Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-20

perfect satisfaction they will return
the money.
under discussion being the question
of changing the method of apportion-
ing the school fund and mill tax upon
a basis of average attendance of
scholars rather than upon the number
of children of school age. The change
was recommended by Gov. Hill in his
address. There were present many
supporters of the bill and there were
also several who opposed it. Mayor
E. K. Gould of Rockland, was the first
speaker. He was followed by John O.
Shaw and Rev. DR.. Harvey Of Bath,
Mayor Lendall Titcomb, Augusta, and
State Supt. of Schools Stetson. In OPP
position to the bill the speakers were
Supt. o. M. Lord, Portland, Supt. I.
c. Phillips, Lewiston, Supt. J. S.
Locke, Saco, E. w. Wheeler Bruns-
wick, Supt. E. T. Wyman, Waterville,
Ex- Mayor w. c. Philbrook of the same
city, D. ]. Callahan, Lewiston, Charles
F. Libby, Portland, Geo. F. Cover and
Supt. d. Wilder Colby, Skowhegan,
and ]. F.. Lamb, Lewiston.
The main objections to the bill is
that some of the cities and large towns
will lose by the new arrangement.
The committee on inland fisheries
and game considered the bill placing
a tax on non resident hunters, the sug-
gestion of submitting a new draft be-
ing contemplated. Hon. F. E. Timber
lake was the first speaker. He said he
was in favor of the plan to tax hunt
ers, but thought the committee should
not go too far, but should make a bill
without any frills, only a simple draft,
making the fee reasonable for hunting
deer and moose. Senator Gardner of
Penobscot county, though the bill in
his part of the State would diminish
business and believed if hunters are
to be taxed, fishermen should be. He
advocated a $40 fiat license for hunt
ing big game and see how it works
for two years.
Gen. E. C. harrington and Hon. j.
Manchester Haynes advocated tax on
hunters.
DR.. E. B. Thayer of Bangor, appear
ed in favor of the bill increasing the
license of taxidermists from IS to 800.
and he was opposed by w. R. Clifford,
ohO WNeSdli, marry K. SdTNeI, AuUuIIl,
James C. Mead, Bridgton, ARENAS
Weatherbee, Lincoln, and E. c. Faring-
ton, Augusta.
Both measures were tabled for action
later.
The committee on the judiciary con-
sidered the bill in relation to the law
of libel, yesterday afternoon Hon.
Herbert M. Heath of this city, APP
peared in favor of the bill He said the
bill is a copy of the Massachusetts law
of libel, enacted in 1877. That law was
the outcome of an agitation lasting for
several years. The bill is substantially
the law of the United States, for
numerous states besides Massachu-
sets have enacted it. Mr.. Heath said
he had brought to the hearing copies
of the address he recently made be-
fore the Maine Press Association, and
would file them with the committee,
requesting the members to consider
the statements therein made before
rendering their decision.
1.-The object of all actions of law"
said Mr.. Heath, SIS to compensate the
plaintiff for real or fancied injury. This
law of libel was started and developed
by common law judges over 200 years
ago. The judges who then admins
tered the law were mere puppets of
King Charles of England, and it was
their subserviency to their royal master
that sprung the saying the greater the
truth. the greater the libel
'Other kinds of law changed
in method in the next 100 years, in con-
| 20 CT I'M, o;x
ization. but the old unjust discrimina-
ton against the defendant in actions
of libel remained unchanged and is
unchanged, today, in the State of
Maine The law of libel in Maine at
the present time will not permit the de-
PENDANT tolapologize for a misstate-
ment or take other necessary steps to
keep the, damages asl low as possiblesy
Mr.. Heath thenaweht onto elaborate
splendid argument iii favor Of the
pending measure, which he hoped the
committee would recommend. III
Following Mr.. Heath Clarence B.
Burleigh, editor of the Kennebec Jour-
nal, addressed the committee. In sub
stance Mr. Burleigh said:
1.-THE bill now pending before this
committee is the first thing that the
newspapers of Maine have ever asked
of the Legislature of their State in
own behalf They have been so busily
engaged fighting the battles of other
people and promoting the public good
that they have entirely lost sight of
their own interests. They have seen
great corporate interests grow out of
conditions Of modern times. and have
seen old laws changed and new ones