The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-26

Then there were rumors of an opposition
which was rapidly gaining ground and the
supporters OF the measure attempted 20 pass
1t by making a concession. The optl0nai
clause was inserted and the bill as amended
reported from the judiciary committee. But
this commission very nearly defeated It's
own purpose. The enemies of the bill raj
lied against it and what was intended to be
an element of strength became source Oh
danger. The fight against the bill was
desperate one and came very near being sue
cessful. But the Senate was known
to be in favor of the measure
and its friends made a sudden change Of
front. Senator Spear presented very nearly
the original bill In the Senate and the other
side found itself suddenly compelled to
change its plan of campaign to meet not
what had been called the kangaroo bill,
but the Australian ballot bill pure and sim
pie. In the meantime the supporters OF the
measure rallied their forces. Men who had
voted against the bill swung into line and
when the issue again came to vote In the
House the bill triumphed by majority Of
16, which, by the way, was one more than
the friends of the system dared to hope for.
The opponents realized that their cause was
lost after yesterdays decisive vote In the
House and surrendered gracefully, allowing
the measure to go along to its final passage
without any further strng lie Of consequence.
VI course there were some expressions Of
grief. Mr.. Peaks spoke for the mOurners
In the House this afternoon when the
Dill came to the House this afternoon on its
passage to be enacted, and the Speaker an
noqnced that If no objection was made the
bill would be considered at that time out of
order.
Mr.. Peaks-"I obeject."
Mr.. Porter OF Bangor thought the time had
come to do something besides talk about this
bill. He moved that the rules be suspended
and the bill passed.
Mr.. Peaks-"This Is my funeral. am one
Of the chief mourners and | ask that the
House will bear with me and not suspend
the rules, letting the bill take its usual
course"
Mr.. Newcomb of Eastport-"I also am a
mourner but / am willing that the bill
should be passed at this time"
The Speaker-"Are there any other
mourners?"
No other gentleman having anything to
say about his great grief, the question was
put on Mr.. Potter's motion to suspend the
rules; Only 6S voting, there was no quorum
and the vote failed.
MT. Porterss"Couldn't a quorum be
The Speaker-"It could"
!, Mr.. Peaks withdrew his objection and
the rnles were suspended and the blu passed
to be enacted.
The House today, by a vote of 73 to 90,
adopted the minority report of the commit
tee on banks and banking reporting ought
not to pass on the bill to incorporate the
Cumberland Investment Company.
In the Senate.
Al the request of Mr.. Moore the West
brook railroad bill was assigned for tomor-
row at II o'clock.
The bill requiring logs to be measured by
the Bangor rule" was indefinitely post
poned.
The bill relating to the inspection OF steam
boilers was taken from the Senate table and
indefinitely postponed.
The resolve to purchase old Fort Kent
was taken up In the Senate and referred to
the committee on finance.
The Senate voted to excused DIR. Rogers n
nally after Friday. March 27th.
On motion of Senator Walton of Somerset
the bill Incorporating the Kennebec Water
Power Company was indefinitely postponed.
Points.
In the Senate this morning the bill to abol-
ish the Superior Court in Aroostook, which
was the minority report, and was accepted
in the House and the bill passed to be en-
crossed, came up for concurrence.
the Senate nOn-concuIred with the House
and accepted the majority report, which pro-
vides that the petitioners have leave to with
draw. ~-
The House considered the bill to increase
the appropriation for the labor bureau, the
increase being from $4,000 to $500. After
considerable discussion the bill was passed.
The bill providing for bounty on seals
killed was passed after being amended by
excepting the seals of Casco Bay from the
operation Of the law, it being represented
that the, people on the shores Of the bay
were glad enough to be allowed to kill seals
Without bounty.