Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-24

1t will be seen by the above that the
largest number of Senate documents
was printed in the session of 1895
when the number reached 275; while
the largest number of House docu-
ments was at the session of 1901, when
Ala were printed.
This session, however, all previous
records have been broken, for up to
the present time the number of Senate
documents already printed and in
the hands of the public printer has
reached 270. and the number Of House
documents is $40, making a grand
total of 7S9. The combined total of
Senate and House documents printed
at the session Of 1895 was 664, the larg-
est number ever printed up to the
present year.
This great increase in the volume of
Legislative printing is accounted for
in a great measure by the large num-
Der of acts reported by the Committee
on Revision of the Statutes, more
than so bills having come from this
committee alone. Then again, the
number of private and special bills is
greater than usual this year.
During the present week it is prob
able that the total number of printed
documents will go above 800, for there
are several bills and resolves yet to be
reported from the committees.
large force of printers were en-
ployed at the Journal office Sunday
and Sunday night with the result that
when the Legislature met at 4.30 last
evening, all the printing-including
House and Senate documents and the
engrossing-was fully up, leaving the
big force at the Journal office free to
handle the new work to come the pres
ent week.
Both houses met at 4.30 o'clock yes
terday afternoon, and for more than
two hours the steady grind of legisla-
tive action went on.
In the Senate the bill incorporating
the Peaks Island Water and Light Co.
was tabled by motion of Senator Burns
of Cumberland, and the Mills bill re-
lating to the election of superinten-
dents of schools was tabled on motion
of Senator Gardner of Penobscot.
The bill creating the Augusta Water
District was passed to be engrossed
under a suspension of the rules, after
Senator Wing of Androscoggin, pre-
Esented an amendment, which was
Fadopted. This amendment strikes the
following words from Section Z: And
for further extension and improve
ments of said plant" and insert thereof
the following: Ito secure a new source
of supply or improve the same supply"
The change is regarded as wise and
proper, as it restricts the trustees in
the matter of issuing bonds to certain
specific purposes instead Of giving
them rowing commission.
On motion of Senator Manley the
rules were suspended and the bill re-
lating to the Portland police force was
passed to be engrossed.
Senator Manley presented a bill to
regulate party caucuses in the city OF
Augusta. The first section provides
that no person shall participate in any
caucus of any political party unless
qualified therefor by enrolment. Any
person violating this section, or max
| ing any wilfully false statement OF
facts in his declaration of enrolment
shall be punished by fine not exceeding
$500 or by Imprisonment not exceeding
six months.
| Section 2 provides that any person
who is a legally qualified voter may
enroll himself as member of any po-
litical party by filing with the city
clerk of the city of Augusta a declara'
ton in writing, signed by him, of hi:
election to enroll himself as member
of the party designated by him. A new
enrolment may be made at any time
No person shall vote in any caucus il
said city unless he has been enrolled
as member of the party holding sucf
a caucus for period of at least 81,
months preceding such caucus.
The rules were suspended and thu
bill was passed to be engrossed.
Senator Clark of Hancock, presented
an order requesting the justices of the
supreme judicial court to give theil
opinion as to the constitutionality OF
the compulsory arbitration clause Of
the Maine standard insurance policy
The order went through without oppo,
sition.
The bill to supply Bangor with pure
drinking water was passed to be en-.
crossed under suspension of the
rules.
On motion of Senator Wing the bill
to authorize the Lewiston Trust Co. t.
establish a branch in Freeport wa:
passed to be engrossed, under suspen'
sion Of the rules.
The bill making valid the election o.
collectors and treasurers held in the
month of March, 1903, was passed to bt
engrossed under a suspension of the
| rules.
The House met at $50 o'clock ant