Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-07
LIVELY SCENES.
Cheers and Applause In Honor
OF the Peace Treaty..
President Mckinley Unable to Accent
Invitation to Visit Maine.
Ossr'as Annexation Bill sisned by Governor
Work Of Mondays Session.

| ing scenes marked the opening of the
sixth weeks work of the Goth Legisla-
ture at the Capitol, Monday afternoon
AS the members began to assemble al
most the sole topic of conversation was
the tate Of the peace treaty in the
hands OF the Senate at Washington
ana the excitement visibly increased
as the hour of the expected vote arriv
ed. The House had barely settled
down to work with Speaker Stetson
reading the papers sent down from the
senate, when telegraph messenger
boy rushed into the haM and went to
Mr.. Manley's seat. The Augusta rep
resentattve at once arose and read the
| following message from Senator Frye:
| The treaty of peace between the
United States and Spain has been rat
lfied by majority of three" The
! House, which had been still as death
| a moment before. broke out into wild
storm of applause and cheers, and bust :
| ness was suspended for several minutes
while the members expressed their joy
at the good news. There could be no
doubt how the lawmakers of Maine
stand on the policy of expansion. Mr.
Manley sent the dispatch to the SEN
ate where it was Immediately read by
Col. Plummer. Only dozen members
We're in their seats. but they made even
more noise in proportion to their num-
Der. than the House, patriotic Pres-
dent Clason Loyalty leading the vigor-
| Gus applause of the dignified body.
| A little later in the House Represan-
| tative Guernsey of Dover, introduced
an order which was given unanimous
ioc
send message to President Mckinley
expressing the qualification of the
House at the action of the national
Senate in ratifying the treaty. The
long looked for communication from
President Mckinley in reply to the in
vitation to visit Maine. reached Gov
ernor Powers. yesterday. and was ar
once transmitted to the Legislature.
1t is published in full in the routine
proceedings of the Senate. The letter
was a brief one. merely an expression
of regret that the President could not
give himself the pleasure of visiting
Maine. this winter and warm words
of thanks for the hearty endorsement
by the Maine Legislature of the admin
istration's foreign policy.
Another feature of Mondays legiSla-
tive work of great interest to at least
part of Maine, was the passage to be
enacted by both branches of the bill
anneXing Deering TO Portland. AS
soon as Speaker Stetson and President
Clason had signed the bill. Secretary
Dunbar carried it to the Governor. He
was escorted by Representative Hop
kins of Deering. and the Portland rep
resentatives and the Cumberland sem
ators. They waited in the Governors
room while the Chief Executive slowly
read through the long bin, and then
| had the pleasure of witnessing him at
| fix his signature. 1t was just $50 +. Nj.
when Greater Portland was born. and
Deering passed out of existence as amin
dependent municipality. The Portland
men We're very happy and Judge Hop
kins was the happiest of the lot. Rep-
resentative Virgin became the proud
possessor of the pen used by Governor
Powers in signing the act. After the
! ceremony in the Executive. chamber
was over the party tried to get back TO
the hall Of the House in time for the
gentleman from Portland. Mr.. Hop
kins," to make the motion to adjourn
4 but they We're. too late by minute.
In the House they had a little tilt
over the general appropriation bill
which carries over $l,600,O0O.s After 1t
had been given its first reading Mr..
Guernsey of Dover, tried to nave IL
tabled pending its second reading. NJ,
Marley of Augusta, who, as CHAIRMAN
of the finance committee, is IN charge
of the bill protested against such ac-
ton as: this which would take the Dill
/ out Of the hands of the committee. lie
made a vigorous and telling speech IN
defense of his position, ana the House
sustained him. The bill was given us
i first and second reading, and TINS
morning was assigned for It's thlrd
reading.
4 The. session was about an hour lohS
in both branches. New measures are
fewer now each day and routine "orh
takes up more time. Among the new
measures in the House, Monday, fort
Kent asked through resolve TO ne re-
iubursed to- the extent OF $'23 TOT
money paid out in fighting the dlph-
liberia in that section In lS9'-9s. lhere
was \ batch of. IL petitions that the
Maine railroads be obliged to issue
m;lea.e books at two cents per mile,
onod for bearer. The PASSPORT street
railroad wants it's rights ana prNl-
leyes extended for two years more. "a
fnew Normal school resolve is now due
each day.. 1t was the turn of Machlas'
Monday, and the usual resolve OF $29'-
200 was introduced by McFaul of Ma
chias. Chase of Portland, put in Dill
amending the law relating to the writ
Of mandamus so that it shall be option
al not obligatory, with the judge as to
sending a case to the law court upon
natition for writ of mandamus
bill was introduced prohibiting ice
fishing. in Chestervile, under penalty
Of $40 for the attempt and 81 for each
fish so taken. Hopkins of Deering. in
troduced a bill to abolish. the use OF
seals on deeds and other instruments.
II nroyides that all deeds. bonds and
other contracts now required bS law &c
ha under seal. or purporting to be UNI
der seal. shall be valid When signeQ
and delivered although no seal is af-
axed 1t also provides that the actor
of assumpsit may be maintained fo'
,,reach of any written contract. There
we're 10 petitions for an increased
salary for the Lincoln register of pro-
aud a score of remOnStrances