The Portland daily press., 1897-03-03
Increase Asked for in Cumberland
County.
MIR, LIBBY GIVES REASONS WHY
SAME SHOULD BE GRANTED.
Hearing Before Committee at Augusta
Neutrality-suspicious. Other Matters
Acted on by Committee-New Draft of
Game Law.

Acted on by Committee-New Draft of
Game Law.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Augusta, March a.-The committee on
salaries considered the salary of the
Cumberland county attorney this after
noon.
County Attorney George Libby said
that 1t might be said that he knew what
the salary was when nominated, but that
the same could be said OF his successor,
and so on Indefinitely, thus making 1t
equally Embarrassing for any county at
torney to ask for an increase, no matter
what the circumstances happened to be.
He outlined the work that had been
done during the year and said that at the
criminal terms of court it takes eighteen
hours day to keep the county's cases IN
good shape.
He is consulting advisor for sheriffs and
police, and has to render them some ser
vice every year.
Chairman Engel asked Mr.. Libby II
the county or state paid lis salary, and
was surprised when told that the title of
what Is known as county attorney was
state as ttorney for the County of Cum
berland, OF whatever county he may
serve, and that the salaries Of such Off
GERS ars paid by the state. Other MEM
bsrs said they were glad to be informed
on that point.
Former County Attorney True stated
to the committee that. the impression that
county attorneys private practloe could
20 on when he was in office was not true,
but that he had to give his whole time to
the official business. He argued that
where the population is largest crime is
the most abundant, and said that Cum
berland sent to the state prison 90 per
cent of its inmates. He had known forty
criminals cases to be tried in the Cum
berland county at one term OF the Su-
preme court. Mr.. True also said that he
had been busy as long as three weeks at
time trying cases in the Municipal
court. He said that while county attor-
ney he found that he was expected to get
up at any time of night in response to
calls of officers who wished papers to
serve On criminals On the present sal
nry, Mr.. True said that no man can live
fairly well and rent an Office in Portland
on the present salary of $1,000.
Chairman Engel asked MFR. Libby If he
was aware that Governor Powers had
sienifed his intention to veto any bill
passed TO raise state salary, and the
Portland gentleman replied that ne had
seen the governor and had spoken to him
of the special features Of his case.
The committee voted In executive $685.
sion to report ought to pass on the bill
fixing the salary of the franklin county
sheriff at $500.
CDICIARY.
Doctors W. Il. Shepard of Bangor. H.
| G. Bradford of Lewiston, P. Harvey Of
Newport, J. W. Prilay of Bangor, w.
H. Thompson of Augusta, j. II. Knox
of Waterville W. SCOTT Hill Of Augusta,
appeared before the committee on iudic-
isry for the bill to give homeopathic
treatment for the Eastern Maine Insane
hospital.
LEGAL AFFAIRS.
The Somerset Traction Company's re-
presentatives were before the committee
on legal affaiis this afternoon to ask
for an amendment to its charter 30 II
can furnish light, heat and power for the
people of Skowhegan where it is to To-
81 NJ
ta appeared for the company, and the wit
nesses were Il. N. Merrill, A. g. Blunt,
| r. II. Brown, G. A. Ross and J. L.
Oaks of Skowhegan. Lawyer =. j.
Walton appeared for the Skowheg"n cleo
| trio light company. against the bill. O.
A. Marston, X. P. Page, A. d. Weston,
| C. J. Abbey, A. r. Bixby, W. Donald
W. H. Wildes, e. Goodrich, l.. W. Wes
ton and G. j. Dow of Skowhegan were
his witnesses.
NJ. B. Huffman of Augusta, q. N
Lamb of Bangor and H. e. Tuck o.
Fairfield are here to oppose the Dill FOL
the better observance OF the Sabbath
They wish to have no day specially re
copnized in this respect. The bill was
advertised by the committee on lega
affairs. but the Skowhegan matter oc
cuuisd tie whole afternoon.
| WAYS AND BRIDGES.
The committee on ways and bridges
voted to report ought to pass OF resolves
giving Dallas plantation 500, Jerusa
lem. 500. Cutler $3.50, Wiscasset, for Wis
casset bridge, $3.50; Frenchville, fer
bridge over Diokey stream, $3.50, aHt
for the Kingman bridge, $4,000. This IL
the third time the committee has votet
to report favorably on the kingmai
bridge resolve.
INLAND FISHERIES.
| The committee on inland fisheries ant
! game voted to report rev draft OF
the bill to license guides and that th'
same ought to pass. ought to psss OIL
the bill to abolish the bounty on bears
the bill to protect deer on. Long lslant
for five years and the bill to prohibit th
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