New-York tribune., 1901-03-31

Lewiston correspondence Of The Boston Ad-
NeTtlser
Massachusetts Soluns To know that their
brothers in Maine receive only $50 for "A session
that usually continues three months. That com
ptnsatlon and a moderate mileage constitute
the total recompense for giving up business and
spending most Of the winter in Augusta in af-
fairs of the state. II il possible to obtain
subsistence q, Augusta during those ,hrce
months at the reasonable terms that I:e-
Vail there during the other months Of The
two years then the situation would not
bc bad Rut the hotels ard the beard
ing houses intend to and they do make hay
while the Legislative sun shines. For instance.
you ana !, tTanSlentS, may 20 10 the piinclpal
Augusta hotels during the session of the lcSis-
lature and secure the best accommodations
they are reserved for transients-for - q daE-
Rut legislators boarding there for the session
don't get any kind II Il room for less than SIS a
week. and from that up to $50. The price ion
a few choice rooms in one of the largest hotels
in the city is even fancicT. 1t may be said that
usually those rooms are occupied 10y men who
are present during the session IN the Interests
oT certain large CORPORATIONS IN" Inl'v ~ the
choice rooms is too long, usually, for the most
a:iluent Maine legislator
Even the wealthy n'en O: The House and Sen
ate grow nervous about this Time m March.
This has accounted fpr tn fierce rush of bus
ness this week. Thsra have been tw" sessions
IA day, and the bills. acts and resolutions have
been ground through at headlonE spce!. The
legislators were determined To wind thngs up
and 90 home. They themselves realize that e|"n
though no especial harm may be done 10y tins
final stampede of legislation. yet it - hot the
proper way of doing business. Too great OF
purtunity for chicanery is permitted.
Many times in Maine legislators On getting
home ana reading the laws that they have
helped make have been astonished to dis
cover certain acts on the books. They might
have heard Gf such legislation as being pro-
posed, but they had not the loaSt idea that the
law had been enacted. So, toe, others have been
amazed To discover the real application of GER
tain bits Of legislation. III" thing sounded al
right when enacted. but the workings Of it have
proved all wrong.
The Maine legislature that has just adjou red
considered various schemes for improving The
financial condition cf other legislatures that
should fol'ow. Somehow or other their thought
fulness for the future didn't bear results For
instance il has been the custom in the past for
the railroads of the State 10 give each legislator
'hree months pass in order that ne might get
home over Sunday after his wearing duties at
the capital. 1t has been claimed that the tender
of this transportation was in no sense a brihc,
but merely act If goodwill on the part of
quasi-puhiic corporations IN consideration OF the
fact that the legislators of Maine are INSULT
ciently remunera ted Some people have main
tanned that any legislator with a pass in his
pocket couldn't act with candor and upright
ness ia any matter in which the railroads were
concerned. This talk is made by people outside
Of the legislature, and the sentiment seems 4"
be that such people should remain outside II
their conscience is in such shape that they can
not understand how another can resist the
y. tty temptation of Il three months pass the
amount of the matter *, the pass business as
at present arranged i'm the Maine legislature is
accepted as a matter of course. and no man who
receives one of the bits OF pasteboard is asked
10 or expeC; cd 10 ohligate himself Il do one act
of partiality in behalf of Il railroad
The Maire lawmakers have had a pretty good
chance to declare themselves on the pass queS-
ton within week ar 50.
In the first place they considered the iiil pro
vidin; that railroad should issue II pass t.
any one except employees and postal clerks. &c
This hill waa adVocated 10y Herbert N Heath,
Of Augusta. a prominent attorney, and president
of one cf the largest electric railroads III Maine
The legislators turned the bi!l down
Then In" proposition was put forward that
The Mainr lawmakers should receive the sum or
$500 for The session, mileage both ways sufhcent
for one trip to Augusta and return and should
h.. deharred from accepting any pass or free
ticket over a railroad. The legislators turned
down that propC sitian. 1t was argued that II
didn't seem the right time Ia raise the expenses
of the State when the treasury was having hard
work TO stand the drains on At. 1T seems best 10
allow the railroads 10 tug the Soions back aid
forth for nothing