Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-01-28
AUGUSTA GOSSIP.
Thumb-Nail Sketches of Hancock's
Representatives.
House OF PREsENTATTvE !
AUGUSTA. Jan. %, 1897.

House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AUGUSTA. Jan. %. ls97.
7 To the Editor of The american:
Petitions. bills and resolves continue ,c
pour in in copious streams. The peti.
tons largely relate to the protection and
( propagation OF fish and game. ana local
schemes. kennebec county comes in for
large share, and petitions are headed By
some Of her most prominent men. A
f large part OF the bills relate to enlarge
ment of franchises.
J The labor bill-or dftyfour hour bill
i which Is soon to be presented by the rep
resentatives from Biddetord and which
I Is stirring up little previous newspaper
I discussion, will be likely to be warmly
contested. The large appropriation for
the protection of game which is floating
in the air, is likely to create ripple " hen
ii bursts upon the legislature.
There is a constantly increasing de-
mand for State aid for bridges. which
suggests the necessity of some general
law touching the matter.
The speaker is an excellent presiding
officer, full Of business energy and exec
utive tact. He said to me recently that
be thought the legislature could adjourn
by the LAST Of February. But legislatures
interests, and view matters from various
stsndpoints, and with their home bust
ness and interests clinging to them, their
movements are necessarily slow and
sonew hat irregular.
4 large mum Der OF petitions for female
suffrage mas been presented and been
referred to the judiciary committee-that
committee is already burdened with bust
ness, and has begun to unload itself upon
its twin brother, the committee on legal
affairs.
Departmental and special committee
reports are coming in. We have just
glanced over the report on marriages.
births and divorces. and snatch few
general facts that may be OF interest.
The population Of Maine in $50 was 6is.-
936, in $3.50 j; was 66I. $50. gain Of $3.50.
The largest county in the state Is Cum
berlsnd. having population OF % 94g:
the smallest i Pi-catsQuis with popu-
lation OF I.s72. Hancock has 3s,T2q
Hancock and Washington lie nearest the
average N population.
For the last decade nine counties have
lost and seven have gained il % puiation.
Hancock has lost 81. There are about
400 more males in the state than
females.
Hancock : representatives. are all pres
emit except Thuriow. who i Ill. and are
looking after the interests of their con-
stituents. Hancock county ! asking for
but little so far, but later on may de-
Yelop its wants. With the exception of
the writer, the Hancock representation
will rank among the good-looking mem
bers of the House. which IS. all in all.
fnelooking body.
Rodick has the air OF a man of the
world. and shrewd enough to be a poll
tician.
Merrill is good nature in perpetual
bloom. He is a great reader, and smokes
occasionally. He IS at his desk more
hours than any other mem Der of the
House.
Britton is self contained, direct, BUSH
nes--like. and will look after the interests
Of his constituency.
Boynton has a scholarly appearance.
and IS in excellent favor with the lawyers.
He is an all-round good fellow.
Saunders is discreet, dignihef and
good looking, and compact intellect
ualy.
Chatto is one of the young mem bers,
with enough good sense to get along vii h
humanity anywhere.
Hutchins is there, and will have his
photo taken later on.
DR.. Patten is one Of the shortest in
stature but we'll up mentally, and genial
man to meet.
Grindie and Simpson belong to the
upper branch, and have excellent Iegis-
latiye qualities. Grindle, however, owing
to severe illness among his patients, has
been here hardly long enough to be nat
urslized.
The committee OF the governors coun-
Gil appointed under act of last legis a.
ture to investigate the Maine State col
lege, has reported, and the report has
produced a ripple Of sensation on the
surface. The committee on legislation
will visit the Institution in two weeks
Nahum Hinckley was here to-day in the
interest of the board of agriculture.
Thurlow is reported as very ill, and
has been granted two weeks leave of alb
sence.
Merrill leaves for his home to-day on
account of the sudden illness of his
daugh
petition was presented by Hutchins
to-day Thursday from Walter j. Dreamer
and others, OF Penobscot, asking for
1000 for Hancock county for the pro-
lection of fish aud game. Many petitions
are coming in.
Tonight there will be a PUBLIC lecture