Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-03

SHORT AND BUSY.
Thursdays Session Devoted to
Routine Business.
The Committees Granted Another
Week for Work.
Many Interesting Hearings Held by Com.
mittess. Thursday Afternoon.

e"S oAoI lcSt LOT SOIile tiHlc. IL WHs
only an hour long in each branch, and
for once the House and Senate adj
journed at almost exactly the same
moment Routine business occupied
the time, very few features out of the
ordinary breaking the mOnotOny. In
the Senate there was little breeze
over another attempt to defeat the
Morey anti-usury bill. Blanchard of
Franklin moved to strike out the en-
acting clause. Reynolds of Cumber-
land defended the bill in vigorous
terms. and the motion failed passage
IL to IL. The bill remains on the table.
X is understood that amendments Will
be offered. and the chances that the
bill will pass now seem more hopeful.
The Senate voted to extend the time
in which the committees may report
finally from March to March 10. and
the House will probably pass the Or
der in concurrence, today. This Will
give the committees another week to
clear the decks, and most of the lead
ing committees need 1t. Very few pub
lie committee hearings remain to be
held, though a few important ones are
advertised for next week. But the
leading committees have many mat
ters before them to be acted on in exc
cutive session. so that this work Is not
ended when the hearings are over.
The matter of afternoon sessions was
talked over for the first time. Thurs
day. An order came down from the
Senate providing that on and after
Wednesday, March s, two sessions a
day should be held. Philbrook Of Wa
terville moved to table the order till
March 1 when the Legislature will be
better able to judge. whether the COM
mittee work is in shape to allow the
members to devote their time to two
sessions. The order was accordingly
tabled, and the matter of two sessions
la day will again be talked over, next
Tuesday. a big grist of committee re-
hsorts occupied much of the time In
both branches. The resolve for the
Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary, tabled
last Tuesday by Field of Oakland, was
sthe special assignment of the day In
the House. Mr.. Field withdrew all OPP
position and it was passed without de-
bate. Representative Webb of Port
land. presided very ably over most Oh
the session of the House.
For new business. Beal of Bangor IN
troduced bill repeating that proVls-
ion of the law relating to innholdefs
and victualers which provides that
they shall give a bond. Forty citizens
of Freeport petition to be incorporated
as the Freeport village corporation.
There were a score of circumstances
against the repeal of the feeding stuff
Vlnfitl0nC
on matters already familiar to the
members. Beal of Bangor introduced
an order which was given passage pro-
viding for a special joint committee 10
investigate the matter of the NUMBER
and the cost of the reports printed by
the various State departments. and
also the advisability of continuing the
Office of secretary to the board OF
agriculture.
The judiciary committee had long
executive session, Thursday afternoon,
acting on a score of matters. Ii was
voted to report ought to pass on the
bill relating to the foreclosure of mort
cages: the bill Incorporating the LIS
bon Water Company: the bill allowing
Skowhegan to perfect its title to GER
tain school property; the bill relating
to the execution of sheriffs' bonds; and
the bill relating to registration in cities
| OF less than 1000 inhabitants. 1t was
voted to report ought not to pass or
the bill relating to the Portland fire de-
partment; the bill relating to the
| Livermore Falls municipal court; the
Barrett voting bill; the bill relating tt
the powers of guardians; :, the bill al
| lowing the use Of voting machines al
| all elections: the bill allowing the pun
ishment for arson in the night to be
term Of years or for life at the dis
erection of the Judge; the bill provid'
ing for the preservation of the earl!
| proprietors' records; the bill relating
| to the legitimacy of children: the. bill
to incorporate the Topsham Water
(.ompany: and the bill relating to trus
tee process. 1t was voted Legislation
inexpedient on the proposition Y
amend the constitution of Maine Sc
| that an alien shall be eligible to th'
| office of Governor: and Ton the matter
of revising the statutes. g. q
The committee on banks and bank
| ing met at $50 p. NJ. Thursday. to hea
| two matters continued over from tn
previous day. The first was the bill
drawn up by Judge Wing of Auburn
| adding telephone stock to the list o
| securities handled by Savings banks
and changing the law regulating loan
to corporations Representatives
the leading Savings banks spok
against the bill. Wednesday, and tn
hearing was continued to give it
friends a chance. The only support tn
bill received was. a letter from its au
thor and the committee voted to re
! port ought not to pass.
The second matter re-discussed wa
The bill amending the law relating t
| foreign banking corporations dom
business i'm Maine. This matter is
sneeial interest to Calais. where
1 branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia
doing business without being subjec
to the banking laws or banking de
nartment of the State. The first hi
,yo,,,d shut out such institutions.
was heard. some time ago. and report
cd favorably and was sent back to tn
committee for another hearing. sec
and hill was drawn, not so stringer
in its provisions. but allowing such in
st;tutions to do business in Maine sui
loot TO taxation and examination a
ot,,sr hanks. This bill was supporte
| - .,-.o;ch ESu attorney for th