Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-03-21
1se LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

The LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
The Maine legislature has finished Its
work and gone home, and for about two
wears no new laws viii be enacted In
this state unless something unforeseen
should occur.
Very little legislation Of q radical
nature has gone through this session,
though some has been threatened The
ight OF fights which attracted most at
rentiou was that on the mileage bill.
This finally resulted in compromise.
The railroads get the benefi, OF the
..anti-scalpers' law, prohibiting unsl-
thorized persons from dealing 10 rail-
road mileage books, which IL Is sntsci-
pated will be material benefit 10 the
railroads. In exchange the railroads
promise 10 issue mileage books good FOR
man and wife, and 70 correc, existing
inequalities in passenger and freight
rates. There is 8 general impression
that in this matter the railroads have
heard from the people, and VIII In the
future De 8 little more ready 10 grsnt
concessions. IL Is undenisole that a
feeling had got abroad in the state that
the railroads had altogether too large sn
influence In the legislature, and the win
,er's proceedings have been somewhat
In the nature OF reaction.
Following this compromise, q measure
was introduced which about doubled the
taxes on railroads. The very reasonable
plea In behalf OF this measure Was that
the railroads paid less than half their
share Of taxes, In proportion TO their
property, and that the state must have
more revenue from some source, ss the
tax rate was not 70 De increased. The
legislature, however, wisely considered
thst IL WAS too late In the session 20 take
into consideration such a radical meas
ure.
Asa sor, OF back fire 70 this, an order
was introduced directing the committee
on taxation 20 investigate our entire sys-
tenn Tor lack Of SYSTEM OF taxation with
a view 20 reforming Il, bat 70 was also
wisely concluded that Il Was too late 10
the session for that, and the matter Was
referred to the next legislature.
The Australian ballot law, which WAS
supposed 20 be marked for repeal or AZ
least radical amendment, Is left without
change.
The state tax rate Is left at the same
rate as for the last two years.
mills. In order 10 keep the tax at this
rate provision Il made for borrowing
money 10 the amount of $4,000. Quite
an amount which was expended by the
state for equipping and maintaining the
Maine volunteers will eventually be re-
funded by the national government, bat
even taking that into account the state
debt will be considerably increased.
The legislature has voted about all the
appropriations which were asked for.
The sum OF s225 200 Was appropriated
for the Eastern Maine Insane Hospital,
as WAS anticipated, which WAS the lsrg-
est single appropriation made. The
appropriations foot up 81, ,63 SO for
1899, and q, IL. 04s 50 for 1900. OF
these amounts s225, 600 is for the Bangor
insane hospital and sl5O,0O0 on account
OF the spanish war.
The legislature finally adjourned ~ III
O'Clock Friday night, after a session OF
eleven weeks, about week less than the
average session.
The resolve in favor Of submitting 10
the people the question Of creating the
Office OF state auditor was passed oy the
necessary two-thirds majority. The peo-
pie are 20 vote on the matter IN 1900 At
the state election.
We issue this week sn extra contain
ing the public laws enacted BY this legis-
lsture. It's good thing 20 study, and
we advise our readers 20 look IL over
carefully.