The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-04-02
At Augusta

The Powers substitute for the listing
bill, which the Senate has accepted, leaves
out the feature of sworn inventories and
simply increases the stringency of the
present law in the matter of penalties
and the duties of assessors and taxpry-
ers. 1t will perhaps make tsxdodsing
more difficult than al present, and that
will be an improvement.
Mr.. Moore Of Arson presented the fol-
lowing bill, which on his motion was con
sidered without reference to any com
mittee; Bill, an act to authorize the nayi-
CATION of tarrabassett river by steam.
The Finance Committee agreed upon
p mills as the basis of taxation for the
years 1891 and 1892.
The Legislature has adopted the report
OF the Valuation Commission with sun
dry slight corrections and the State tax
will be assessed upon this valuation.
The Senatorial and Representative APP
portionment bill was accepted.
A resolve passed releasing the volun-
teer militia from the brigade organiga-
ton.
A very large volume of acts and re
solves have been passed by the present
legislature among which are the acts
providing for board Of State Assessors,
providing that one member shall be elect
ed for two years, one for four and the
other for six years, the member having
the shortest time to serve being chair
man. Therefore they shall serve for six
years. Their business will be to equalze
and fix the valuations of the State, and
assessing and taxing railroad and all
other corporations or persons doing a
telephone, telegraph and express business
Assessors of towns shall return valuation
of property to the assessors each year on
or before the first day of September, aud
county commissioners, of wild lands.
They shall have an Office at the State
House, constantly attend to their duties,
have salary of $1,000 each, and make an
anuusl report. S600Iclerk shall be al
lowed them and expenses.
board of examiners of five dentists
to be appointed by the Governor is pro-
vided for. Persons engaged in the prac-
tice of dentistry at the time of the approx
al OF the act or within three months there
after, shall be entitled to registration by
payment of the fee. Other applicants
must pass an examination aud be GER
tfcated by the board. paying 500. The
act does not spply to the pulling of
The prohibitory legislation is made to
include liquors in original packages. The
nuisance act gives the supreme court jur
isdiction in equity to abste houses of i'll
fame, liquor shops etc. on Information
died by the county or on petition of 20
or more legal voters. Another prohibit
tory act prohibits the placing on the jury
lists Of persons engaged in the unlawful
| II linnnr addicted IN Ar,r l.
This is regarded by the temperance peo-
| pie as strong measure,
The land agent by the Forestry Act, is
made forest commissioner to coll ct
statistics and inquire into the extent for
ests are destroyed by fire and the dimln-
ution Of wooded surface, etc, and re
port anna ly. Selectmen shall be ex-
| ofico. forest tire wardeus, dividing
towns into three districts and assign to
each of their number the charge and
oversight of one district. County com
mssioners shall appoint IRE wardens for
unorganized places. Sportsmen and 9th
er persons having business in forests
shall extinguish fires and failure to do
SO is made msdemesnor the penalty
being 500 or less and not more than one
month In jail. Railroad men must extiu-
guishftheir fires under msXimum pen
atty of $500 or Imprisonment not exceed
ing 60 days. Locomotives shall be pro-
vided with improved spark arresters and
railroad employees shall not deposit live
Goals or ashes upon railroad track. Non
comhustible gun wads shall be used by
sportsmen.
The act to prevent fraud in the enter
ing Of horses at agricultural fairs is one
of Importance to horsemen. Parties
fraudulently entering horse shalt be
punished by fine not exceeding $500 or
imprisonment not exceeding 6 months
and the horse shall be forfeited at the
discretion of the court.