The Portland daily press., 1885-03-02
FROM AUGUSTA.
Mr.. Heath's Bill Prohibiting Sale
of Criminal News Publications.
The Portland & Ogdensburg Bill to
Come Up in the House Tomorrow.
Senator Simonton's Amended
Liquor Bill to be Acted Upon
Wednesday.
Bill to Investigate the Claims Of
Drafted Men.
Special to the Press.)

Especial to the Press)
AUGUSTA, Feb. 49,
FRATERNAL RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS.
Mr.. sprague's bill introduced in the
House relating to life insurance provides
that Masonic, Odd Fellows, knights of Pythi-
as, Royal Arcanum, Ancient Order of United
Workmen and other fraternal relief associa-
tions doing business upon the assessment plan,
which do not employ paid societies or canvass
ers or pay or cause or ALLOW TO be paid commits
sion or fees for procuring membership there
in, or obtaining applications for insurance upon
the assessment plan shall not be deemed life
insurance companies.
Ii any person receives commission or fee,
directly or indirectly for promising an apDlca-
tion for membership in any organization de-
seribed IN this act or for insurance therein on
the assessment plan, he shall become liable to
tho penalty provided in section 70, chap. 40,
E. s. TO be recovered in an action Of debt in
the name and to the use OF the State to be
commenced and prosecuted by the Attorney
General on the request Of the Insurance Com
mssioners, but the payment of officers Of any
such organizations who perform the official du-
ties usually incumbent on secretaries and
treasurer shall not be held to constitute them
paid solicitors or oanvassers of such organiza-
tions, and nothing contained in this set shall
be construed as to prohibit said organizations
from authorizing any member thereof to assist
in the formation of new organizations and
compensate him for such assistance.
CRIMINAL NEWS PUBLICATIONS.
Mr.. Heath's bill prohibiting the sale OF GRIM
inal news publications provides substantially
that whoever knowingly sells, lends gives away
OF shows to any minor child any book, pamph-
let, magazine, newspaper or other printed
paper devoted to tbs publication or principally
made up OF criminal news, police reports, or
accounts of criminal deeds or pictures and
stories of lust or crime shall be imprisoned
ia the county jail not more than six months,
or by fine not less than $25 nor more than
$1O0-or by both imprisonment and fne
CLAIMS OF DRAFTED MEN.
Tho legal affairs committee have reported 10
the House an act providing for the appoint
ment OF commission of three persons to in
vestigate claims of drafted men. 1t provides
that they shall be persons of ability who shall
be qualified by the Governor and Council, who
shall Investigate the claims OF all volunteers
aud drafted men, under the call of the Presi-
dent Of the United States, July 2, 1862, and
all subsequent calls and report in writing to
the Governor and Council within eighteen
months. Their report shall be laid before the
next legislature. The commissioners shall
give such notice of the time and place of their
meetings as shall be by them deemed sufficient
and shall keep correct record of the names
aud residence Of all making any claim under
this act. and the amount and nature of the
same. To defrsY the expenses incurred in the
execution OF this act, the Governor is author-
lied TO draw his warrant from time to time for
said expenditure, provided They are audited
aud allowed by the Governor aud Council.
In relation to this matter of reimbursement it
ssems an act was passed by the legislature of
1868, for tbs equalization of municipal war
dsbls and q limited assumption thereof by the
State. The State by virtue OF this act, the re-
port Of the committee goes on to say, has paid
a large amount OF money TO the various towns
asd plantations. There are many men in tho
State who enlisted IN defence Of tbs nation,
many who we're drafted, soma OF whom vent
ilto Tie army, some furnished substitutes. and
some paid Communication Of $500 each, under
the options of the draft act, many of whom
claim that they have been subjected to unjust
burdens under the operations of the draft sct,
and hitherto have not bsen fairly ana equita-
big compensated for the same. 1t has always
bseu the policy of the State OF Maine, says the
committee on legal affairs making this report,
to deal not only with exact equality but hber-
ally with all citizens, who in trying times here
stood by her and obeyed the laws.
MIscELLANEoUs.
This resolve authorizing the county commits
sioners Of Waldo county to procure losn of
$4,000 Tor the purpose of defraying necessary
expenses Of the county was passed to 3 en-
crossed 10 tho House today
Senator Smonton's amendatory bill 10 the
prohibitory law has been made spa2ial ssign
ment for Wednesday next in tho House.
The act to regulate the formation of insur-
| sncs companies on the assessment plaA has
been assigned for Wednesday next Ia the
House at 10 O'Clock a.
A resolve was reported in the House pfoyid-
isg for a constitutional amendment relating to
salaries of State and county officers to be sub
mitted to the people at the next September
election.
The bill reported to the House amending the
Law concerning solitary confinement in capi-
tai crimes provides that when person is con-
vcted of crime punishable with death and
sentenced therefor, he shall also bo sentenced
to confinement without labor in the State
prison until the time comes for him to ascend
the scaffold.
Instead of the word "enuncisted,' being
inserted as ons Of the Senate amondments TO
the Portland and Ogdensburg bill, it should
be the word "enumerated." The bill and
pending amendments has been assigned for
Tuesday next in the House.
Nearly all the members have left for their
respective homes to attend town Meeting.