The Portland daily press., 1899-03-08
(epEcrAL TO THE PREss.I

teYEcrAL TO THE PREssI
Augusta, March 7.-lf tho law makers
do all the work mapped out In an order
introduced in the House this morning,
the year of grace 1899 will be record
breaker in the annals of the Augusta hotel
keepers, for the Solons will be here until
the flowers which bloom in the spring
have faded and the scent of the new mown
hay fulflls. the air. A legislative celebra-
tion of Independence Day would te
unique but Fourth Of July might find the
makers Of laws still paying August board
bills should the programme be carried
out. And the lobby! 1t would be
lobby the like Of which was never seen
before and doubtless the air would
vibrste with its tales of the honest
poverty Of the corporations 1t repre-
sented. Young MIR. Gardiner confessed
he was surprised at the turn events were
taking today. 1t was day of surprises
for some although the surprises had been
carefully planned beforehand. And 1t all
came over Mr.. GARDENERS bill to increase
the tax Of the railroad companies First
there was an effort to indefinitely post
pone the bill on the ground that it was
not fair TO single out the railroads for
legislative attention. The attempt to
postpone having failed, the Legislature
WAS Informed by no less an authority
than the Hon. Joseph III. Msnley, that
the Maine Central railroad would well
come d ohauce to discuss proposition to
raise it's taxes only. to quote Mr.. Aanley.
the road does not wat - bear the sins
OF others By others, Judging from the
order presented by Mr.. MAoomebr, his
scat mate. Mr.. Manley means all the
other corporations and all the people who
own property In Maine. This order
directs the COMMITTEES on taxation to as
certain what rate of taxes all the other
sinners should ray. II the committee
tackles that job, the poker game to which
Judge Smith made reference in the de-
bate, is very likely to be In progress on
the ever glorious Fourth, although by
that time the board bills would probably
have materially reduced ths stakes and
the rake OF the Augusta innholders
would be the biggest thing in sight.
Incidentally it would be necessary for the
railroads to add another to the courtesies
they show the law makers and extend the
passes.
Mr., Gardeners tax bill was introduced
in the House on Friday. Since then there
have been lively times In Augusta. Mr..
Gardiner has been in demand. The rail-
way fares have urged him to withdraw
the bill and so have some OF those who
sympathized with him in the mileage
matter. On tho one hand were Mr.. Man.
lev and others who claimed that the roads
should not be singled out thus late In the
session for action ON the tax question.
On kthe: other, aocoi ding to the general
understanding, was no less an influence
than that of the Governor urging the
Patten man TO stick to his bill. He stuck
and the opposition played their two high
cards. One came In the shape OF Judge
Smiths motion to indefinitely postpone
That did not prove winning card and
then Mr.. MacombeI went one better with
the order calling for an investigation of
the whole taxation question. The House
promptly decided to stay in and play 1t
out If 1t took all summer. The Senate
has the next play. There Is great ouriosi-
ty as to how it will handle the cards.
The tax bill came up as the order Ct the
day. 1t had been tabled for printing,
when introduced. This morning MIR.
Gardiner moved that the bill he taken
from the table and the motion prevailed.