The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-08
Third District

1870 to 1880.
The same ratio of loss and gain would make
the population of the Third District, at the
end of this decade, 168, $40, and of the Fourth
District, 167 Ola.
To place Piscataquis in the Fourth, would
make the population of that District at the end
OF the decade, 1S2, ,357 and the Third District
l53, ,l67,- difference of 29,190; and with the
present prospects of the counties, there will be
all of that or more.
The Statute of the United Statutes under
which the Legislature acts, passed at the first
session of the forty-seventh Congress is as fol-
lows:
"That in each State entitled under this ap-
portlonment, the number to which such State
may be entitled in the forty-eighth and each
subsequent Congress, shall be elected by Dis
tricts composed OF contiguous territory, and
containing as nearly as practicable equal
number of Inhabitants -
These slips were read with considerable in
terest and curiosity as an exponent OF the
course OF the opponents OF the bill reported by
majority of the committee on Congressional
spportionment assigned for today at II O'Clock
1t was little past that hour when the bill was
reached. Mr.. Heath of Augusta who reported
the bill made strong, logical and convincing
speech, urging its adoption as the most impair
tial and practicable apportionment that could
be made. He claimed that the bill complied
be composed of contiguous Counties and gov
ernment unity shall be preserved In this
State the county is the unit and county lines
must be respected. Mr. Heath then took up
each of the four districts in order and explain
ed why the counties had been grouped as they
had. Taking the population as shown by the
last census and the vote of 1880 as basis, he
claimed that the classification was as fair and
just as could be made.
Mr.. Spofford of Bucksport followed. He
moved to amend by dividing the eight eastern
counties into northern and southern district
grouping Aroostook, Penobscot Piseataquis
and Somerset, and Kennebec, Waldo. Han
cock and Washington. This gave more
equal division of population. he said, than any
plan which had been presented.
Mr. Bearce of Norway moved to recommit
the bill
Mr.. Powers of Houlton was then recognized
by the speaker. He vigorously assaied the
majority report characterizing it as a "Gerfy-
Wandering scheme such as never disgraced the
State before" He took exceptions to many
of Mr.. Heath's propositions and spoke in de-
fence of the Fesseuden plan.
House adjourned without reaching vote.
Bill comes up tomorrow as unfinished business
directly after the morning hour, when it willsbe
further debated. Friends of the bill are con-
tident of its passage.
THE VALUED POLICY BILL.
(To The Associated Press
Committee on mercantile affairs and insur-
ance gave a hearing this afternoon on the val
ued policy bill so called. No one appeared to
fax tha Int +bs
was we'll filled with those opposed The State
commissioner, j. B. Peakes. introduced the
matter in brief, but effective speech. Prem
tiss Loring of Portland stated that up to 1873,
the laws ON insurance had not been amended
revised, and were deemed sufficient for protec-
tion of property. but since that time represen-
tatives of insurance companies had been obig .
ed TO come here to oppose laws attempted TO be
enacted unfavorable to companies and the pub
lie. AS we have no fire insurance companies
in the Statewe must depend upon outside COM
panies. Should this valued policy bill become
law it would result in the retirement of many
of the best companies, which would be seri-
GUS blow to the business interests of the
people at large. This law would encourage
excessive and fraudulent losses and furnish
suit disastrousy TO taxable property and be in
furious to the public morals. He claimed
there was no necessity for any change in the
insurance laws.
f. j Rollins of Portland showed that the
law would work unjustly as values and own
ership OF property were constantly changing.
Us. Wheelwright of Bangor appeared as
one OF the people having large amount of
property insured, in opposition to the bill.
Further remarks on the same side were
made by J. W. Munger of Portland, and
vote was taken on the bill and the committee
voted unanimously that it oug htEnot to pass.
THE MUTUAL BENEFIT COMPANIES.
| A hearing was then had on the bill to admit
| the mutual benefit cooperative life insurance
| companies to do business in the State. j. Ell.
Drummond appeared in opposition. The bill
was laid on the table.
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
| The committee on Insane Hospital decided
this afternoon that the proposition to employ
| female physician at tn 10 hospital be referred to
| the board of trustees, and that for the estab-
lshment of an insane Hospital in the eastern
part of the State to the next Legislature.
! MISCELLANEOUS.
The railroad committee will report an act
authorizing the Knox and Lincoln to extend
and change its location; to ratify the contract
| between the Eastern and Portland and Saco
railroad companies; to authorize lease and
1 transfer of the Old Orchard juno ion railroad; !;
to report an act for taxation of telephone COM
panies; alsJ amending the law for the taxation
OF express companies,
The committee considered q bill to saualizs