The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-16
AUGUSTA.
The Legislature Adjourns Till
August 29th.
A Sketch of the Principal Legislation
of the Session.
Over -Four Hundred Acts and Re-
solves Passed
Isneclal nesnatch to the Press

Especial Despatch 10 the Pressl
AUGUSTA, March 15.-After session of
, seventy days the Sixty-frst Legislature has
, ceased to do business and rests from its labors
The revision of the Statutes is however uncom
pleted and will not be adopted by the Legisla-
ture till the last Of August, by which time it is
expected they may be printed and be ready
Tor distribution and sale. AS each member
was voted copy of the revision early in the
session the reunion of the Legislature will
furnish good opportunity to obtain the same
The amount of work accomplished this winter
isconsiderably larger than was expected, and
may be accounted for IN part by the fact that
no attempt has been made to restrict the in
PRODUCTION of new business, and even so late as
yesterday afternoon new bills were presented
for consideration, and put on their passage
and enacted before final adjournment. This
is of itself an unusual occurrence, as early in
each session heretofore day has been set
after which no new business shall be received,
and the action is adhered to as a general
thing. Such an order was passed at the open
ing of the present session but by the continued
! reception of all matters presented it NAV we'll
be said that both branches had to finally ad-
journ for want of work, and the amount of
legislation is good index of what will here
after be asked SO long as biennial sessions con
tinue. In 1881 the last of the annual sessions,
| there was the average amount of work done
| by the Legislature and at the close of the ses-
sion count showed that 9S public acts, 1863
| private and special acts and 66 resolves, max
/ ing total of 327, had been enacted and ap-
proved by the Governor This year there t
have been public acts, private and special acts
and resolves, making total of 449 enacted and
| approved. The expense to the State for this
extra amount of legislation has been nominal
and the balance is in favor of continuance of
the present system.
CHARACTER OF THE LEGISLATION.
The character of the legislation has been as
varied as one could well imagine Attempts
have been made to better the condition of
every species of life within our domain from
the festive clam to man, while the rivers,
streams, woodlands, industries and methods of
locomotion and conversation have had their
share of legislative attention. The questions
OF social science have been numerous, and out
OF all this agitation a large number of good
acts have been passed and are now the law of
the State. The investigation of the Reform
School last fall called new attention to that
institution, and as a result bill has been en-
acted providing for the introduction of
mechanical employments other than the seat
ing of chairs for the boys confined there The
position taken by the members favoring the
latter amendment was that the penalty had
heretofore been more severe for juveniles than
for older persons, and that confinement during
Wa a rnfnr
measure than term of years would be. There
OH WIS ros1rJ4 pA-aa 4-A-.at 4hA
ton Capital punishment has been restored
for murder committed with malice afore-
thought, in the hope that it will have deter
ring influence upon the criminal class of this
State This action was not the result of large
number of petitions but the matter was
brought before the judiciary committee by
legslat i've order inquiring as to the expediency
of such as act, The anomaly of the statute,
after the passage of this act in furnishing cer-
tain other crimes previously capital with i'm
prlsonment for life, became so apparent that at
the eleventh hour bin to harmonize the
penalties was passed which provides that ar
son of dwelling house shall be punished by
Imprisonment for life or, in certain cases, by
term of years An attempt was also mad to
to Imprisonment for life, and provision made
that no juror shall be allowed to pass upon
capital case who cannot conscientlously orlng
in verdict of guilty. The law is thus hedged
around so that it is hoped TO secure proper con
vietions and punishment In cases where ex-
tenuatiDg circumstances present themselves so
as TO allow pardon to be granted criminal
| by the Governor extra precautions have been
taken that the pardoning power may not DO
| abused by placing certain conditions npon the
| recipient, the neglect OF which Will lead 10
re-arrest and Imprisonment until the eircum-
stances Of the case can be examined INTO Dy
| the Governor and Council. Pigeon shooting
/ has been prohibited as in other New England
| States, and the more humane transportation OF
| cattle over the railroads of the State provided
for. Offences against health have been multi
piled aud the sale prohibited of the meat of
| any calf under four weeks old as well as the /
/ adulteration of foods and drinks. limitations
/ of butter and cheese must hereafter be marked /
| so that the purchaser cannot fall 10 know
| what he buys The erection of fire escapes is (
| required upon all buildings used for public
purposes, a matter that has been sadly negec-
| ted in almost every town in the state
The attempt 10 secure any temperance legls-
latiou apart from the prohibltory constitutional I
| amendment has proved failure, Ihis result
| however, can hardly be attributed to any less
interest in Temperance tnah previous Leglsia-
lures have exhibited, but to feeling that con-
| tinual amendment of an unenforced law rather
tended to bring it into disrepute than to create !
public sentiil ent in its favor. When pubic
]
the enforcement of the law that it is inadequate
to the occasion the legislature Will readily
grant all necessary amendments.
The divorce law which has for years bllghted
the fair reputation of the State has received
the amendments sought two years ago, when
such eminent men as ex-Gov. Dingley appear
ed before the judiciary committee and urged a
change Hereafter the judges OF the Supreme
and SUPERIOR courts will not be permitted to
decree divorce according to their discretion
but must observe certain strict regulations
The divorced couple are also prevented from
contracting an immediate marriage, and II
either goes out of the State and is married
such action is invalid when the guilty party
returns. The opportunities for contracting
legitimate marriages, however, have been III
creased by removing all restrictions as TO race
or color, and leaving on the statutes only the
provision that idiots and the insane shall not
contract marriage. The statute as it stood was
} practically of no effect, as it was frequently
} violated, and all children resulting from such
unions were illegitimate under the laws. IL is
} largely for the benefit of those children that
this change has been made, the committee aAd
the Legislature bel ievipg 1t unfair for the in
nocent to thus suffer while the guilty went un-
punished.
FISH AND GAME.
The repeated and gross violations of the
fish and game laws of this State have caused
the Legislature to enact several very stringent
laws to prevent the destruction of these sources
of revenue, pleasure and profit of the inhab-
| ltantS, Inc VlOaJlOH6 Vi game laWt now"
ever, can never be wholly prevented till Massa-
: chusetts enacts q law prohibiting the sale or
a exposure for sale Of veniscn during the close
y time in this State. So long al sale can be
q made the law will be violated and the State
O put to an expense in an endeavor to ferret out
: and punish the guilty parties. Usually this is
i difficult task, but 1t is expected more prose-
v eutions can be had under the law passed this
/. winter comforting the powers and duties of
d game wardens upon certain constables and
n officers of the law. The hunting" OF deer in
q close time will hereafter be as punishable as
o the killing of the same, and a strict prohibition
s is placed upon any one having in possession at
one time more than one moose, two caribou
and three deer, or dogs for hunting the same.
Sunday has also been added to the close time
:. that desecrators of the day may not escape
!. punishment for violating the intent OF tho
- game laws.
y The successful endeavors that have been
. made during the past few years to re-stocR the
rivers and ponds of the State with food nsnes
has as o general thing received the cordial CO.
oneration of the inhabitants, but 1t has been