The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-10
The school Districts Bill.

The committee on education have prepared
a new draft of the bill to abolish school dis
tricts, making few changes from the orig
inal measure. One of these exempts the
school systems of village corporations al
ready organized from the operations of the
law. This is done so that in towns where
village corporations new exist and have es-
tablished school systems of their own, they
may not be required to alter their existing
arrangements and make their schools part
of the town system. Another change made
by the committee provides that the school
districts shall be repaid for the school prop
erty transferred to the town in one, year.
The original bill provides that each district
was to be repaid for Its property by remission
of taxes in yearly amounts extending over
three years. The friends of the bill have
presented 1t believing town system better
than the old district school system. but they
are not sanguine of success in passing the
measure at this session.
Religious Teaching at the Reform
scnooI.
Senator Poor of Cumberland. today pre-
sented the following petition and on his mo-
tion 1t was referred to the committee on the
Reform School:
To the Honorable, the Legislature of the State
OIL Name, IN senate HOUSE OI REPRESENTATIVES,.
Whereas, This state is non-sectarian and as
such is represented in both Senate and House Of
Representatives, and
Whereas, All institutions supported by the
state should be non-sectarlan, and
Whereas, The moral and religious training
given the inmates Of the State Reform School is
non-sectarian, being confined to those doctrines
in which Protestants and Roman Catholics agree,
Therefore, We respectfully pray you to take no
action which shall allow the Introduction OF sec
tartan teachings by any sect among the inmates
OF the Reform School.
In making this petition we faithfully represent,
we believe, the sentiment of the church OF which
am pastor and the Protestants Of the cummuui-
ty In which live.
There are eighteen of these papers, each
bearing the name of Protestant clergyman
of Portland.
Freeport Wants the Law.
In the Senate this afternoon Mr.. Mallst OF
Cumberland presented the petition of E. S.
Soule and 12S others of Freeport in favor o.
| the Australian system of voting. Mr.Mallet
| movedithat as the committee had reported a
| bill on the subject, the petition be laid upon
| the table for printing. The motion caused
| considerable debate and Mr.. Ryder of Penob-
| scot moved its reference to the judiciary
committee. 1t was SO ordered.
Death OF Representative Trafton.
Mr.. Hersey of Buckield said that he held
in his hand telegram announcing that one
of the members of this House, Mr.. N. A.
Trafton of Norway. was dead, having died
thisImorniDg. He moved that tomorrow. al
the hour for regular business, be assigned for
the reception of resolves and remarks thai
might be made upon his death, and also that
a committee to attend the funeral be An
pointed at that time. The motion was unani
mously carried.
On motion of Mr.. Hersey the House ther
adjourned.
Quite delegation of Lewiston men I,
here tonight. They are interested in tn,
bill relating te the police force Of that city
which comes up tomorrow.
Both sides profess confidence in the resul
| of the Australian ballot fight Wednesday
Mr.. Clason says the friends of the bill r.
ready for the battle, aud prepared to win
Judge Stearns declares that the bill Is killed
Speaker Wiswell today appointed Messrs
Hiscock of Wilton, Noble OF Lewiston, ant
| Denneu of Poland, as tie House committe,
| on conference on the bill to present the tax
ing of fish from Potter's Pond.
The Valuation Commissioners' report |
promised for tom brow, and will appea
then provided 1t does not strike anothe
snag lust as it reaches port. Under the re-
solve of the last legislature 1t should hay
appeared January I'd.
| Representative aver of Bingham has In
vited a large party of members of the leeis
lature and their wives, and number of AZ
gusta people to be his guests at dance to b
given In Bingham.