The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-13

| dreds of signatures were obtained to the pc
| titions without difficulty.
Mrs lane White of Deering. who has been
voter in both Kansas and Colorado, spoke
| of the success of woman Suffrage In those
states where elections are orderly and
women vote without being subject to any
annoyance Mrs. White said that in one
Kansas city where the men elected a wo-
man for mayor In Joke. The mayor was re-
elected because she had been so successful
In managing affairs that she was fairly en-
titled to the honor.
Mrs. Stevens referred to the decrease In the
number of remOnstrances sent to the Legisla-
tion until at this session they have disap-
peared altogether Hitherto the advocates OF
this movement have been denied their pass
age ecause other women did not want it.
Mrs. Stevens thought that now the desires
of these women who did want 1t should be
considered.
This closed the hearing. no remonstrants
appearing. The ladies In one respect dld
better than the speakers on the Australian
ballot list work IN that they talked to the
COMMITTEES instead of address ing the au-
dience. DIR. Blanchard thanked the COM
mittee for the courteous heaiing they had
given the speakers.
Ara Cnshman, Esq, of Auburn. whe was
expected to have been present and to speak
In favor of the movement, was prevented
from coming at the last moment, In letter
TO Dr. blanchard he expressed his regret and
aos 0SAbS aoiO W Dc PkcoCAps ahu odlQs L
have long been believer in woman's suf-
frage. certainly to the extent and with the
limitations for which / understand it is to
be asked of this legislature, although never
having bad time and opportunity to publicly
advocate 1t.
Why intelligent women owning property
and capable OF earning and managing 1t, pay
ing taxes. having an interest In education,
morals and good government, In common
with De0, being equally concered in the ju-
QtQiOus and QQOunmipQl QYnQndltura nf
ey paid by themselves for taxes In common
whh men, should be denied the privilege of
voting for those who are to conlrol
the education. appropriate the money and
manage the affairs which concern themselves
equally with their husbands, brothers or fa-
thers-why the right to vote should continue
to be withheld from women, under such cir
cumstances, is difficult for thinking men to
comprehend, and hard for fair-minded men
to reconcile. But the world moves and
have abiding faith that In the general trend
OF things 1t moves in the right directiod. I
have so firm faith that think it safe to
prophesy that this generation shall not
pass away" before all good men can say
The justice, long delayed, is done"
And will blush when they remember that in
the last decade of the 10Th century it was
necessary for men and women to plead be-
fore legislatures that women might have
conferred on them. as a gracious privilege,
what ought to be considered their inaliena-
bic right.
Facts Ab7ut the Clason Bill.
"he Clason bill is more general topic of
conversation now than at any previous time
In the session. and there is growing cor-
viction among those who have had doubts
that the bill will pass. Some say by as high
majority as from 25 to 80 in the House. Its
op0nents are becoming alarmed and are
working hard against it, John Carson, the
superintendent OF mails who retired from
the fray some time ago, is again at the State
house daily buttonholing members who
might be inducted to vote against the meas
ure Statements that radical changes will
be made In the provisions of the bill In COM
mittee are without foundation. The great
change will be made In the provisions Of the
bill so far as the manner of making nomina-
ti0ns and voting under IL is concerned but it
Is likely that the committee will recommend
making Its adoption optional In towns of
less than certain number of inhabitants
With this optional clause inserted, it is un-
derstood the committee will stand to in
favor OF the measure. The reports may be
expected next week. 700 Skowhegan peo-
pie have sigDed petitions in favor of the blu.
Before the Tax Commission.
The taxation of electric light, gas, water
and insurance companies was the subject
for consideration this evening before the
now famous tax committee. House Chair
man Rawes presided.
Mr.. William A. Bradbury of Portland op-
posed the taxation of mill mutual insurance
companies. These mill or factory companies
be said, insure simply certain kind OF mills
Each company pays certain premium to be
ured in case OF loss, and to pay for the ex-
pense of Inspectors, which are employed to
examing the property. The companies are
plrely mutual, aud make no profits, any sur
plus being returned to the stockholders in
dividends Ii taxes are imposed they will
be direct expense upon the companies do
iEg business in this state, being a tax on the
expense instead of any profit
Charles A. Brown Of Portland c0rr0borat-
ed the statements of Mr.. Bradley, and said
that tax on these mills would simply be a
tax on Maine mill owners.
Attorney General L;ttlefeld was opposed
To placing such a tax on the corporations
that would drive them into other states. al
though he thought, the present fee might
safely be increased He favored changes
that would make such corporations give full
or returns OF business to the state.
w. A. Roberts of Biddeford protested
against any taxation of mutual assessment
companies.
the Question OF the Pigeons.
The bill for the repeal of the pigeon law
so-called, to allow the use of live pigeons as
targets. came up In the House this morning
and next Thursday Immediately after the
morning hour was assigned for its considera.
tion. Mr. Porter Of Bangor, who is one of
the strongest opponents of the measure,
when the matter of assignment came up
promptly moved that the date be fixed for
April Ml I No,,a >, ,.u,..o
islature would probably not BIZ in session
April 4. and thought that time should be
assigned when the bill could be discussed on
its merits.
Mr.. Porter-'I was never able to discover
that it had any merits"
Mr.; Chadoourne said he did not think that
he Dill had much merit but he was not
afraid to have it discussed.
Mr.: forter,s motion did not prevail so he
adopted another line Of attack and moved to
indefinitely postpone. This motion was
ruled out on point of order and the assign
ment was nnaily liked for next Thursday.
Railroad Matters.
Col. Green and Gen. Leavitt have made
the damages in the bill authorizing the coun-
ty OF Washington to guarantee the interest
ON the bonds OF the Shore Line road, and
the bill is now before the committee.
In the Senate today the bill to protest the
interest OF mint rity stockholders in the Bos-
ton 81 Maine Railroad Company and other
corporations was taken from the table IN
motion of Mr.. Moore of Cumberland and re-
ferred to the railroad committee. The bill
relating to the Mechanic Falls aud Sebago
road was also taken from the table and simi-
laily referred on motion of Col. Moore.
Petitions are coming in In favor of the
Haynes bill to regulate railroad fares.
The Camden Town Fight.
The report of the committee on towns on
the Camden question was presented to the
House today. The committee stood five to
five. the member who reserved the right to
change his vote from the negative to the af-
frmative evidently not having exercised that
privilege. The. question was assigned to
next Wednesday for consideration. Those Of
the committee who report 10 favor of di lis
ion are Warren, Miller. Hersom, Fisher.
Wescott; opposed, Pettingill. Davis, Lewis,
Titcomb Gilmore.
Some Of the House BesIness.
Mr.. Noble of Lewiston, presented in the
House this morning. by request, a bill to pro-
mote the purity of the ballot. 1t provides
that within six months after the passage of
the bill the Secretary of State shall furnish
each polling place in the state with a ballot
box for use at all elections. The boxes shall
ha annrovod hv the Secretary of State Sta,a