Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-20
DIFFERENT ! HOURS.
Senate Finishes Work Before
House Begins, Friday.
Routine Work Disposed Of Then Ad
journed Till Tuesday.
New Measures Plans Tor the Reception
Legislative Notes.

FOR the first time this winter the TIVE
branches of the Legislature met a
different hours. Friday. 1t was all ;
mistake. however. When the Senat,
adjourned. Thursday, it was to NEE
at $50 A. M. yesterday, while in tn,
House the members forgot to take
any action regarding an early hour
as usual. Friday, and as result
speaker Larrabee could net cali the
bcdy to order till 10 o'clock. TIL,
Senate met and adjourned almost ar
hour before the representatives en-.
tered upon the business of the day.
In both bodies the session was an un.
eventful one the time being occupied
with routine work and the rushing
along of bills in, various stages of pas.
sage. The orators refrained from elo.
quence and no measures appeared tc
cause debate or delay. Col. /. X. Stet-
son of Bangor. presided over a part OF
the House session, and proved himself
a very acceptable substitute for
Speaker Larrabee. When both branch
Is adjourned it was until 10 A. NJ
Tuesday, Monday being Washington
birthday. The Tuesday session will
not interfere with the governors re-
ception as that does not come until
afternoon.
Two lonely petitions, one from
Washington county and one from
Hancock county. for a law prohibiting
the sale and manufacture of cigarettes
was all the new business presented. in
the Senate. In the House several pc
titions of the same kind were pre-
scnted, and among the new bills the
following more important ones were
noted.
Mr.. Blanchard of Wilton, presented
bill providing that no student be ad e
mitted to any State normal school un-
less graduate of a recognized high
school or able to pass an examination
showing their qualification equal to
high school graduates; also providing
that the course in normal school shall
be two years, with one of three years
fer those wishing it.-Mr. Dickey pre-
scented bill making it unlawful to dis
play the flag or emblem of any foreign
country. or any state. county. city or
town building or school house within
the State. except by proclamation OF
the governor upon the visit of some
foreigner,and then school
houses shall be excepted. The bill
makes it necessary for every town and
city to provide a United States flag,
not less than four feet long, with flag
staff for every public school building.
which shall be displayed outside en-
pleasant days and inside other days.
An act was presented authorizing
the county of Cumberland to negotiate
a loan of not more than $4,000 to be
used in the payment Of land damages
incurred by the widening of Forest
avenue in Deering.-Mr. Hutchinson of
Auburn, presented a bill drawn up in
the Insurance commissioners Office re-
lating to fraternal beneficiary organi-
cations. 1t is a re-enactment of the
present law with numerous changes.
1t defines at length beneficiary organ
izatiCns. 1t provides for the admis-
sion of fraternal organizations Operat-
ing on the lodge system, and for those
rot operating on the lodge system
upon complying with the provisions Of
the law regulating the admission and
conduct of assessment companies.
Foreign associations shall file with the
insurance commissioner the power of
attorney authorizing him to accept
service of legal process. All compan-
les org: nized in Maine must have 500
members before issuing policies, and
must deposit at least $1,000 with the
state treasurer as a reserve fundsand
must create and maintain a reserve
fund similar to that required of as
sessment companies. The insurance
commissioner is given authority to
visit and examine all companies doing
business under the act, and when he
thinks any foreign association is in
such a condition as to render it's bust
ness hazardous to the public and the
policy holders. he may apply to the
court for an injunction restraining the
from doing business in Maine:
he may also apply to the court for Il
receiver for any domestic company.
All grand and subordinate lodges of
Odd Fellows. Masons, Knights of Ply
thias and similar orders. organized I'M
der the laws of Maine,are exempt from
the provisions of the act. under certain
conditions. Copies of the bill will be
sent to all the fraternal organizations
in the State.
! Governor Powers started. Friday af-
ternoon, for his home in Houlton. On
Monday he will return to Pittsfield, to
be present with his staff at the dedica-
ton of the new Powers hall at the
Maine Central institute, and Tuesday
morning he will come to Augusta to
tender the people of Maine a reception
at the Capitol. Mrs. Powers will re-
turn with him.
The committee on reform school has
voted to report favorably on a resolve
for that institution providing for the
following appropriations: For 1897,