Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-03-17
THURSDAYS WORK.
The Winters Busiest Day at
the State House.
Long Sessions and the Docket Well
Cleared Up.
Session At 8 A. NJ. Today-Meps Of Final Ad.
journment Before Midnight.

| InurSuayS grlSt was a big one. A
vast amount of work was transacted al
the two sessions. Interesting debates
and good speeches were the order OF
the day. The Senate session in the
morning was short and devoted to
ed until 110 =. NJ. and was enlivened
| by several discussions. The afternoon
session at 4 o'clock also had it's inter-
esting features. When adjournment
was made to the morning hour. today,
the docket was well cleaned up. and
not many matters remain for the 69th
Legislature to dispose of. The time for
the farewefls and the mock session is
at hand.
When the House session opened.
Thursday morning, the discussion Of
the taxation problem was at once pre-
cipitated and continued an hour and a
half. The Senate on the previous af-
ternoon, had accepted the unanimous
report of the taxation committee, re-
ferring to the next Legislature the
Gardner bill to increase the railroad
tax and the order relating to the re-
vision of the whole taxation system
The question before the House was ac-
tion in concurrence. Mr.. Gardner
moved to amend the report by substi-
tuting '.ought to pass" for the words
referred to the next Legislature" He
made a vigorous speech in defence
of his amendment. and urged that the
lateness of the hour should not prevent
the Legislature from remaining to deal
ings of Brewer, House chairman of the
taxation committee, made an able and
1elling speech in defence of the report.
4herse two speakers, two of the young
1T members of the House, acquitted
themselves with great credit in their
speeches on this important matter, and
well deserved the applause they re-
ceived. On yea and nay vote the
amendment of Mr.. Gardner was de-
fcated, 100 to 2S. and the report of the
committee was accepted in concur
renee.
AS soon as the House had taken this
action, Mr.. Gardner introduced re-
solve for the appointment of special
commission. composed of five members
of the present House and two from the
Senate, to investigate the whole mat
ter of taxation and report at the open
ing of the next Legislature by bill or
otherwise. Mr.. Merrill of Skowhegan in
trOduced a similar order, and spoke for
nearly an hour on the general subject
of taxation. showing the inequalities of
the present system. 1t was very able
and comprehensive speech. Both Or
land, and will come up for considera-
ton later.
A little later there was an interesting
debate on the bill making optional the
use of seals on deeds and other con-
tracts. Mr.. Virgin moved to indefinitely
POSTPONE it. The bill was well defend
by Mr.. Hopkins of Deering, who showed
what a useless and meaningless GUS
tom the use of seals has now become.
Mr.. Virgins motion was lost and the
bill went on it's passage. Mr.. Virgin
suffered another defeat at the morning
session in the matter of the bill to
regulate the practice of veterinary
surgery. He explained and defended
the bill at length, but the country men,
bers seemed to fear it endangered their
interests, Mr.. Dawson of Monroe made
a vigorous speech which resulted in the
bill being indefinitely postponed by
viva voce vote.
Several new bills appeared at Thurs
davis session. Murphy of Lewiston.
put in bill forbidding higher rate OF
interest~than per cent. on loans or
over 5000 and making void agreements
70 nav hlgner rate. TIoIi Tic JUL
ciary committee came bill to prohibit
advertising debtors. 1t provides that
mo person, firm or corporation, snail
publicly advertise for sale in any man
ner whatever. or for any other purpose
whatever. any list or lists OF debts,
dues. accounts, demands. notes or
judgments, containing the names OF
any or all Of the persons who owe the
same. Any such public advertisement
containing the name of but one per-
son who owes as aforesaid. shall be
construed as a list within the meaning
of this act. Any person. firm or cor
noratiou. violating the provisions OF
This act shall be liable in an action OF
| debt to a penalty not exceeding one
hundred dollars. and not less than
twenty-five dollars, to each and every
narson severally and not Jointly, WHOSE