der special law in 1881, to Feb. 1, 1888, and
the time for its completion to Feb. L. 1887. The
company is authorized to extend its road from
some point in the city of Ellsworth to some
point upon the Eastern Maine Railroad, and to
contract with that road for such use of its road
bed and equipments as it may desire in order
to connect with any railroad on the western
side of the Penobscot river. If the construction
OF this road is not commenced before August
next it is to forfeit all its rights in said extern
sion, and the Eastern Maine Railroad Com
pany is given authority to locate and construct
a railroad over said territory
ITO the Associated Press.]
The Committee on Judiciary voted to report
in favor of allowing companies manufacturing
textile fabrics to organize with a capital of
100000 under the general law.
The subcommittee of the Judiciary Com
mittee reported bill for constitutional prohi-
bition. The report was accepted aud will be
considered at a full meeting OF the committee.
1t is thought there will be- two reports. A
proposition was debated to make the votes Sc
ccet on the prohibition question, but this meets
with little favor. 1t was voted to report q bill
to prevent persons from obstructing officers in
the service of processes in civil or criminal
courts; ;galso bill to amend the charter of the
Bell Telephone Company.
The committee appointed Thursday, Jan.
25th, at 2 p. M, to hear parties interested in
the alteration or amendment of the fish and
game laws, and Thursday, Feb. 1st, to hear
parties concerning more stringent lobster laws.
The committee on legal affairs voted to re-
port bill TO allow the Peiepscot Water Com
paDy TO hold or rent property the same as indi-
viduals, and to build a dam across the Andro-
scoggin river at Brunswick TO supply Bruns-
wick and Bath with water.
The committee on interior waters will report
bill in favor of the Bangor Steam FERRY
Company. Also possibly on the petition of s.
81 Blake and others to drive logs in Little
Wilson Creek.
Nominations by the Governor.
The Governor has made the following ap-
pointments:
e. G. Harrington, Fyeburg, taxidermist.
Seward Dill. Phillips, Elijah B. Godd dard,
Bethel, coroners
Samuel W. Jones, Lebanon, trial justice.
SENATORIAL APPoRTIoNMENT
The Committee on Legislative Apportion-
ment met this evening and agreed to report to
the Legislature as follows as to the number of
Senators which each county should be entitled
to under the apportionment:
Aroostoek. ............2 Oxford ...............2 2
AOdroscoggsn. ....... Penobsc sc)t.............3
Cumberland. .......4 PiscataQuis.. i
Franklin. ............1 Sagadahoc.
Hancock .......2 Somerset. ...............1 4
Kennebec ......,......2 Waldo. .................z
Knox. $3.50. ............2 Washington. .Z
Lincoln. York. k..s............". 3
1oIal' ''.s..''.'.....-'''''.. 80 -'''.'..vA