Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-01-30
STATE soLoNs.
Legislative News OF Interest TO Han
cock Couuty Readers.

COCK County READERS.
The bill to revive the organization OF
the trustees OF the parsonage fund OF
Bucksport, passed the Senate to be en-
crossed last Wednesday. II passed the
House to be enacted Friday, and the Sem
ate Tuesday.
Mr.. Seammon, of franklin, presented a
| bill to amend chapter 81 OF the public
laws OF 1891, relating to the taking of
smeits.
A feature OF last Wednesdays session
was communication from Governor Hill
announcing the death OF Queen Victoria,
euiogizing her character aud reign, and ex-
pressing the hope that the legislature
would take some action to chow her sub
jects the sympathy felt for them by the
people of Msine. A joint COMMITTEES was
appointed to draw up appropriate resolu-
tions. Mr.. Fellows, of Backsport, was the
| Hancock county member Of the commit
tee.
| The sensation In the House last wedpes-
day was an order introduced by Plummer
OF Portland, that all State officers sppoin-
ted by the governor or elected by the legis-
lature whose salary is $500 or over, exclu-
sive of fees or charged and uncailed, in
| their respective offices for the past year,
furnish an account OF same, and also an
| itemized account OF all expenditures
| by the State on account OF said offices.
This order seemed perfectly satisfactory
to the members OF the House, who have
been speaking their minds pretty freely
on the fee system OF late. The order
seemed to be in line with the war on the
fee system, for while Mr.. Plummer states
that his object In introducing the order
was to obtain information, 1t is thought
by many that II such information is
forthcoming, II will lead in the future to
an adjustment of salaries in a number OF
offices. Chase OF Portland vsinly at
tempted to stem the tide, wishing to con-
slider the order more fully, but his mo-
ton to reconsider met with but scsnt APP
probation.
Among bills OF general interest intro
duced in the Senate last Thursday Was
an act providing for the taxation OF
corporate franchises. A similar bill has
been introduced In the House.
y 1 ahbAbtt blit VI BNbftEA iuAtheNAs bHhhC-
duced in the House, was one to amend
the newspaper libel law. /. is designed
to replace Names antiqusted libel laws
with fsirer laws on a yar with those OF
OF her states. Thetex OF the bill is as fol-
lows:
Section l. In an action for libel the defend.
ant after notice in writing given to the plaintiff
or to his attorney at any time before the plead
iugs required to he flied therein. of his In
teution to publish a reiraction OF such libel. &C
eompanied by copy of the retraetion which
he Is prepared TO publish. may give IN evidence
10 mitigation of damages that he so published
such retractiot or, If, upon such notice the
plaintiff does not accept the offer 70 to publish
such retraction, the defendant may give in evi.
dence in mitigation of damages that be offered
10 publish such retraetion and that the said of,
was not accepted, and that the alleged libel
was published In good faith and without
actual malice, aad unless the plaintiff prove &C
tull ma ice, or want of good faith or a failure
either TO retraet or offer to retract aforesaid,
he shall recover only compensation for the nc
tual injury sustained.
5, ction ?. In any civil action for libel the de-
PENDANT may aliege and prove In mitigation OF
damages that the plaintiff has already recovered
damages for, or has received. or has agreed to
receive, compensation in respect OF substan.
italy the same libel as that for which such
action was brought.
Section s. la actions for libel an improved
allegation In the peadings OF the truth OF the
matter charged shall not be deemed proof OF
malice unless the jury the whole case find
that such defense was made with malicious
intent.
Section 4. In any action for libel II the de-
PENDANT the first term files affidavit that he
has coed defeuse upon the merits aud that the
statements complained of we're Published In
good tahh, The court after hearing may order
the si1tiG to give security for costs.
sectioo 5. Whoever wilfuily states, delivers
or transmits by any means whatever 10 the
manager, editor, publisher reporter Of any
newspaper. magazine. publication. periodical
or serial for publication therein, any false or
liUelous statement concerning any person or
corporation, and thereby secures the actual
publication of the same, shall. upon conviction
thereof. be punished by nne not exceeding 500.
or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by
both ine and imprisonment.
Among bills introduced last Thursday
was bill amending the game law by
making the open time on duck extend
from January / to September /, and pro-
| hibiting the sale of woodeock as the sale
of partridge is now forbidden.
In the douse last Friday, MIR. Spofiord,
/ of Deer Isle, presented pstition and act to
I prohibit the killing OF deer in the town
OF Swans island for five years. Mr.. Bur-
rill, OF Ellsworth, presented two more pc
( titious ia favor of bill to prohibit he sale
| OF trout in Hancock county.
| Among bills tor general laws intro
duced Friday were two by Hancock
county representatives, one by Mir.
| Stevens, of Bluehiil, to amend public
laws relating to forest fires, and one by
| Mr.. Scammons, OF franklin, TO amend
| the law relating to the draft Of jurors.
The judiciary committee Friday re-
/ ported favorabiy on three Hancock county
bills-one for the bridge from Bar Harbor
/ m Rar gland ono amt horizinr enngfruct.