The Portland daily press., 1885-01-22
FROM AUGUSTA.
How the Legislators Busted Them
selves Yesterday.
Bill introduced to Adjust Tariff on Rail-
roads.
The Project for a New Insane
Hospital Not Favored.
PenObscOt the Banner Bear-Killing
County.
Hearings Before Committees of
Interest to Portland People.
Special to the Press.)

VIC eeAo bho OIdet btIuOh uiLl db hOV0lf nop w
say farccal. No former Legislature had ever
passed such an order. At first, he thought he
would offer an amendment TO bring the Indi.
ans here, they being less numerous than the
committee, especially as that would be in the
line of economy; but moments reflection
satisfed him that all the able bodied children
of the forest were absent with the loggers in
the wilderness, leaving only the squaws and
pappooses at their homes; hence, it would not
be possible to bring them here. Moreover, he
did not wish to punis the committee by send
ing them into the wilds of Eastern Maine, in
pursuit of few struggling red men at need
less expense to the Safe of several hundred
dollars. Senator Marble then moved the in
definite postponement of the order, which was
done.
The bill reported in the House relating to
the record of deaths, provides that the asses-
sore, while taking the inventory Of the polls
and estates annually, shall ascertain from any
public record, authorized by the town of
which they are such assessors.
A bill was introduced into the House to ad-
just tariff on railroads. II torbids them to
charge higher tariff for Carrying freight or
passengers a short distance than for carrying
them longer distance.
Ths bill introduced into the Senate to repeal
the law relating to certain forfeitures for fail
ure of corporation tsessurers TO make annual
returns to the State and also to apply to exist
ing suits. The existing law was supposed to
have been dead letter until Hallowell law
yer named Blake, brought suits against various
treasurers of corporations in this and adj DIN.
ing counties, many of which ara now pending.
The Insane Hospital Committee, to which
was referred the report of the special commit
tee of the Executive Council appointed to So
licit proposals for tie location of new insane
hospital, reported that further action was un-
necessary. The conclusion OF the committee
Of the Executive Council is that new hospi-
tai is undesirable
A petition will be presented in the Senate to-
morrow by Senator Simonton for scientific
temperance instruction in public schools. 1t
comes from Portland. and is signed by 2,250
voters and nearly 1900 women.
The number of bears killed the past year in
Maine, according to the official returns to the
State Treasurer, was $40. By counties they
were as follows: Aroostook, 1873; Franklin,
Is; Hancock, 10; Oxford, %; Penobscot, 1866;
Pscataquis, 8S; Somerset, IS; Washington, Sc.
The amount paidin bounues was $2,745. The
town of Greenville, in Piscataquis county,
bears the palm in bear-killing, the number re-
turned being CO.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
The Railroad Committee, at their meeting
this afternoon voted to rsporta bill authoriz-
ing the Eastern Railroad Company to reduce
their capital stock $500. 600; also bill author
izing the Maine Central to run steamboats, in
connection with their road.
The Boston and Maine Express bill was TAX
en- up. Charles It. Libby of Portland, appear
ed for the American Express Company. The
committee voted to give bearing on the mat
ter Wednesday, Jan. 2S. 1t is understood that
the American Express Company object to GER
tain features of the Boston and Maine bill,
which they claim confer special and unusual
privileges upon this projected company.
Hearings were assigned by the committee as
follows:
Feb. 4-Bill of International Railroad Com
pany to bridge Moosehead Lake; bill to incor-
porate the Maine Telegraph and Telephone
Company, and the Oirigo Telegraph and Tele-
pnOn6 D1Il.
Jan. 2S-The Monson Railroad extension
bill.
The Committee on Ranks and Banking vot-
ed to report bill changing the name of the
West Watervlle Savings Bank to Cascade
Savings Bank.
The Committee on Temperance met this af-
ternoon and decided to hold session on the
evening of Jan. 9th, at which parties inter
ested in temperance legislation will be heard
The hearing will not be as broad as such hear
ings are usually, as the constitutional amend
ment precludes any action on the part of the
committee looking towards license legislation,
bat will be- confined to carrying into effect he
provisions of the prohibitory amendment to
the organic law.
The Judiciary Committee at their meeting
this afternoon, had hearing on the petition
for enlarging the powers of the constables of
Portland. W. K. Neal appeared as counsel
for the remonstrsnts, who claim that such an
enlargement would have very damaging et-
feet on the sheriff's force and cripple the sher-
iff's Office He called as a witness, Herbert r.
Sargent, one of the deputy sherlfYs of Cum
berland county, and examined other witnesses
ed, and that such bill as the one proposed
would cut down sheriffs' fees 30 as to make
the offices of sheriffs and deputies almost
worthless. He presented many statistics tend
ing to show this. Edwin L. Leighton, Port
land constable, appeared without counsel, but
with very large petition, signed by Portland
lawyers. The hearing was continued to next
Tuesday afternoon, when it will be finished
A hearing was given on the order in refer
ehcs to the sale of land for taxes. Representa-
tive Sprague OF Monson appeared and made
vigorous presentation of the case to the COM
mittee. Action was suspended for bill to be
drawn to bring the subject fairly before the
committee.
Assignments for hearings were made as fol-
fows:
January 27. Bill relating to bastard chill
dren; petition to take water from the Wona-
matagus Pond for the National Soldiers
Home; bills relating to telephone companies,
and the conclusion of the Portland constable
hearing
The following persons were nominated today
for justices of the peace and quorum in Cum-
berland county: Samuel Dingley of Standish,
and 81. B, Webb of Deering.
The committee on education left for Gorham
this afternoon to visit the Western Normal
School.
Telephone Litigation.