Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-09
STATE HOUSE.
And Still Another Recent Law
Shows Defect.
There Are No Porcupines Here, "
Declares Maine Lawyer.
Twenty two Applicants Before Phar.
Twenty two Applicants Before Phar.
macy Board, Yesterday.

Il
Legislature in the closing hours of the
session, has been found to contain
flaws of considerable import to many
interested persons. 1t was the inten-
ton of the Legislature to amend the
law of 1857, which provides for the
burial of soldiers of the rebellion SO
that widows of such soldiers shall also
be buried at the States expense. The
Legislature of 1899 amended the 1887
law SO that it's provisions would be
applicable to soldiers who served in
| the army, navy or marine corps during
the war with Spain. and also amended
| it so that the person whose burial ex-
penses are paid in accordance with that
act shall not be constituted pauper
thereby.
In order that the provisions of this
law should apply to the burial OF
soldiers widows as well as to the burial
of soldiers themselves it was neces-
sary to amend the same and it was
done by inserting in Section one of
Chapter 80 of the Public Laws Of 1887
this clause:
"Or whenever the widow of any per-
son who served in the army, navy or
marine corps of the United States dur
ing the rebellion, and was honorably
discharged therefrom, shall die, being
at the time of ner death resident of
| this State and being in destitute cir
cumstances, and having no kindred liv-
| ing within this State and of sufficient
ability legally liable for her support,
| the State shall pay the necessary ex-
penses of her burial"
And to Section two of the same act
this clause was added:
| "Or the widow of an honOrably dis
| charged soldier or sailor and in destl-
tute circumstances, and having no
kindred of sufficient ability, resident
lin this State legally liable for her bur-
Hal expenses"
~ But, in drafting the bill the author
Emust have taken a copy of the 1887
flaw and inserted the above additions
kthereto leaving out entirely the
amendments adopted in 1899. So that,
Eby the passage of the law of 1903 only
Esoldiers of the war of the Rebellion and
II their widows can be buried by the
Il State. And the provision that the
burial of such persons will not make
L them paupers has likewise been oblit-
II Grated. Spanish war soldiers or their
III WIDOWS CdHllOl lON NC Jul W. wv NAAN
II States expense.
III If the Legislature was not to meet
until January, 1905, this defect in the
law would be more serious than 1t
really is. The matter can be
Strengthened out by the commissioners
| on the revision of the statutes and be
ratified by the Legislature when II
meets in September.
A well-known Kennebec lawyer
who was seen at the Capitol, yesterday
states that the law placing a bount!
on porcupnes is likely to cause more
or less trouble for the hunters who arr
getting ready to do a thriving bushes:
in selling noses and feet of the animal!
to the State at Is cents a set.
You will notice." he said, that thu
law provides" bounty of 25 cents FOL
each and every porcupine, so-called
killed in any town or township in this
state. The fact of the matter is tina
there are no porcupines here in Maine
These animals are common only IL
Asia and Africa, though OCCASIONAL!
they are found in Italy. The Main,
hedgehog is not porcupine. Glance
at the pictures of the two species o.
animals in your natural history ant
you will see at once that they are
wholly dissimilar. To be sure. boil
have the quill-like spines. but the por-
cupinc only has them on the rump an6
tail. while the hedgehog is covered with
them from tail to snout.
so you may see that there is liable
to be some difficulty in determining
whether the bounty shall be paid on
the hedgehog when the law only pro-
vides that it shall be paid on the
porcupine. Town treasurers will have
| to be careful in their examination of
the bounty act before they settle with
III claimants for fear that reimbursement
from the State treasurer may not be
fourthcoming.
II Chairman Carlton of the Fish and
Game commission says that the fishing
at Cobbesseecontee lake Is remarkably
III good this year, and so far as he is able
to judge is much better than it was
II last year at this time.
II Percy !. Lord, Calais, Frederick H.
Ii Wilson, Brunswick, and Joseph F.
ii Young, Augusta, members of the State
| pharmacy commission, were in session
at the State House, yesterday. The
regular examination Of candidates for
admission to practice pharmacy took
place, q applicants being present. The
entire day was consumed in the exami-
nations, but the result will not be
known until the commissioners have an
opportunity to look over each written
examination.
Governor Hill will probably make a
large number Of appointments, tomor-
row, so that they may be acted upon
by the Council when the meeting takes
place, April H..
The Legislature appropriated the
sum of $12.50O for the purpose of rur-
chasing Holsters with eggs attached
during the two years Of 1908 and 1904.
Hon. A. r. Nickerson, the commits
sioner of sea and shore fisheries, is