Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-02

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treasurer A resolve presented per-
mits the treasurer of Bath to spend $500
OF the appropriation made in 1897 for
the care of the burial place of the late
Governor King. the balance of the fund
to be invested and only the interest
used. Senator White presented a bill
permitting the Lewiston Gas Light
Company to increase it's capital stock
to an amount originally fixed in its
charter. Senator Witham presented a
resolve appropriating $500 annually for
Pennell Institute in the town Of Gray.
The annexation of Deering to Port
land is sure thing. The committee
on towns voted, Wednesday afternoon.
to make a unanimous report in favor
of annexation. There was a long dis
cussion before this decision was reach
ed. and McFadden of Dresden. was not
easily talked over to the majority side.
But finally he sawmatters as the others
did and will present the report of the
committee to the House. This unani-
nous report for annexation makes it
certain that the bill will speedily pass
the Legislature and the two cities will
be one before the March elections.
There may be a little opposition, but
no serious fight is possible.
The committee on towns in addition
to this important piece of business had
a hearing on the petition of certain res
idents of Prescott to be set off from
that towns and annexed to Edmunds.
About one-tenth of the valuation and
area of Prescott is concerned. Repre-
sentatives Thayer of Lubec. Crane of
Whiting. Leavitt of Eastport, and Nc
Faul of Maohias, all appeared before
the committee in behalf of the petition
ers. There was no opposition and the
committee will report favorably on the
proposed division.
The hail of the House and the gall
leries We're filled in the afternoon
when Chairman Vickery of the fish and
game committee, called the assembly
to order. 1t was sportsmen's field day
and many were present from all parts
of the State. Chairman Carleton of the
commission was the first speaker and
he thanked the committee for it's favor
able action upon the resolve which has
now unanimously passed both branch
es. A number of hearings were sched
uled, but nearly all of them were at
once tabled for action later, and mat
tiers We're rushed along to the main
questions of the afternoon, that of d
hunting license and that of putting the
enforcement of the game laws into the
hands of the county attorneys and
sheriffs.
Secretary harrington of the Maine
Sportsmens Association, took the floor
and spoke at length on these matters.
He had favored hunters tax, but
public sentiment seemed to be greatly
against it and the present did not seem
an opportune time for such a law. 1t
would be very difficult to enforce. Col.
Harrington had some very sound argu-
ments in favor of the enforcement of
the game laws by the county officials.
Present warden service cannot protect
the big game. The counties benefit by
the sportsmen, let them protect their
own interests. The fish are the proper
care of the State but the commission
ers, under the proposed law, would CO.
operate with the sheriffs and deputies.
He read letters from Sheriff Blake of
IdIlhIlIi, dIQ L CiiICiA Va A1ohiSA-
set. favOring the idea.
]. F. Sprague of Monson, followed
and opposed Col. Farrington's views.
He opposed the plan to license sports
men. He declared the present law is
well enforced, and the fish and game
industry self-supporting. He declared
it illogical and absurd to put the game
protection in the hands of the counties.
Hon. H. NJ. Heath of Augusta. was the
next speaker and the general line of
his argument was against and such
radical change in the present laws as
is proposed. He thought the enforce
ment of the game laws in the hands OF
the county officials would be failure.
He declared that it would bring unnec-
essary confession of poverty 10
tax visiting sportsmen. Hon. A. NJ.
Spear of Gardiner, was the last speaker
and he argued strongly in favor of
license fee from those hunting big game.
After the hearing the committee had an
executive session. but adjourned with
ont action on any of the matters IN
hand.
The judiciary committee had only
one hearing, Wednesday afternoon.
This was on the bill giving the Water
Vile municipal court concurrent jurls-
diction with trial justices in Oakland,
Sidney and Belgrade. The bill was ex"
planned and supported by Representa-
tive Field of Oakland. There were
numerous speakers in opposition, among
them being Judge G. T. Stevens or Au-
gusta, Hon. c. NJ. Weston of Belgrade:
H.. l.. Hunton and G. A. Bryant OF
Oakland. and Sheriff Longley OF SID
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