The Portland daily press., 1893-03-18

WedneSday-HOrGianu h0n GTeSlu0 III
Both Senate and House-Auburn Water
Bill Passed to be ngrossed-Partition
Poland to be Accomplished of Other
Matters.
Especial to the Press.1
AUGUSTA, March 17.-The House this
morning passed an order providing for
final adjournment next Friday and then
the Senate began to make the carrying
out of the order extremely improbable.
Senator Swanton was yesterday called
away suddenly and this morning Senator
Shaw was unabl to remain through the
session on account of illness. Now, Mr..
Shaw wants to be heard on the bill in re-
plain English, the bill to restore to the
courts the jurisdiction taken from them
by the existing liquor law. So, out Of
courtesy to Mr.. Shaw, the matter was
put over until next Wednesday. An
other matter assigned for today was the
bill to increase the salary of members of
the legislature. This was presented by
M. Swanton, and at his request, was re-
assigned for next Tuesday. This reas-
signment was not made, however. until
MI. Wiggin had offered his amendment
to the bill requiring the submission of
the question to a vote of the people at
the next election. There is pending also
an amendment fixing the pay Of the
president of the Senate and speaker of
the House at $400 or 500 more than the
bill provides for members. Before this
matter was reassigned Senator Spofford
expressed his opposition to it in brief
speech.
Then came the listing bill. EARLY this
morning the rumor was abroad that the
opponents of the measure were in posi-
ton to kill it. The news was passed
from mouth to mouth in the lobby and
of course the supporters of the bill were
alarmed. The absence of Messrs. Shaw
and Swanton had no particular bearing
on this matter as both those gentlemen
were paired. But Senator Winslow
based his attempt to gain time to prop
up what looked like a lost cause on the
argument, that there were members still
in doubt as to how they should vote
ON the matter. He said that there were
several on both sides who were in this
position.
Senator Thatcher and Senator Allan
maintained that that the matter, so its
friends said, had been before the people
for two years and that the Senate was as
ready now as it ever would be to act intel
ligently on the question. Mr.. Thatcher
said that he believed if brought to vote,
the bill would be voted down.
Senator Mallet said his objection to
the bill was that it would not accomplish
what it was intended to do. What was
wanted was something to make town
assessors go out and find out the value of
the property of their towns. They had
adopted such a system in his town of
Freeport where they had non partisan
board and the assessors by diligent in
quiry under the present law, had, he
believed, got at the just value of the tax
able property of the town.
The vote to reassign the bill to next
Wednesday resulted u to IL, or with the
vote of the president, who favored re as
signment, 13 to II.
During the discussion Senator Grindle
called attention to the order of the House
providing for final adjournment and said
that he hoped that the members under
stood that today's action would result in
keeping them in Augusta some time
longer.
On top of this came an order present
ed by Senator Thatcher that when the
Senate adjourn it be to Monday after
noon at 4.40, and the order was passed
The Senate business is in such shape,
however, sthat this adjournment will
have little effect on the time Of the final
leave taking. One sign that the end is
near is the exchange of photographs
among the members. Senator Seiders
presided over the Senate during part
of this forenoons session. Mr.. Seiders
makes an excellent presiding officer.
A Forenoon in the House.
Mr. Morrill, of Portland, was called to
the chair in the House this morning,
while Speaker Savage took the floor to
discuss the Auburn water case. Mr.. Saw
age vigorously defended the bill report
ed by the judiciary committee, courage
ously upholding the side of the case
which is not popular in his oity. The
House agreed with Mr.. Savage. 1t will
be remembe that the city of Auburn
wants the right to build new water
works Immediately, claiming that the
Auburn Aqueduct Company did not full
fill the terms of former legislation
relating to the disposal of its works to
the city. The judiciary committee favor
letting the company have a year to better
it's service unless the city wants. to buy
the works. Mr.. Savage gave the House
a history of the attempt to purchase the
water company's plant, the attempt that
fell through. He said that they had no
institution in Auburn that could raise
$190,000. To raise this sum the institu
ton would have to go to Boston or New
York. 1t was found to be problem how
the money could be raised.
In obedience to the necessities of the
case on the last of January he approached
Mr.. Wescott, who, he supposed, had con-
troll of the stock, and asked if he was
willing to sell his stock to the city of |
Finally Mr.. Wescott said he
would be willing so sell, but he didn't |
own controlling interest, and |
so the matter was kept quiet |
till he could go out and buy controlling
interest. He did this as he agreed. Criti-
cising and unkind remarks had been |
made on what was termed a "dark Ian
fern arrangement" but it was absolutely |