The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-04
PRICE THREE CENTS.

sources is ut least SS6, O0O, 600 OF which
SG, 600, 600 nre in Maine. Except for suct
sums as are paid TO municipalities for
station buildings, ETC.. the road pays
total Of not more than Si0o,00O. 1his
makes the rate only one-half of one per
cent. The now bill which introduce a5
this time will, as far as can de;ermins
raise the rate to about ono per cent
The portion Of the railroad tax law
affected by the bill would read "a follow,
should the measure become a law:
1.-The amount OF such annual excise tax
shall be ascertained as follows: 1he
amount OF the gross transportation rs-
ceipts as returned to the railroad com.
missioners for the year ending on the 30th
day OF June preceding the levying Of such
tax shall be divided by the number OF
miles OF railroad operated, to ascertain
the average gross recsipts per mile; when
such average receipts per mile do not ex-
coed $1,000, the tax shall be equal to one
half of one per cent of the Gross transpor-
tation receipts; when the average receipts
rer mile exceed $500 and do not exceed
5000. the taA shall be equal to thrse.
quarters of one per cent of the gross re-
ceipts; and SO on increasing the rate Of
the tax one-quurter OF one per cent fer
each additional $500 of average gross re-
ceipts per mile or fractional parE thereof
provided that the ratio shall IN no event
exceed four and Il quarter per cent, and in
case OF railroads operated exclusively for
the transportation OF freight, said rate
shall in the event exceed one and three
quarters per cent. -
Roughly speaking the bill about doubles
che present rates.
THE LIQUOR DEPUTIES.
Tho people are evidently thinking about
the fees paid to sheriifs and their deputies
under the operation OF the liquor law for
when the bill in relation to the appoint
mept and enrollments of the Cumberland
county deputies came up in the House
this mol ming Gen. Leavitt of Eastport,
In the course Of an amin mated debate over
the reference of the measure, said that he
had this morning received letter from
one Of his constituents to the effect that
IL such a change was to be made WASH
ington county should be included in the
law.
The hill has been on the table, for
printing, pending reference MIR. Chase OF
| Portland moved that it be referred to the
| judiciary committee. AT this, Judge
Hopkins OF Portland. offered an amend
ment that the bill be given into the
custody of the county delegation. Judge
Hopkins said that the matter was one re.
lating to Cumberland county and it
seemed to him that the delegation should
| consider It,
| MIR. Chase replied that the question
raised was broad one. affecting the
statute law OF the state and 1t should be
considered by committee formed for the
purpose of dealing with such matters.
| Judge Hokplns did not give up the
J fight He said: l do not think that this
matter involves any great legal questions
but if 1t does there are six lawyers in the
county delegation, including my friend,
who has Just spoken. If we cannot
grapple with such II question as this We
| had Detter sell out. It is the custom TO
refer matters relating to u county to the
delegation from that county. Its repre-
seHtatiyes can know better than a COM
| Ipittne made up from all sections OF the
state what its needs are.
| Then Gen. Leayitt mentioned the letter
| he had receivea bearing on the malt-r
| lie added that this was question of "a
reaching interest. l introduced an ordtr
! in n somewhat similar line said Gen.
| Leavitt and the legal affairs commit GO
| in their wisdom voted that legislation
| would be inexpedient 1t II n lart tEa5
the people are asking what becomes uI
| the large sums OF money appropriated for
the enforcement of the liquor law.
| Mr.. Webb Of Portland said that 1T
seemed TO him the bill should be referred
| to II legal committee. 1t does not amend
| "a private and special law, but proposes 10
amend the statute relating to the sale OF
| liquor.
! AIR Melcher of Portland said that he
did not feel competent to deal with
! legal question so proad in its scope and
so far reaching in It's results.
| Mr. Burns of Westorook concurred in
what Mr.. Melcher had said.
| Then Judge Hopkins made new
proposition. Said he: "Inasmuch as the
Gum berland countydelegataon seems to re
| afraid of this monentous question, 1
move that IL be referred TO tne com m1ttee
| on temperance.
Gen. Leavitt said he did not believe the
gentleman could be in earnest. 1t was
| we'll known that the temperance commit
| tee had had little to do with the enact
| inent of law.
Mr. Walker of Starks, a member OF tie
temperance committee. thought that the
judiciary committee was the proper one
| TO deal with q question of this kind.
MIR. Merrill or Skowhegan, member
of the Judiciary ommittse, spoke next.
MIR. Merrill said: The bill relates 10 n
law which will have effect in all the
counties of the state except Cumoetlnnd.
The bill provides that the sheriff shall ap-
point two liquor deputies and may ap-
point additional ones If t.e county con-
missionegs approve Here comes peculiar
provision. 1t is provided that the deputies
shall not receive fees unless they secure
convictions. Now, Mr.. Speaker, ana
gentlemen of the House, we know that
the manner of executing the liquor law
has caused q great deal of complaint from
the temperance people OF this state, and
what does this bill provide for? II creates
a salary and fees If convictions are
secureu. Don't you expect more honest
enforcement of the liquor law when u
mans pay depends upon convictions
Gentlemen. that is not very dangerous
legislation. Mir. Merrill favored the
reference TO the Judiciary committee.
Judge Hopkins said he wondered the
gentleman from Portland had not had
the bill referred to his own committee,
that on legal affairs.
Mr. Walker retorted thas Judge Hop
kins did not seem to know to what conf
mittee he did want the bill referrad.
Finally. the question was called for ana
the bill was referred to the judiciary COM
mittee.
WAR ON SECRETARY M'KEEN.
Next in this lively session Of tie House
came a move in what is understood TO be
a war on the secretary of the board of
agriculture. waged by Mr. Beai of Ban
gor. Mr.. Zeal is member of the cattle
Z.