The Portland daily press., 1901-02-06
The Undertakers' Bill
Introduced.
Right of Eminent Domain To
Electric Companies.
ESPECIAL TO THE rREss.s

ESPECIAL TO THE fRkss.s
Augusta, February SIN the House to-
day MIR. Pattangall OF Msohias presented
an amendment to the refolye appropriat-
Ing $50 900 to reimburse ex-Gov. Powers
for the advances secured by him to pro-
yids the FUNDS to complete the buildings
of the Eastern Maine Insane hospital at
Bangor. The amendment was adopted.
Its purpose IL to place the Legislature on
record as opposed to the method followed
| In the case of the Eastern Maine asylum
TO meet deficit. Mr.. Pattangall, In
Offering the amendment. said In sub
stance;
n desire to offer an amendment and In
Offering 1t to the House desire to explain
the purpose of the amendment. 1t in
wolves in no way the payment of the
money provided by the resolve. when
tabled the resolve did not intend to de-
lay payment of the note signed by Mr..
Powers. l did not think, however, that
the House shouIi pass the resolve making
an appropriation to pay debt Incurred
by the Governor OF the State without
leg islative authority, without incornora-
ting in 1t declaration that this course
should not be considered as precedent.
In 1899, the legislature appropriated $226, :
OOO to complete the building OF the
Eastern Maine Insane hospital. That ap-
Precipitation was made with a statement
of fact before the Legislature declaring
that 1t would be sufficient for the purpose
/ do not question that this money was
wisely spent, nor do / question that the
money raised was necessary to the COM
pletion OF the building. That money was
secured upon personal notes aligned by
Gov. Powers and negotiated at several
banks, the names OF which are not given
in the statement of faets. I do not CUES
tion the motives OF Gov. Powers, but /
think that the legislature should go upon
record as ressrvlng to itself Its oonstitu-
tlonaI right 80 that any Of the governors
to come or any other person may never
take the action In this case as prece-
dent. 1t seems to me that 1t would be
better If 1t becomes necessary to raiseS50, =
0O) to call a special session OF the legisla-
turs rather than to adopt the course fol-
lowed in this case.
Mr.. PattangalI then offered the follow
out division and the resolve was passed:
"Resolved that the legislature OF this
state disapproves of the payment of any
OF the bills of the stats OF of the advance.
ment OF money for that purpose, either
by Its executive officers or private citizens
when not authorized by the Legislature,
and that the passage or this resolve is not
Co be construed as a preeendent for like
action in the future
TRANSPORTING DEAD BODIES.
The undertskers OF Maine formed an
association awhile ago and laid plans to
take charge Of the transportation or the
bodies of deceased persons, As result,
a bill was presented in the House today
by MIR. Carleton OF Winthrop, but 1t will
be observed that this measure practically
gives the control of the matter to the
state board OF health. The bill does not
stop with provisions regulating the trans.
portation of bodies. 1t also creates
board of examiners to determine who
shall act as updertakers In the state. The
hill provides that the State Board OF
Health shall be empowered TO make rules
and regulations governing such
transportation. That Is section one,
Section two provides that the State
Board OF Health shall be authorized to
make, alter or amend ali such rules. Sec
tion three provides that anyone who
wishes to engage in the business Of un-
dertaking shall be Obliged to have such q
knowledge Of embalming and disinfeo-
tion as the State Board of Health shall
deem necessary. The next section pro-
vides that If such examination OF the
candidate be deemed sufficient. csrtiii-
cate shall be issued TO the candidate. The
next section says that the examining
board shall have authority TO revoke any
license II the holder thereof fails to COM
ply with the regulations Of the State