The Portland daily press., 1893-01-04

anu h6VlSlOu VI Uue SCdbuCeS-Ah ne 6F-
picking Problem of Taxation-Demands
of Organized Labor-Rigid Scrutiny of
Expenditures-The School Question
and the District System-Rome Howl
ing for Annihilation-Sugg Liquor
Legislation Concerning Druggist.
Especial to the Press.1
AUGUSTA, January Swell, I guess
it will be quiet session. That remark
in one form or another has been fire.
quently heard here today. Still, while
there is quite general feeling that the
session will adjourn in plenty of time
for the farmers to begin plowing as soon
as the frost leaves the ground, when
those of the members who have had
time to think of business in the midst of
the excitement of the day before the ses-
sion and the various booms and boom
lets for the minor offices, have made a
mental list of the important matters to
come before them, they find the list not
a short one.
To begin with there is the question of
taxation. Four years ago the state tax
laws were referred to special commits
sion The commission studied and
worked for two years and reported a
whole book full of law and recommenda-
tions to the last legislature. The legis-
lature appointed special committee to
consider the report of the special COM
mission. This committee worked hard
all winter. They gave hearings to repre-
eop+o+;xrac af y,Y1,oovoI1c intpraSfS and fl
nally reported new general tax law,
which made something like SO closely
printed pages. Very little of the SO
pages, except those portions already IN
the statutes became law. But hard
fight was made for the listing system,
that pet measure of the farmers, and the
state board of assessors was created.
The creation of this board was one i'm
portant result of all this labor
on the part of commission and commit
tee. and of the agitation, especially
among the farming classes, which
prompted legislative action. This win
ter the tax campaign will probably warm
down to vigorous movement to pass
bill embodying the listing system. 1t is
the present understanding that this
years bill will contain the essential feat
ures of the listing system advocated two
wears ago, duu -tblS a1oO 1OSdtdCu
probable that it will be referred to
another Joint special committee. Wheth-
er it will keep them persistently using
midnight electricity, remains to be seen.
Legal Reform.
The legal fraternity will demand at
tention at this session Tor some meas
ures of great Importance, as, if passed,
they will make some radical changes in
the judicial system of the state. This
work is in charge of a committee from
the State Bar Association and the action
of the committee at its recent meeting in
this city has been already reported.
Among lawyers, too, there is talk of the
need of revision of parts of the Revised
Statutes. The last revision of the stat
utes was made under the supervision of
the late Judge Goddard of Portland and
published in 1888.
The organized labor of the state wants
some legislation. One of the bills for
which they are working and in favor OF
which there will probably be numerous
ly signed petitions. changes the age at
which children may be employed in mills
and factories from u to IA years. An
other of the labor bills which it ex-
DcCLCo WALL uC PlOCCAtCo3 10 III tAiO AOA Al
of an employers liability act. Still an
other which it is said will make its ap-
pearance, repeals the ''Act Relating to
the Employment of Labor otherwise
known as the Conspiracy Act. This is a
law which makes about six printed lines
and establishes fine and Imprisonment as
punishment for forcible attempts to
prevent persons seeking or retaining en-
ployment. 1t was amended at the last
session of the legislature at the request
of labor bodies, the phraseology being
changed to specify employers, EN-
ploves or other persons who may vio-
late its provisions.
The "Deestrict School,"
And then there are the schools. 1t is
hard to find subject quicker to arouse
attention than legislation affecting the
school system. This year, too, this mat
ter will be OF unusual Importance in
connection with the contemplated action
of the League for the Protection of
American Institutions which proposes to
secure the passage of resolve to sub
nit to the people constitutional amend
ment prohibiting the appropriation of
state funds for sectarian purposes. Of
COuIS6 IlSdouIC Cuotiuso Oh oiPCAiNS
which many educational institutions
have long received and depriving others
of the sweet hope of sometime becom-
ing the recipients of similar aid, will at
tract wide attention. Besides this, the
attempt to abolish the district system
will be revived with many progressive
pedagogues behind it prepared to give it
the benefit of much learning and greater
zeal As it is expected that this session
of the Legislature will be marked by rig
id scrutiny of expenditures, schemes to
establish new offices are not likely to be
received with favor. For this reason, it
is not believed, say those here conver-
SAINT with school affairs, that the peda-
gogues' dream of state board OF educa-
ton will be embodied in bill.
Town Divisions
All of these weighty subjects, how
ever, sink into insignificance in the eyes
of the Augusta innkeepers at least, be-
side another which bids fair to take
considerable time All marriages may
be made in Heaven but many are unmade
by the courts OF this wicked world. The