The Portland daily press., 1895-02-05
THE LEGISLATURE.
Pew Bills Presented at Yesterdays
Short Session.
PETITION TO ABOLISH THE
OFFICE OF CONSTABLE

Prescott Who Explained the Misleading
Remonstrance That Had Been Submit
ted-A Bill Relating to the Temporary
Loan of Cumberland County.
| Especial to the PRESS.)
Augusta, February 4.-The food seems
to be somewhat abating, and the new
measures put in at the short session of
the legislature this afternoon were not
very Numerous, and with a few except
ions were unimportant.
In the House, Mr.. Plumnler of Dexter
presented an order that the committee
on public buildings inquire into the cost
of the electric lighting at the insane hos
pital, and report as soon as possible. Mr.
Plummer intimated that the result of
this investigation would not, in his opin-
ion, be cheerful reading for the Kenne-
bee gentlemen, who were SO anxious for
economy in the m latter of the proposed
insane hospital at Bangor.
. Senator Prescott put in lot of petit
tions for the adjustment of the Office
of consta BILE in Biddeford. He said that
he had further investigated the remon-
strances against the proposed law, and
found it even worse than was supposed.
| What purported to be the remonstrances
of 5000 people only represented about 400
voters. The petitions he presented, he
lsaid, represented over $50 voters OF Bid
deford, who represented three and half
millions of dollars. one-half of the valu-
alton of the city. These petitions, he
| said, were as remarkable for what they
represent as the remonstrances were for
what they did not represent.
| MIR. Larrabee presented bill to allow
the commissioners of Cum berland Coun-
ty. in addition to their salaries, actual
necessary expenses incurred in going
outside of the county for the transaction
of official business"
Mr.. Larrabee also put in the bill relat-
ing to the temper ary loan of the county.
1t authorizes the funding of the indebt-
edness outstanding on January 1, 1895,
not exceeding $50, 900, the loan to be pay
able within six years from 1895. The
county treasurer is authorized to issue
| 100 bonds, bearing four per cent interest,
| payable sem-annually, and of the de-
nomination of $500 each. The bonds are
to be sold at the highest price obtainable
not less than par.
Mr.. Hutchinson of Auburn, who last
week put in bill making it the duty of
town otcers to report on fires in their
| several towns, now presents a bill TO pro-
vide for the appointment of an inspector
of buildings In every town and city of
more than 1000 inhabitants. The mu-
nicipal officers shall define the limits in
the thickly settled parts of the cities and
l. i-,g, ton oI1 hou
jurisdiction. The bill gives the inspec-
tor the authority, and makes it his duty
to inspect buildings in course of con-
struction or repair, and see that proper
| safeguards are used to prevent the catch
ing and spread of fire.
The bill advocated by the State Board
of Agriculture to change the fees for the
inspection of fertilizers makes the fee
$40 for the phosphoric acid instead OF SIS,
the fee to be assessed on any brand of
which not less than 10 tons are sold, in
stead of 80 tons as at present.
r. "A. Lewis, J. f. Davis and Willis
Snow of Freeport, petition to be incor-
porated as the Freeport Electric Light
and Power Company, with capital stock
not exceeding $500
Major Dckey presented a bill to pro-
hbit the taking of offenders greater
distance than 25 miles for appearance
before trial justice or disclosure COM
JulHSlOueI.
Mr. Welch of Kennebunkport intro
duced bill which provides that munic-
ipal officers and county commissioners
may lay out roads too, and take land
for clay and gravel pits as as is now
provided for laying out streets or town
ways. Al the expiration of the public
use of such land it shall revert.
Senator Savage. presented bill giving
the custody of minor children to the
parents jointly, and providing that in
cases where the parents do not live to-
gether, probate courts on petition may
decree which parent may have the care
ofstne children Such cases may be ap-
pealed to the supreme court. The bill
does not change the divorce laws.
Senator Marston put in a bill to pro-
vide for the taxation of buildings and
9th err provements in plantations. Un-
der the present law, although planta-
ton may CONAN a hotel worth $4,000 or
more, 1t is taxed only as wild land
Another bill presented by MIR. Marston
makes the tax on unincorporated town
ships fall on the individual owners in
proportion to the value of their holdings.
Now, in township continuing 10000
acres, worth $40 each, ard 10000 worth
SIS, the owners would be taxed on the
average value, or $3.50