The Portland daily press., 1895-01-08


Municipal Indebtedness-The Portland
Municipal Court Matter Soon to Come
Up-Bridgton Wants Water Works and
Electric Lights-Bills for the Protection
of Game.
Especial to the PRESS.)
Augusta, January 1.-THE food gates were
opened.this afternoon and the measures
came down with rush into the legislative
whirlpool. When the Senate and House met
at 4.3O, there were not many members
present. but large proportion OF those
who were in attendance had bills OF
petitions in their pockets. this being par
ticularly the case in the House. But when
the papers had been sorted, it was seen that
the bulk of them related to one subject the
protection of fish and game. Two organiza'
lions are advocating legislation, the Maine
Sportsman's Fish and Game Protective As
ISOLATION and the Maine Game Protective
Association, of which E. G. Gay OF Far
mington is president and J. G. Higgins OF
Bath is treasurer and secretary. This last
society has sent out petitions which have
been numerously signed. asking that
liberal appropriation be made for the pro-
lection and propagation of game birds ana
the establishment of the office of game bird
commissioners. Many of these petitions
were presented today.
The society with the longer name has Tor
mulated numerous changes, which IT, recon-
mends in the fish and game laws to prevent
the destruction of the. sources OF wealth,
health and pleasure in Maine WOODS ana
streams. The recomme ndations are quoted
in petitions which, begin by asking liberal
appropriations to secure the enforcement
of the fish and game lows.
PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
The Maine Sportsman's Fish and Game
Protective Association Is not the only
society with long Iame seeking leglsla-
ton, for bill will be presented by MT.
Whelden of Portland In day or two, ask
inc for a change in the law desired by the
society Tor the Protection of Animals. In
the enforcement of the laws forbldding
cruelty to domestic animals, there are many
cases where men are guilty through lgno-
rance rather than through any evil intent.
In such cases, an explanation by the agent
who investigates is generally sufficient to
correct wrong. Now it is urged that. in
asmuch as a case of this sort is likely to
cause the agent much labor. and take much
of his time, there should be some provision
made by which he shall be paid. The bill
which Mr.. Whelden will present will author
ize the payment by the counties of bills tor
such services performed by regularly ap-
pointed agents provided the county eom-
missioners approve the bills.
PROBATE AND INSOLVENCY PRACTICE
REPRESENTATIVE Hill of Portland, also has
a bill to present. 1t relates to probate and
insolvency practice. and provides that the
Judges of the probate and insolvency
courts may prepare uniform blanks for use
in their courts throughout the state, thus
doing away with the, inconvenlences now
experienced with different sets of blanks
and forms in use in different countIes.a
A BRIDGToN MEASURE. a' Z
Bridgton is to have a water supply and
electric light and power service, some OF
tie leading men of that enterprising town
having united to provide these useful things
for it, VIM. A. Stevens, Augustus r..
Walker, Frank E. Stevens. Abel d.. Harf 1
man and VIM. W. Mason are the conspIra-
tors named in the bill to incorporate the
B1ideton Water and Electric company. for
the purpose of supplying Brldgton people
with pure water rwater power. electric light
and mower for All domestic business and
municipal purposes, with power to take
and store water in the town of Brighton
and necessary real, and personal estate.
Fines. poles and fixtures may be maintained
in the streets of the town subject to suit
able regulations made " The municipal
officers.
The capital stock shall be $4,000, in shares
of 500 each and the town of Rridgton and
Bridgton Centre village corporation may
contract with the company tor wa.er and
thts. In cases of damages where the
amount cannot be mutually agreed upon. it
shall be set tied as are damages caused by
the location of railroads, but proceedings
must be begun within three years from the
date of the taking of the land. "A
MIXED THE BABIES UP.
At the last session of the legislature,
bill was sent in to amend the laws In rela-
ton to the Bangor Municipal court. Later.
some other changes were thought advisable.
and a new draft of the bill was prepared.
Then something unfortunate happened. As
Little Buttercup, in "Pinafore," unhappily
''mixed those babies up" go the Bangor
bills were mixed up in the legislative
shuttle, and the wrong bill passed. The
right one has now been presented again. 1t
is long document defining the cases in
which the court may ia Ike concurrent juris,
diction with the Supreme court. 1t fixes
the salary of the judge at $500 and of the
clerk at $1,000, of hich $500 is paid by the
county.
THE PORTLAND MUNICIPAL COURT.
1t is stated ON good authority that a
measure will soon be presented to amend
the law relating to the Portland Municipal
court by increasing the amount in civil
cases over which it has jurisdiction. That
amount is now limited to $40, and the bill.
it is said, would increase this to 500, or
perhaps to 5000.
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS.
Senator Savage today introduced resolve