The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-03-11
T,he Sirtv.third Legislature.

passed 29S acts and n resolves IL was
thought that very little would be done
amendatory of the statutes inasmnch as
revision was SO recent, but those who en-
,.rtsined this idea were destined To disaP-
pointment. There are numerous ameno-
meuts. commissioner Goddard himself rec
ommeuding whole chapter consisting OF
A dozen or more OF them, after he hao
spent nearly three years In the revision
The following are among the measures
passed
The State tax has been reduced 10
80 mills, and provisions made lot tne
appoiutment of State Board OF Heaitn
aud the establishment OF STATE agrh utu-
raj exnerimeutal station. The temperance
law has been made more stringent. sever
al important changes have been made In
the laws relating 10 the court proceedings
80 hat. In all bearings before Municipal or
Police Courts or Trial Justices, the respon-
d. Mt NAV plead guilty aud waive hearing,
whereupon the same proceedings snaii DC
had a. 10 sentence and appeal AS II mere
had been a full hearing. The crime OF per
iury. II committed in any other than 10
rial OF a capital crime, Will hereafter DC
punished by Imprisonment for not more
than ten years, and the penalty Tor inc,ting
another to commit the crime has Also oeen
increased. Provision has also been MADE
for the punishment OF a debtor, who, after
aling a petitton, secretes property with in
tent to defraud creditors and evade the pro-
visions III the ipsolvent law, by imprison-
mept In iail not more than one year or by
q dne of not more than $500.
Also provided that the debtor shall al
ter obtaining bis certificate he forever dis
charged and exempt from arrest OF I'm
prisopm. mt In any suit or upon any pro-
ceediug for or on account OF any deot OF
demand which may have been provaole
agaipst his estate, and due to any person
not resident OF this State at the time OF
the first publication Of the Issuing oi the
warrant. Applicants have also been given
the right to withdraw their appear ana
abide by their sentence.
The law relating to savings banks and
the character of their Investments, which
was amended two years ago so as to allow
the banks wider selection OF securities In
which to invest the funds deposited with
them, has oeen again amended so as to al
low the investment OF funds in the first
mortgage bonds of any water company In
the Stale actually engaged 10 supplying to
any city or town having not less than 45OOO
inhabitants, water for domestic use and
for the extipguishment Of fires.
The Peoples Trust Company OF Farm
ington has been Incorporated with capt
tai Of $4,000.
Educational matters have received
good deal of attention and strenuous at
tempts have been made to secure the aboli.
ton of the old district system In town.
Among the several bills enacted for the
benefit of the SC DOL Of the State Is one
providing for holding county teachers con
ventions when not less than thirty OF the
teachers of any county shall have formed
an association for the purpose OF mutual
Improvement In the science ana art OF
teaching, ETC., the State to defray the
necessary expenses of such conventions.
Pr, sou has also been made for scientific
temperance instruction In the pubic
schools.
The dairy interests of the State are In
tended TO be promoted by the enactment OF
a bill providing for annual premiums for
dairy products by the two State tsirs annu-
ally held In this State, and also by the en-
actment Of law prohibiting the selling, or
having 10 possession with intent to sell,
any article, substance or compound made
In limitations of butter or cheese, or as
substitute for butter or cheese.
Severe struggle over the incorporation OF
assessment insurance companies lasted the
entire session, and was compromised oy IN
serting in the charters OF the two COM
panies asking for the same OF sections pro-
vidiug for the gradual accumulation of
guarantee fund. A new life and accident
Insurance company has been given char
ter, aud provision has been made for the
taxation OF life insurance companies by the
State. Foreign surety companies are to be
allowed tn do business 10 the State alter
appointing the Insurance Commissioner
their law full attorney In and for this State
The Merchants Insurance Company OF
Bangor has been Incorporated with the
right to take inland insurance and railroad
transportation risks.
Authority has been granted the Maine
c. ntral Railroad Company to form steam
boat connections and to operate steamboat
lines for the transportation OF passengers
and Heights coming and going to Its rail-
road, and to hold shares 10 the capital
stock of any incorporated steamboat CON-
pany whose line connects with Its road.
This legalizes the action OF the company
In forming steamboat connections between
Mt. Desert Ferry and Nova Scotia, and in
termediate points. Permission has also
been granted any railroad company Organ
lied, under the laws Of this State 10 aid In
the construction or equipment Of branches
connecting railroads. This, With the au-
thority that has been given TO exteno sew
eral roads, will give an opportunity for the
general development OF the railroad facili.
ties Ut the State In accordance with the
demands of business. Among the extern
siODs authorized are the following: The
Monson Railroad, from Monson to Green.
vile, and from Monson Station, on the
Bangor aud Piscataquis Railroad, to Show
began; the Rumford Falls and Buckfield
Railroad, from Canton to Andover, Rox-
bury or Byron; the Katahdin Iron Works
Railroad, from the Iron Works to some
point on the International Road, and the
Bridgton and Presumpscot Railroad Guar
row gauge), from Bridgton to Standish or
Windham, near tho outlet Of Sebago Lake.
Further time has been granted for the COM
pletion of the last named road; also the
Skowhegan and Athens Road, the Wiscas-
set and Quebec Road, the Messolouskee
and Kennebec Road and the Somerset
Road. charter has been granted for
railroad from Boothbay to some point along
the liue of the Knox and Lincoln Railroad,
and the construction of horse railroad In
Biddeford and Saco has been authorized.
The Eastern Maine Railway Company has
been authorized to reduce its capital to
5000 600; the Merchants Marine Railway
Comp my to increase its capital stock to
$40, 600: the Rumiord Falls and Buckfeld
Railroad Company TO increase its capital
stock to $500, 900 and to issue preferred
stock for the purpose Of exchanging the
same for all past or future Indebtedness,
with interest not exceeding three per cent
semi annually; the Penobscol and Lake
Mcgantic (InternationaD Railroad Compa.
nv to ST. aighten Its line by bridging Moose
head Lake; and the stockholders OF the
Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad to form
q new corporation and lease or sell tn. II
road. Charters have been granted the
Lime Rock Transit Company of Rockland