The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-29
ESPECIAL TO THE pREss.1

school-Suffragists and Remonstrants.
q ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l
Augusta, January 2s. 2s.-Opposition to
the provision of the Engel bill In refer
ence to the taking of additional land is
developing. Gen. Charles p. Mattocks
of Portland is here representing Mr.. John
r. Proctor, who owns land along the
Maine Central location, and objects to
the broadening of the railroads's powers.
1t is understood that Gen. John Marshall
Brown and Hon. Fred N. Dow who were
here yesterday, objecs to the bill for the
same reasons. An effort will be made to
secure an amendment TO the measure to
remove these objections.
AFTER THE FIRE BUGS.
The last legislature passed law in
reference to the investigation OF fires by
the municipal officers of towns and cities
aud The reporting of the findings to the
State Insurance department.. This law is
believed to have had good effect, but
insurance Commissioner Carr has felt
that it did not go far enough and this
opinion is shared by the members of the
| insurance, COMMITTEES. Tne objection to
the law as it now stands Is that munich
pal off GERS In the smaller towns especial
lly, are reluc tant to conducts investiga-
tions which may cast suspicion upon
their fellow townsmen and neighbors. 1t
was Mr.. Carr's original intention to
have prepared bill creating the Office of
fra marshal, an official who would
conduct the Investigations This system
has worked SO we'll In Massachusetts, that
in caaes of iBcendiery fires, there have
been convictions in s5 per cent Of the
prosecutions; but In view of the oppo-
sition to creating any rew departments
of the State government, for this plan,
Mr. Carr substituted that embodied in
bill now before the legislature. The
bill repeals the law OF 1895 and in it's
place it enaots one in which, while 1t IL
still the duty of municipal officers to
make Investigations or cause them to bs
made, the insurance commissioner Is
given power some what similar to that of
fire marshal As illustrating the need
OF q mere rigid investigation into the
causes OF firss, Mr.. Carr points cut the
| fact that in the returns made to his Qtiice
under the law of 1895, 30 per cent OF the
| fires were reported as being Of unknown
| or inoendiary origin. 1t is pointed out
| that the prevention of incendiarism will
| have beneficial effect upon ths rates of
! Insurance, and il is argued that even If
| the law does not lead many Of she fre
| bugs, in prisGn walls, it nevertheless
will deter many who might other wise
try for Ill gotten gains by setting fires.
In the first section, the blll amends the
1ssxs tf, m al n Nt7aGt10n
In some of the cities, that the calling to-
eether of the municipal officers 10 in
ve7tigate fires placed upon them aadi-
tinnnl duties and expense, which they
found burdensome. The bill authorizes
she municipal officers of all cities and
towns, if they SO desire. to delegate this
duty to some proper person. In other
words. they may either inyesti gate them
selves or cause an investigation to be
made by Others.
rhe effect of this section, in city like
Portland, for instance, would De that
the Investigations could ordinarily be
made by the board OF engineers of the
fire department or other suitable persons
as the mayor and aldermen might direct
ana that when he deemed 1t necessary,
the commissioner himself could conduct
she examination.
Section provides that reports of in
yesfigations shall be made to the insur
anee commissioner in two weeks after
thsy are completed. The law of 1895, re-
Quired Sucn returns TO Do Maue ouce III
six months.
The bill then goes on to define the
powers and duties of the insurance COM
missioner in making Investigations. 1t
provides that the insurance commissioner
shall examine persons under oath SUP
posed to have any knowledge of the ire,
and If incendiarism is the inspected
bo CT nj SrGYprtp1 n6TE0nS.
furnishing the county attorney with the
evidence in his possession. The commits
soner deputy commissioner and
municipal officials shall have power 10
summon and examine witnesses, perjury
to be punished as IN other cases. The
commissioner shall have authority au any
time. day or night to visit places where
q fire has occurred or is occurring. The
insurance companies must within ten
days after the adjustment, Ele with the
commissioner the amount Of all policies
issued by said company Oh the property
destroyed or damaged, the amount paid
or layeble on account of such loss, and
suah other information relating TO the
matter as the commissioner may require.
The insurance commissioner and his
deputy shall receive as compensation for
the servicss required hy this act flve
dollars per diem for time actually eX-
pended and may employ such clerks and
luCur suGl expenses Aa Audy D1 AHCossdry
10 carry out the provisions of this act.
The bin further provides for the keep
ing of proper records in towns and cities
of proceedings under 1t ana makes
punishable by fine of not less than $40
nor more than 500, the refusal Of any
town or city officer or Insurance company
TO comply with its provisions.
The bill has been introduced by
Senator Parsons and printed. A large
mum her of copies will then be printed
for distribution and bearing assigned.
PORTLAND AS A NAVAL STATION.
Mr. Rowell of Kittery, yesterday asked
the unanimous consent of the House for
the passage of resolution urging the
Maine delegation in Congress 20 do what
they can to further the building OF a.
large dry dock at the Kittery navy yard
The resolution was tabled On motion of
Mr. Hill and thereupon many members
began to ask what was up. Late in the
session, the legislature viii very likely
be asked so endorse the project to make
Portland a naval station, and Mr.. Hills