The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-06
to understand. The, }, method is perfectly

TO unQ6rbtdnu' ..1eIU PoilcCbly
siMPlVC W. Ciason claimed that the argument that
wa have used our present system 70 wears
without change. is no zeal argument. For
nearly 5000 years we r.. ws sSSag without the
t1I ~ Changes 1t would seem as IL this verv
,,nnnier method of sending messages womb
ppoPor pop have come into vogue; he also nsed
nthon LEV. Illustrations. He claimed there was
a verv general demand for the law.
- Among the petitioners for the bill were
40 voters of Knox county. 1907 Of Ksnne' muto
~ f1oo of Androscoggin and 1882 of Cnm-
bsriond From the town Of Skowhecan
alone there came 700 names and nearly an
eoual number from the city Of Auburn. In
ali there were on these petitions over 5000
presented present to the legislature Of Maine on any
pns matter And against the bill there are
four remonstrances bearing 1888 names,
When has there been so many ask for anv
legislation as have asked for this lawp
venture the asSea aeSs fo me labor or
6as asked for it, through their representa-
tives assembled at Lewiston. The papers of
the state are nearly unanimous for IT, The
governor. chairman Of the Republican state
committee, the member OF the Republican
national committee from this state, on ali
sides the demand for the law Is general. II
is in your hands to grant this law. viii Won
do III Will YOU place the Pine Tree STATE
alongside of its sister states In favor of good
government, In favor OF q law that makes
bribery more difficult, intimidation imp0ssi-
BILE. and helps to make our government of
the people, for the people. and by the peo-
pie?
The friends of the bill are still confident
of its passage but on the other hand the op-
ponents of the measure are also claiming
that the Victory will be theirs. The enemy
have In the last few days captured some of
the undecided members and have certainly
made inroads on the majority of rs or 80
which the Figures of the friends of the
measure showed for 1t some days ago. To-
morrow Messrs. Savage, Chadbourne and
Peaks will be among the speakers. An after
noon session will probably be held and 1t Is
hoped to reach vote before the day is over.
The vote will be upon MIR. Stearns's motion
to accept the minority report and the friends
OF the bill will consequently vote no.
This Boston & Maine Bill.
In the Senate the bill allowing the Boston
& Maine to increase its capital was taken up
and passed. An amendment similar in terms
to the Payson stock auction order was lost
by vote Of 7 to 81.
Religious instruction at the Reform
School.
When Mr.. Chadbourne presented his bill
In the House yesterday respecting religious
instruction at the reform school he moved
that 1t be referred to the committee on the
judiciary. The Senate this morning non-
concurred in this reference and voted that
he bill be referred to the reform school COM
w 10
House this morning, when an attempt will
be made to refer 1t to the reform school COM
mittee in concurrence with the Senate. To
whichever committee the bill finally goes 1t
will encounter lively opposition.
Taxing the Savings Banks.
The tax committee. after long discussion
tonight, voted to report several important
changes in the law relative to the taxation of
savings banks. They recommend an increase
in the tax. The present rate of three-fourths
of one per cent on deposits is retained, an
additional tax of like amount is imposed on
the reserve fund. In addition the tax Of
thrce-fourths Of one per cent Is increased to
one per cent on deposits of over $1,000, the
additional one-f0urth per cent. to be de-
Quoted from the dividends on the deposits.
Points.
1t is understood that ScarborO Democrats
will send petition here praying that in the
new legislative apportionment the present
arrangement whereby Scarboro is classed
with Harpswell the two towns taking turns
in electing the representative may be dis
continued Freeport which is now classed
with Pownal wants a representative to her.
self and 1t Is suggested by Freeport men that
Pownal be classed with Windham. Windham
alone is now representative district.
The committee on fisheries and game
voted tonight to report ought not to pass on
the bill for the repeal os the seining law.
The committee on agriculture voted today
to report in favor Of the repeal of the crow
law and also the law placing a bounty on
bears and other wild animals.
The committee on Congressional appor-
tionment voted this evening that the present
districts be allowed to remain without
change.
The state prison committee will report in
favor OF referring to the next legislature the
recommendations os the Governors message
concerning the establishment of a reform
atory for women.