The Portland daily press., 1885-01-19
FROM AUGUSTA.
Action Of Legislators which Causes
Boniface to Smile.
Hon. T. r. Simonton,s Views Concern
Ing Temperance Legislation.
Unlawful Tolls and How Trans.
crossing Millers will be Punished.
Personal fteias Concerning State
Qticials.
Especial to the Press,)

k0k0ciAi W tud EEo5bJ
AUGUSTA, Jan. 16.
When there Is recess Of the Legislature,
such ss 10 now existing. large percentage OF
members, especially those who livs on the lire
of the railroad, hie to theif respective homes,
and stay there until the time comes for them
to return and resume their Law making. Dur
ing an adjournment the hotels look a. IL they
were depopulased. 1t makes no difference
however, to mine host II his legislative guests
are absent, as their board bill runs along Just
tho same. No discount is made ON account Ut
absence. In fact temporary adjournment 10
always hailed with satisfaction by the gentle
manly landlord. Why shouldn't 1t? II the
departed lssialator secs it TO leave his rations
for other mouths, the fodder cannot be fur
nished erstuitously. As the result the immola-
ted edibles are paid for twice, and there Is
where the laugh comes in. Sometimes in
Gases, Of . rush Of transient6, oven the
legislators dotmitory is invaded during his
Absence. to put an extra dollar into the Golfers
OF the csvavansary.
There is no one who can doubt Gov. Robie'e
views on temperance and ptohibitofy reform.
He 10 tempefan6e man In precept and in prac-
tice. Still the suggestions and recommends
tions ia his message are already commented
upon by some OF the old prohibitory war
horses, who propose to come here and ask for
certain amendments which they believe the
liquor Law requires. Senator Simonton. who
Is the chsirmAn of the temperance committee,
and we'll known As = temperance lecturer,
gives 1t rs his opinion that the 1overno's ssnti-
ments are endorsed By the great mass Of tenn
perance workers.
The Senator DOES not believe 60 much in the
efficacy Of fines, no matter how heavy they
may be, for the suppression of liqoor selling,
q. he does In imprisonment for every offence.
la bis Judgment . term In durance vile would
strike more terror to the hearts Of rumsellers
than the imposition OF Hns. An amendment
to throw rumseler into Jail for every viola-
tou Of tho law he believes the Legislature
would pass. "Then," says he, "enforcs the
law" The Senator's view may foreshadow
the action Of the lawnakers, although am
free TO say that have not heard but few
members express any opinion ON temperance
legislation. and they thought that the liquor
law did not need any mcrs tinkering, bot was
we'll enough ~ 1t was II it was only enforced.
The statutes now provide that grist mill own
ers IL they neglect or rsfuae to weigh corn,
grain and meal when required, or take more
than their lawful toll, they shall forfeit 50.
Some Of the Aroostook county farmers are not
satisfied with the penalty, alleging it TO be In
sufficient protection to them. AS the result
they viii ask the Legislature to increase the
penalty to $50, and that it may be made conn
pulsory upon millers to grind all grsin brought
to their mills, without discrimination to per-
sons 80 far ~ the capacity OF their mills will
permit.
Adjutant General Gallagher will have Z. p.
Hill Of Backsport, who served in the 1st Maine
Heavy Artillery during tho war, to act as clerk
In his Office.
Gov. Robie has now bis family with him at
his quarters ct the Augusta House.