Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-04
Names 9Th Legislature.

ter are the leading men of the State,
the representatives of the people, in
whose hands are intrusted the most
sacred interests of Maine. In the past
these men have never been false to
that high trust. and we do not doubt
that the members of the Goth Legisla-
ture will prove worthy successors of
those who have gone before. To them
all Augusta extends cordial well
come, and dares to hope that with the
memories of the sessions work at the
! Capitol will be retained the memories
of a most pleasant winter in a pleas
ant city.
| The opening week with its caucuses,
| organiza ton, inauguration, and other
features, is most busy one. At the
House and Senate caucuses. last eve
ming, the work was well begun: and i;
will be well continued at the joint Re-
publican caucus, this evening, for the
nomination of various State officers
and the unanimous nomination of Hon.
Eugene Hale of Ellsworth to succeed
| himself in the United States Senate for
| another term of six years. This morn
ing, the Republican nominations OF
presiding officers, secretaries, clerks,
will be formally endorsed by, election in
the two bodies; and in joint conven-
ton, tomorrow, the same Wil} be done
for the Republican nominations made
this evening. AS usual Republican
! nominations are equivalent to cleo
tons; though the Democrats have the
small satisfaction, this winter, Of hav-
| ing enough members in the House tc
enable them to hold a little caucus of
been true of the last two Legislatures.
| What will the session do, and how
long will it last? Prophets and pro-
| phecies are many, and no two can
agree. In 1895 and again in 1897 the
Legislature adjourned finally on March
q, and it is safe to say that however
much or however little work the Legis-
lature of 1899 may accomplish, the ad-
| journment will not be far from that
would be a very busy one. Many i'm
portant measures are sure to come be-
fore it, and it is possible that some ex-
| citing battles may be fought, at least
| in the committee rooms and in the
| lobby. There is no promise of radical
statute alterations. In spite of des-
perate attempts to arouse opposition
to the present voting methods in the
State it is certain that the present sys-
tenn will not be repealed. and extreme
" unlikely that any important changes
will be made. Little or no legislation
concerning the National Guard will be
asked for until the bills now before
Congress are disposed of. There is
likely to be some lively agitation on the
matter of good roads, and State high
way commission may be. asked for.
There is some opposition to the present
system of town road commissioners.
The savings banks will again ask
for reduction of their large tax. The
municipal ownership of water works Il
likely to cause quite campaign. There
will be another appeal for the listing
bill or something of the kind to equal
ize taxation. The State Board OF
Health will ask for several measures
notably more rights in the inspection oi
local water supplies. There will be q
number Of electric railroad projects te
be discussed. A number of town di-
vision quarrels will have to be settled
The trading stamp scheme may get ar
airing before the session is over. Tit
fish and game laws will be changes
here and there, as the commissioner:
and Maine sportsmen see the need
, Again there will be a call for physica
or no insurance or school Legislation
: asked for. Some lawyers are talking
0 about code system Of legal practice
5 for Maine. There are many matters
: some important, referred to this Legis
: lature from the 6Sth, and there will b.
e the usual mass Of private and specia
e bills to be disposed Of. The question
o of a fourth normal school will b
: brought UP again. and the completion
e of the Eastern Maine Insane Hospita
d will be strongly urged. An attemp
II win be made to raise the salary Of tn
i supreme court judges to $4,000 annually
d These are some Of the many matter
e that will be discussed in the Stat
d House during the next three months
II The Maine lawmakers meet undo
is most suspicious circumstances. The
5; have great amount of work to d
II and can be trusted to do it well.
lie Democratic journals comment wit
{ pride and qualification on the wonder
Sc full growth in domestic and foreigl