The Portland daily press., 1885-02-27
FROM AUGUSTA.
Act to Authorize the Organization
Of Mutual Relief Associations.
The Act to Incorporate the Peoples
Ferry Company Amended.
The Temperance Bill Assigned for
To-day in the Senate.
Special to the Press.)

county commissioners courts for each days
attendance, provided that the amount Of all
fees. including fee for attendance, received by
each clerk shall not exceed the amount of his
salary as fixed by Law. In counties where the
clerks have not definite salary. he shall not
receive fees for attendance upon any court
except when necessary to make the amount OF
his salary equal to $1,000.
THE oGUNoUIT BRIDGE
The Ogunquit bridge matter was again dis
cussed in the House, on a motion to reconsider
the vote giving the bill passage. During the
debate Mr., Foss of Saco stated that the entire
York delegation favored the bill. The House
voted not to reconsider by larger vote than
the bill was passed to be engrossed.
ARoosTooK's SUPERIOR COURT.
The Aroostook Superior Court bill was de-
bated in the Senate to-day, and the debate was
confined to the two Aroostook Senators, who
were opposed to each other. Mr.. Lumbert
made his maiden effort, and his remarks were
spicy and effective. He advocated the bill
without reference to location of the seat of the
court claiming that the sudden change of his
colleague against the bill was due to the report
OF the committee, which fixed Caribou as the
place at which the court shall be located in
stead of Presque Isle.
PRESENTATION.
John F. Chase, House Messenger, was pre-
sented to-day with an Elgin watch and chain
attached, by the members of that branch. The
watch is valued at $50. The presentation was
made by Mesers Ames of Portland and Cote
of Biddeford in behalf of the House, and was
informal. Mr.. Chase, who is q battle-scarred
soldier, has made hosts of friends by his
efficiency.
MUTUAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATIONS.
There was a lively debate over the insurance
bills in the Senate this afternoon, in which
Messrs. Young, Simonton, Bearce and Lsbroke
participated. The leading features of Mr..
Young's bin are as follows:
1t provides that any ten residents form an as
sociation upon the cooperative assessment plan
Every such corporation shall at all times keep on de
posit with the treasurer of State q sum of money
equal to one assessment on all the members there
of and if it shall neglect for 80 days to satisfy any
judgment recovered against it in any court in this
State upon any certificate issued by it the said
treasurer Shall apply the money in his procession
to the satisfaction of the Judgment and the corpor
alton shall not transact any further business until
the deposit is restored. Every such corporation
shall annually the first day of January deposit
with the treasurer of State reserve fund for the
benefit and protection of its eertfcateholders cash
or securities approved by said treasurer to an
equal to ten per centum of its total receipts
on assessments made to pay death benefits during
the year then ended until said fund so ac-
cuDulated shall amount to S25, 900.
The provisions of the act shall not be construed
to apply tc organizations which do not employ paid
solicitors or canvasers, or pay or cause, allow
be paid commissions or fees for procuring member
ship therein or obtaining applications for insurance
upon the assessment plan, to any foreign organ
izations or corporations doing business on the
assessment Dfau. having l0dpea
other local organizations established in the State
or to prohibit them from continuing their business
In this State i'll their customary manner The pay
msnt of officers of any such organizations who per-
form the official duties usually Incumbent on sec
retares and treasurers, shall not be held to con-
stitute Them paid solicitors canvassers of sueh
organization.
The provisions of the act shall not apply to
Masonic. Odd Fellows, knights of Pythias knights
OF Honor, ROYAL Arcanum, Ancient Order of United
Workmen, and other relief associations doing bus
mess upon the assessment plan, which do not en-
ploy paid solicitors or canVassers paw or cause
or allow to be paid commissions fees for procur-
ing membership therein, obtaining applications
for insurance upon the assessment plan. The
payment OF officers OF any such organizations, who
perform the official duties usually incumbent score
tares and treasnrers shall not be held 10 constitute
them paid solicitors canVassers of such organza-
IONS. And nothing contained in this act shall be SO
construed as to prohibit said organizations from au
thorlzing any member thereof to assist in the for
nation OF new organizations, and compensating
him for such assistance. If any person receives a
commission or fee, directly or Indirectly for pro-
curing an application Tor membership in any organ
lzaton described in this act or for there
in on the assessment plan except such as is prov i'd
ed by this act he forfeits the same penalty to be
recovered in the same manner as provided in the
preceding section.
Mr.. Moore of Thomaston presented petit
tion from over 200 citizens of his town re.
monstrating against the passage of the bill
providing for the organization of mutual relief
associations, on the ground that it interferes
with the rights of the people to aid each other,
and operates against the relief prov ided by the
Knights Of Honor and kindred societies.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Speaker Hamlin resumed the duties of the
chair to-day. During his absence Gen. Mat
tocks of Portland presided with dignity and
impartiality.
The temperance bill has been assigned for
tomorrow in the Senate.
A resolve was reported in the Senate asking
for the passage by Congress of an appropria-
tion for Indian tribes.
A bill was reported in the Senate author
izing the city of Ssco and trustees of Thornton
Academy to contract for this tuition of sekol-
ars. 1t was passed to be engrossed under a
suspension of the rules.
The bill reported to the House relating to
the publication of statements of insurance
companies provides that it shall not apply to
foreign life insurance companies doing busi-
ness in this State.
The judiciary committee have reported ad-
versely on the petitions to abolish the law
relating to capital punishment.
The contending parties in the interests of
the Royal river bill have agreed that the
matter shall be retired from the Legislature.
By agreement of both sides, the bill will not
be heard from again, whilst they have also
settled their differences in the courts
There is some talk of the Legislature ad-
iourning over from Saturday to Tuesday to
allow members to attend town meetings
Cro Associated Prses)
The committee on year book will recommend
appropriations, $3.50 for 1885, and $3.50 for
1886 for purchase of Mains Year Books for the
use of the State.
The committee on legal affairs will report
bill authorizing ths Governor and Council to
appoint commission of three persons to ex-
anime into the matter of refunding commuta-
tion moneysto soldiers drafted in the late war.
Voted legislation inexpedient on the order pro-
tecting the wages of employees Of railroads by
lien Oh the property of the corporation.