Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-23
THE TWELFTH WEEK.
Opens With a Busy Session
and Buster Prospect.
The Features Of Monday Afternoon al
the Capitol.
Two Sessions. oday--amendment to Bill
Changing Augusta Ward Lines.

There were so many evidences and
suggestions of spring on every hand.
Monday, that the legislators as they
returned from their weekly visit home
and gathered at the Capitol to enter
upon the work Of the 18th week,
yearned more keenly than ever for the
day OF final adjournment. Just when
this day Will come is still extremely
uncertain, and it seems hoping against
hope to look for 1t this week, though
business will be rushed with all the
haste that Is proper and seemly in leg
islative matters. The prophets now
name the middle of next week as the
probable time of the closing spit ball
session. Speaker Larrabee caused a
general smile, yesterday afternoon,
when he assigned Wednesday Of next
week for the assignment of a certain
bill. He soon changed the day, how
ever, to Wednesday of this week. and
all breathed easier. The bill, blythe
way. was the one changing the name
of the Maine State College to the Uni
versity of Maine.
The Monday afternoon session in the
House was just an hour long, while in
the Senate they kept at it little
longer. In both they managed to do d
good amount of business, though ex-
citing incidents were not on the pro-
gramme. The attendance was un-
usually good for a Monday afternoon
session. One by one, however, the
members are dropping off for home.
eight having now been excused for the
rest of the session. One prominent
member was present who has been
missed for several weeks, Hon. Harold
M. Sewall of Bath, said to be the next
United States minister of Hawaii.
There were % printed bills to be
given a first reading in the House.
Measures we're tabled with reckless
disregard of final adjournment On
the other hand, half dozen measures
were taken from the table and pushed
along. One of them was the order
directing the State assessors to fix the
tax rate at 8 mills for 1897 and 2% mills
for 1898, which Hamilton of Biddeford
shelved. Saturday. On his motion it
was taken from the table and given a
passage. This seems to settle the mat
ter of the tax rate, and the assessors
and printers are rushing work on the
tax bill, which is the all-important
measure of the session. This bill in it's
engrossed form will fill As pages.
The only speech of the afternoon,
was by Mr.. Wilson of Gorham. on his
order relating to the election of the
railroad commissioners instead of their
appointment. The Senate had referred
this order to the committee on rail-
rno dc hlrt "a Of 1iSto11tncr "a
Mr.. Wilson's vigorous remarks insisted
on it's former action, and referred the
order a second time to the legal affairs
committee.
The Senate did it's share of business
as the stenographic report shows. The
amendment offered to the Eastern
Maine Insane Hospital resolve was the
interesting feature of the session. The
amendment cuts 100000 from the re-
solve and does away with the COM
mission. The resolve will come up, to-
day, and it is thought it will pass the
Senate as amended. Its fate, however,
when it comes back to the unfriendly
House is very uncertain. In the Sem
ate Al measures We're passed to be en-
aSted and sent to the Governor for
his signature, the largest number of
any one session, thus far.
There are to be two sessions, today,
and each following day until Saturday.
There are even rumors on an evening
session, so there is no doubt Of the
general determination to hustle mat
tiers. There are some lively contests in
prospect before an adjournment can be
reached, for many important matters
yet remain unsettled. The general idea
is that the Senate will be the body to
prolong the session.
There will be an amendment to the
bill changing the Augusta ward lines,
which will provide that two wards
shall be made out of ward one and that
none of the other wards shall be
changed. This amendment is in the
nature of compromise and it is I'M
derstood that as amended the bill will
pass without opposition.
Only two or three new bills appeared
at the Monday afternoon session of the
House. Mr.. Philbrook of Waterville,
introduced a bill providing that per-
sons convicted of State prison offenses
have the same right Of appeal and new
trial, as is now provided in civil cases.
Mr.. Blanchard of Wilton, introduced a
bill authorizing the county of Frank
| lin to pay $S8 to Perkins plantation,
this amount having been illegally as
sessed against the plantation. A re-
solve has been introduced appropriat-
ing $15G0 to defray the expenses of the
Governor and staff while attending the
ceremonies connected with the trans
fer of the Grant monument to the city
of New York.
For regular proceedings, routine mat
tiers, remarks, etc., see official steno-
graphic report in another cOlumn,)