Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-01-29
Editorial Correspondence.
AUGUSTA, Jan. %, lS9

I ar american:
At this time the large influx of people &c
Capital City, directly OF indirectly con
cted with the Legislature, or drawn
b Their by the attractions of that august
ldy, for the transaction of business no,
a all akin to law-making, makes Augusts
Q lite a busting city, compared with the
|; rye remainder of the two years in which
tie Legislators are not convened.
The two houses of our legislature have
1t got fairly to work as yet; but the i'm
prtant rights which demand protection
i to be remedied are being industrially
nsdered by the proper committees who
a { laying out good deal Of work to be
ken up by the legislators little later
j the session.
The committee on State valuation and
I. c tax commission are behind with their
T ports. and it is said that it will now be
irty days before they will be ready TO
port. As the matter of valuation and
nation promises to be very important
after before the Legislature. We may say,
{ question of the session, the delay of
ese committees Will doubtless protract
/ z session of the Houses into April
Ballot reform is another very prominent
q. lestion which is exercising the brains Of
legislators. The Australian ballot
=, .estion has, Of course, its friends, and
opponents, and it is impossible for a
Sual visitor, in no sense a lobbyist, or
en- Jealous exponent and advocate Of
t system, and yet not an opponent of
plan. to tell Just where the preponder
&c Of sentiment lies. We inquired Of
yeral members Of the legislature, what
their opinion, are the chances of the
s>age Of The Australian ballot bill Two
three said they did not think il would
come law; but all the others, while
{. lid not profess to know the result,
re rather inclined to prophesy that the
( u would pass both houses Enough is
own to show that the contest over the
assure Will in all probability be close
~ a.
The Shore Line railroad is another Ques-
N in which the people of the whole
ate. and especially of Hancock and
ashington counties, have a deep and
4 iding interest. We trust that the action
ken Al this session will be so wise and
iicious that out of 1t will grow the early
Hiding of the road.
Speaker Wiswell presides over the
! ouse with marked dignity and ability,
at it seems to be the general opinion
Iong the members that he is, everything
nsidered, the ablest Speaker the House
j. had for years. \ well-known Port
I'D lady whom we met in the House
/ rself presiding officer of marked abilj-
said to US: You must be proud of
'eaker Wlswell who not only presides
tn rare grace, but is one of the coming
ing men of the State, and good
low"
Though neither the Senate nor House
Is in session Saturday, we found many
the members Of both houses in their
cir constituents, or studying up the
! lotty questions which were likely to
me before them. Besides, they felt
pre- at home, they said in their seats than
~ewhere Among them we found Cool
ge Of Lamoine, Webb of Deer Isle
dlon Of East Bluehil, Jones of Brooks
lie, Fuller of fremont and Littleield OF
! 'nobscot. Senator Griadle was absent
- in his place and TO him we are in
Y Dted for many favors and courtesies.
The Maine editors closed their annual
, -ttlEg last evening, and most success
u and interesting meeting it was The
erage Maine editor is a man who puts
no airs; he goes and comes modestly
ID unostentatiously, but he indirectly
.eids in his quiet way, a mightier power,
en- under the dome of the Capitol itself,
an legislators or lobbyists.
ON Friday many of the leading temper
zee people in the State held a meeting
re and organized the '.Po les Prohibi-
non-sectarian and non-partisan, and it
MS to enforce the prohbitory laws of
e State. No doubt some additional tenn
rance legislation will be asked for but
will be such as will set in motion the
] VS. We already have, and no longer al
" them to lie dormant in defiance of the
' shes of at least -fourths of the
| 0ple Of the State. The question with
League seems to be, so far as we have
ard, shall seventy-fye per cent. of the
ople rule in accordance with law, or
all they be ruled by the saloons in de-
+ nee of law:
In closing this letter we must say
ord about the wonderful photograph or
king machine which was kindly shown
this afternoon by Prot. Capeu at the
! rigo Business College. We had but lit
time to examine it and none to inquire
i 70 the philosophy of its construction
is simple looking instrument which
SIS upon a table; and from its interior
ere came to Us, in loud tone of voice,
q with perfectly distinct articulation, a
ief description Of the truly wonderful
i >trument; then it recited to US a portion
4 Longfellows Building of the Ship"
mmencing
Then the master
With a gesture OF command
NaI h hat,