The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-03
WHO PAYS THE BILLS
Is the Question on Mems Lips at
Augusta.
THE TICKET OF LEAVE TO BE, IN
TRODUCED INTO MAINE.

THE TICKET OF LEAVE TO BE, IN
TRODUCED INTO MAINE.
Savings Banks Still the Topic of Discuss
ion-Twe1ve Thousand Protestants
Against Sunday Excursions-Amend-
ments to the Ballot Law-To Curb CO.
Operative Insurance-The Bangor
Hospital.
Especial to the Press.1
AUGUSTA, February 2.--Who pays the
lawyers? Members of the legislature
who listened to the arguments in behalf
of the bill to tax savings banks, have
been frequently asking that question to-
day. Hon. Herbert M. Heath, Hon. J..
W. Symonds, Hon. Charles E. Littlefield.
Hon. Urville D. Baker, and f. E. Tim
berlake, ESQ.,, spoke in behalf OF the
measure, and their speeches showed that
they had carefully prepared themselves.
Their side of the case was presented
with the completeness with which they
might have prepared a cause for trial be-
fore jury, but in this case the plaintiffs
did not appear. They were not called to
the witness stand by the able counsel
whom they had retained, and today the
members of the committee and the
members of the Senate and House are
asking who they are. 1t is common
occurrence for lawyers to appear before
legislative committees to advocate the
matters before them, and it is of course
both right that hey should and of bene-
fit to legislation. But it is an uncom-i
mon occurrence for lawyers to advocate
bill and at the same time neglect to let
it be known by whom they are retained.
1t will be remembered that Senator
Swanton asked Mr.. Littlefeld whom he
represented, and Mr.. Littlefield said in
substance that he had been retained by
number of the business men in his To-
cality. Mr.. Swanton asked for list OF
these gentlemen, but up to tlis writing
the list has not been furnished the COM
mittee. This air of mystery is causing
| much adverse comment. 1t should be
said in this connection that Mr.. Timber
lake. who has been an active supporter
of the bill since it first appeared here
several weeks ago, represents the Phil
lips savings bank.
But the legal gentlemen who appeared
before the committee are not the only
ones interes ed to a sufficient degree to
cause them to devo time and energy to
the bill. There is an active lobby here
in its support, including several gentle-
men from Knox county. Aroostook is
also represented in the third house. In
fact the savings bank bill delegation
here is an active one.
Mr.. Drisko's bright speech at the hear
ing yesterday introduced the name OF
the Hon. Fred E. Richards into the dis
cussion, 1t had been rumored here be-
fore that Mr.. Richards was among the
gentlemen who were anxious to see the
| bill made law. Today it was said by a
gentleman in position to know that Mr..
| Richards represents a syndicate which is
far-reaching, and which includes various
interests, chief among which are the
railroads. The name of Hon. Arthur
Sewall is also mentioned as among the
movers in the matter. Itis also said
that some of the energy displayed in
pushing the bill is prompted at Rumford
Falls This report may be based upon
the fact that Hon. George D. Bisbee, ex-
state bank examiner, who is from the
Rumford Falls region. spoke in behalf of
the bill. The extent of the movement in
behalf of the measure can not be defi-
nitely ascertained, as the members are in
the dark, and so is everybody else appar-
entity except the lawyers and others in
| terested in the passage of the bill. The
| fact that the friends of the new Aroos-
| took line would be glad to see the bill
| passed is an open secret. NJ
One of the attorneys for the bill said
| TODAY that he did not know just who his
| clients were himself. He knew that
there were good many of them, and
that they were all business men.
The taxation committee, in executive
session. voted to report bill taxing the
| instruments leased from the makers by
telephone companys doing business in
| the State of Maine. The present rate of
taxation is not changed, but it is esti-
mated that the additional property taxed
| will double the amount received by the
state. The companies make no protest.
| The committee has also voted to report
a bill increasing the tax upon the gross
| receipts of express companies from
| three-fourths of one per cent to one and
| one-half per cent. AS to the savings
| bank bill it is known that there will be
| two reports. It was said today that the
| committee would be bout evenly divid-
| ed, but this is not definite as there may
be changes in the views of some mem
bers of the committee.
| That Bangor Hospital.
There's many slip 'twixt the cup and
the lip.
The Bangor Hospital appropriation is
still 'twixt the cup and the lip. Whether
Bangor will yet swallow that delicious
morsel is an open question The special
committee on the proposed Eastern
Maine Insane Hospital is composed of
the standing committees on finance and
insane hospital rolled into one. Some
time ago, in order to get the matter into
shape, the committee gave a hearing on
the proposition to appropriate $500, 600
to commence the erection of the hospital
at Bangor. At that time, Mr.. Andrew
Hawes of Deering voiced sentiment in
favor of improving the facilities at Au-
gusta and waiting while longer before