The Portland daily press., 1899-01-10
TO WIPE OUT BALLOT Law
Maine Farmer Bill Ready for Pre-.
sentatien.
GOES BACK TO OLD SYSTEM OF
VOTING.

Consolidate On sd Maine Central and
Boston and Maine a Possibility
Women ON Portland school Board
BIN.
feYn csAL TO rHE PREss.l
Augusta, January 29.-The bill which
IL intended to wipe the Australian ballot
law OF the eta ,tute books will be presented
ct tomorrow mornings session of the
Legislature II he present plans Of Its ad.
yocates are cos ried out. As has been
stated in this correspondence 1t is the
Maine Farm bill and restores the old
ballot law. 1t was reported here last week
that the envelope system might be incor-
porated In. the hin but q gentleman who
has seen copy Of the measure said to
night that this idea II II had ever been
contemplated nd been abandoned. The
bill makes abo ut one page of typewritten
matter. IL is in three sections. The first
section repeats the Australian law. which
was passed In 1891. The second section
reenacts and revivcs the statutes which
the Austria uar act repealed and the third
section con tains the sole provision OF the
present law which tho advocates Of the
old system propose &c. leave. Section three
provides ere,,tion OF a rail around the polls
and makes it unlawful for more than one
voter TO be aside the rail at time In
addition to he election officers. In other
words the blu II enacted would put the
state back to where 1t was in 1891, with
the exception, that fence would DO
erected In front Of the polls and only one
voter would be allowed to pass the fence
at q time. The friends of the measure
profess confidence In their ability to pass
it nut should they suoceed 1t Is evident
that they will do SO only after hard
fight Already the opponents of the meas
ure are making their views known and
there ave signs that the fight may develope
into one which recall the exciting scenes
attending the enactment of the secret bal
lot law In the session of eight years ago.
POSSIBLE RAILROAD LEGISLA-
TON.
mfttee will have a lot of work TO do later
in the season in addition to the usual
squabbles over the granting of charters
AT the last ~ as ION Legislation was enacted
extending the power of the Boston and
Maine to sec ure stock in the Maine Cen
trail 1t Is hinted that this law of the last
session was a forerunner OF one to be
l. l...r H.. f..t H.
solidation of the two roads. 1t is not like
ly, however, that the bill will be intro
duced until the s-ssion is Older.
The legislation OF the last session while
1t did not include any provision as to the
consolidation OF the two roads, was so
drawn that tho Boston and Maine was
empowered to purchase stock of the Maine
Central in addition to that 1t already
owned, and for this purpose 1t was en-
acted that the purchasing road might in
crease its own capital stock. Such an is
sue can be made only after hearing before
the railroad commissioners and for the
purpose set forth. stock so issued must
be sold at public auction in the city of
Boston or some other place designated by
the railroad commissioners. The act was
general in its terms and did not apply
directly to the Boston and Maine and
Maine Central, but 1t was the general
understanding that 1t WAS framed in
order that II 1t became necessary to issue
stock of the Maine Central to build double
tracks or make other improvements the
Boston and Maine might be in position 10
retain its control of the Maine company
by taking enough Of the new stock issue
to accomplish that purpose. Now the
legislature may be asked TO go a step
further and provide for the consolidation
Of the two roads. 1t was said here. today,
however, that the matter is SO far only in
the air. 1t may or may not be pushed at
this session.
THE PORTLAND SCHOOL BOARD.
The Portland people who want to see
the law changed to provide for the election
Of women ON the school committee of that
city are on hand again and will ask the
law makers to give the city chance 10
vote on the proposition. 1t is under stood
that d bill will be introduced In the Ssn-
ate tomorrow submitting the question to
the people at the next municipal election.
The proposition is to have three women
on the COMMITTEES to be elected on a gen
eral ticket in the same manner ms the
mayor is chosen. The city council Is
authorizs ID to elect women TO MI vacancies
occurring during the municipal year.
Should the city vote In favor Of the act
the committee would consist of ten mem.
bers, seven elected as at present, aud
three women elected on a general ticket.
Should Deering be annexed, the commit
tee would consist of twelve mem bers.
there then being nine wards.
DEERING ANNEXA TON.
The bill drawn for the annexation of
Deering to Portland is being subject to
"a process of alteration in some particulars.
1t has been examined by members of the
Portland delegation who have suggested
al. A.