Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-02-24
Legislative Notes.

Old Home Week bids fair to be estab-
liShed by law, as the bill has been favor
ably reported.
Mr.. Pettengill of Rumford introduced
a bill to incorporate the Ellis River I'm
provement Co.
Among the numerous salary bills is
one which raises the salary of the gov
ernor TO $1,000.
The second appropriation bill has APP
peared, and carries Sl95,450. The first
one amounted TO some more than mil
lion.
A bill has been introduced by Senator
Philbrook increasing the salary of the
county attorney of Oxford County to
$500.
The time for the reception of matters
of special legislation has had its first ex-
tension, the date fixed as the limit being
just at present Feb. 81.
The woman suffrage bill was finally
disposed of for this session i'm the senate
on Wednesday. The vote was II To II,
and President Virgin cast the deciding
vote against suffrage.
A 10000. 600 corporation has appeared
in the PenobScOt River Power Company,
a bill for the incorporation of which has
been introduced. The purposes of this
company are to develop an enormous
water power on the Penobscot above
Old Town.
Mr.. JoSSelyn of Portland presented a
bill amending the public laws relating to
pauperS, providing that whoever I'M
reasonably neglectS to provide for the
support of his wife or minor child shall
be punished by fine of not more than
$50 or by Imprisonment of not more
than six months.
The committee on education had a
protracted hearing Thursday on the
proposition To change the method of APP
portioning the state school fund, making
it according to the average attendance IL
the schools instead of the total number
of scholars The larger number of the
speakers before the committee were OPP
posed TO the change, coming mostly
from the cities, which will in general b'
losers by the proposed plan.
1t is understood that the bridge bill
placing the cost of building and main
tanning all bridges over 80 feet in length
upon the state and counties, will be re
ported To the Legislature next Tuesday
by the committee on ways and bridges
There will be two reports, the majority
report ought to pass, and a minority
report signed by one member. The
bill is opposed by the cities generally
which would have the large end of tn,
expense under it.
A bill has been introduced in the legis
lature making it condition of the pay
ment of the state stipend to agriculture
societies that no indecent or immora
exhibition shall be given on the grounds
The comment of some of the papers is
that it might be termed bill To abolish
the midway. Peculiar condition OF
things, that. Plenty of the fair side
shows are about as cheap as anything
ever seen in tent, but to say that they
are all indecent or immoral is pretty
sweeping statement.
Petitions for close time on rabbits
were the object of more or less sport
when introduced in the senate, and were
finally referred To the committee on
charities and public benefciaries. The
house insisted upon reference to the fish
and game committee, and the senate re-
coded and concurred. Lovers of the rab-
bit-or, rather, those who love to kill
rabbits-are grieved at the tendency to
make light of the matter, and say that
the rabbit must have protection, or he
will not long be with us to enjoy the
privilege of being shot at.
The petition of George Il. Easter OF
Byron to be reimbursed in the sum OF
$1,000 on account of the death of his wife
has been denied. IL will be remembered
that Mrs Easter was fatally injured in a
runaway accident supposed to be caused
by the horse taking fright at moose.
As moose are in sense wards of the
state and protected by it, this appeal
was made to the legislature, the petition
being numerouSly signed by residents of
that section of the county. The COM
mittee reported on Thursday, giving the
petitioners leave to withdraw"