The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-02
GRIsT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE MILL.
WaterviIle's Friends Make a Point
for Their Session Of Court.
How hannibal Hamlin Served as a
Private without Pay.
A Sill Relating to Life and Accident
Insurance Societies.
fspecial to the Press. /

AUGUSTA, Feb. 1.-The first debate of
length Ia the Senate occurred this forenoon,
over the proposition to change the February
term of the Kennebec Superior Court from
Augusta to Waterville. Senator Herbert M.
Heath of Augusta argued against the change
Senator w. T. Haines of Waterville for it.
The debate was spicy and interesting. and
attracted large number of spectators. Sem
ator Heath argued forcibly against ''putting
the couft on Wheels" II was not consistent
with the dignity of the court, especially
since the court business in Wateryille was
too small to demand such method. Senator
Haines, on the other hand, argued that Wa
terville was the central point, both of Ken
nebec county and the State. He also adduc-
ed statistics to show that the court business
in Wateryille and vicinity would be suffi-
cient for the change. The relative adyan-
-tages of Waterville and Augusta were dis
cussed by both debatsrs. The Augusta ho-
tells came in for a share of hard raps.
Senator Walton of Skowhegan said he
thought the statements of both debaters
should be taken with grain of salt. But
on the whole he thought there was most rea-
son for removal He was for Waterville.
Senator Heath replied, doing manful bat
tie for Augusta ;and Senator Haines came up
again and again for Waterville.
The yeas and nays were taken on the
question to indefinitely postpone the bill,a
it was lost, % to 6.
The bill then was passed to he engrossed.
Waterville had won in the Senate.
Never a Patriotfor Revenue.
Ao Of ha Suto PC
Office was searching the records today he
came upon the roll of Company A, State
Guard called to Fort McClary from July to
September 1864. Among the names Of the
privates is that of Hannibal Hamlin. 0ppo-
site each name is space for Remarks"
Against Mr.. Hamlin's name is the entry,
''Stop all pay and allowances at his request"
Mr.. Hamlin was then Vice President of the
United States as well as a private in Com
stion was he a patriot for revenue.
1t Is related, though not on such unim-
peachable authority as the public records,
that the illustriouS patriot was assigned to
duty under the quartermaster, and that that
functionary, not wishing to put his distin-
guished subordinate at too arduous work in
the supplies department ordered him to go a.
fishing. 1t is nowhere recorded that the fish
caught added materially to the stock of sup
plies in the quartermaster's department.
Insurance Matters.
Mr.. Barker, of Bangor, introduced in the
House today bill which has been formulat-
ed and agreed upon by representatives of all
the Mutual Insurance societies in Maine.
The bill provides general law for the or
ganisatioE Of Mutual Life and Accident
companies, equalizing the amount of reserve
fund to be deposited with the State Treasur-
er at not less than 10 per cent. on all mort
uary assessments and not less than 10 per
cent on all accident assessments. The bill
also provides that in case of an excessive
loss company may under certain conditions
use portion of its reserved funds temporar-
lily. The bill further provides that mutual
companies from outside the State may do
business in the State provided they perform
the conditions required of Maine companies,
pay the license as now required of other out
side companies and file copy of laws of
their States allowing the operation of Maine
mutual companies. This bill has been care
fully considered by representatives of all the
Maine companies. VIM. Engel and Lewis
A. Barker Of Bangor, represented the New
Brunswick Company; j. G. Moore, Thomas
ton, and Everett Smith, Portland, the Prov
idence Aid; s. A. Lowell and Hon. Seth M.
Carter, Auburn, the Maine Benefit; Chas. III.
BOothby, Portland, the Maine Mutual Bene-
fit. They are all agreed to the provisions of
the bill