Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-19
DEATH PENALTY.
Bill Re-estab|ishing It Intro
duced, Friday.
other Features Of Closing Day Of
Third Week.
Pro Iemrorc Presiding Officers adjourned to
$50 Monday.

WITH half hour session. Friday
morning, the Legislature closed the
work or the third week and adjourned
until $50 Z. Nj. Monday. The Monday
afternoon session is another emphatic
inolcatlon OF the intention. which has
ALREADY Deen often manifested. of get
tinS down to the solid work of the
winter as early as possible. AS a re-
suit ol the Lewiston reception, Thurs
gay evening, neither Governor HILL
ifcsldent Hamlin nor Speaker Manley
were at the Capitol, Friday morning.
AS result both bodies had pro tenn
pore presiding officers for the first
time, this session. The Senate called
senator Plummer of PenobscOt to the
chalr, and in the House Mr.. Webb of
Poftiand, was chosen to preside
Neither gentleman is a stranger to the
duties of the Chair, and both bodies
were presided over gracefully and ably.
Most of the members who went to
Lewiston returned on the morning
train, and all were loud in their praise
of Spindle city hospitality.
The feature of Fridays session was
the introduction by Representative
Bennett of Hollis. of a bill re-establish-
ing the death penalty in Maine. The
bill provides that the punishment for
murder in the first degree shall be
hanging unless the jury recommends
imprisonment for life Mr. Bennett.
coming from the southwestern part of
the State. sometimes referred to as
the murder belt" feels strongly that
capital punishment is necessary to
check the series of atrocious murders
WI ffb hnN oh
past few years. Since the particularly
deliberate and brutal Gorham murder
of a week ago it has been well under
stood that such a bill was coming and
il has revived the talk pro and con which
was heard in the famous fight when
capital punishment was abolished in
1887. 1t is certain that in Mr.. Bennett
the bill Will have a powerful advocate
as he is one of the best speakers and
hardest workers in the House. He
hopes that the introduction of the bill
Will arouse the people OF this State in
the matter and cause them to express
their wishes through petitions or re-
monStranceS. The bill was referred
to the judiciary committee and the
hearing is sure to be a good one. as
there will doubtless be strong oppo-
sition to be heard.
The other new measures introduced
Friday, We're numerous enough but
there We're few of great Importance.
There We're resolves carrying $4,000 for
an epidemic emergency fund to be eX-
pended by the State Board of Health
with the consent of the Governor and
Council; $500 annually for Paris Hill
academy: $500 for Foxcroft academy.
$500 for Lmngton academy: $500 for
Greedy Institute. Turner; $4,000 for the
preservation of the regimental rolls in
the office Of the adjutant general: $3.50
for extra pay to Maine volunteers in
the war with Spain; and $500 for buoyS
in Sebec lake. There was big batch
of petitions put in by Burrill of Els
worth. against the sale of trout III
Hancock county. This is aimed at the
Bar Harbor trout trade which is de-
pleting the brooks Of that section. w.
G. Thompson. A. +. Nickerson, S. T.
Kimball and J. F. Tanning ask to be
incorporated as the Lincoln County
Electric Railway Company. The Bath
Trust Company which was chartered
in 1899 asks to have its charter eX-
tended two years. A few committee
reports We're received and a few bills
put along on their passage. The tenn
porary loan bill was reported favorably
and ordered printed In the Senate
was received the itemized statement
from the Council committee showing
how $3.50 GOAT has been expended for
the Bangor Insane hospital.