Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-29
THE LEGISLATURE.
It Will Reconvene Here on
Tuesday Next.
Will Hear Report Of Committee on
Revision Of Statutes.
School Fund Bill and St. Louis Appro-
priation on Table.

After a recess of five months the
Maine LEGISLATURE will .reassemble
on next Tuesday. 1t will be the
first time in a score Of years that such
thing has happened and great deal
of interest is manifest in the proceed
ings. The last time that the LeSisla-
ture took q recess of such length was
in 1885, and the reason was the same
as exists this year-the acceptance OF
the report of the committee on revision
of the statutes. In 1883 the Legisla-
ture was in session but a short time, it
recurring but a few minutes TO COM
plete it's work.
AS to how long this session will last
there is not much to base Il prediction
on, but the concensus of opinion is that
it will be very short; that it will
scarcely last more than an hour or two,
if so long. 1t is not generally believed
that there will be any new business
taken up. The general idea is that only
such business as was unfinished, when
the adjournment was taken on Sunday
morning, March %, last. will be dis
posed of. That some attempt Will be
made to get in new matters is barely
possible, but it is believed that it will
be stopped, as the leaders do not think
that it will be wise to open UP anything
new. If it should be done, say they,
there is no telling when the end would
be. and a long session at this time
would not be pleasant or profitable
In view of the fact that the members
of the Legislature receive no COM
pensaton for service at this session,
and are allowed no mileage in their
travel to and from the capital it is not
strange that there is no desire on the
part of the great majority to prolong
their stay here. In every way the ses-
sion is, financially, to their disad-
vantage. They are under constant ex-
pense from the time they leave home
until they arrive back and there is not
a cent of money coming to them in re-
turn, therefore none feel that it is wise
to make the session long.
AS to how long it will take to do the
work which necesSitated the recess to
this time. it is hard to say, but it will
be very short. In fact it is predicted
by those acquainted with the manner
of doing legislative work, that not more
than a dozen minutes will be required
in either branch to hear the report of
the revision committee and accept it.
If this is true then the whole work will
be upon the unfinished business.
OF this last there are two bills, which
are tabled. One is the bill appropriate
ing $4,000 for the Maine exhibit at the
Louisiana Exposition in ST. Louis,
next year. This bill originated in the
House and as first introduced. carried
$50,0n0. Il was cut down $4,000 and
then, when it reached the senate indefi-
nitely postponed. This action was not
taken until after many spirited debates
and work by the adherants and oppo-
nents of the bill. What will become of |
it when the Senate reconVenes is prob |
lematical. There is quite a strong feel |
ing throughout the State that it would |
be business mistake for Maine to be |
at this great exposition,
and thai whatever advertising we do |
there, will, come back to the State
many fold in years to come. Whether
or not this sentiment will prevail at the
3omirg short session remains to be
seen.
On the Senate table lays the bill
which provides that the school fund
shall receive five-eighths of the saw
ngs bank and trust company tax in
stead of one-half, as now This bill
vas introduced because it was thought
hat the new method to be used in as
'essng the tax upon savings banks,
wen though the tax on trust COMPANIES | '
vas to DE divided with the school fund, {
would reduce the amount of this fund, ]
or the purpose Of keeping the appro- !
)riation up to what it should be. OPP :
Donents contend that it would be Civ t
ng the school fund too much, as the
provisions already made were ample.
figures were prepared and submitted
nd the bill was discussed in all its
'hases, with the final result that it was
abled, that being practically the last
ct of the senate. :
In view of the results of the work
ngs of the new bank and trust COM ,
amy tax law, it is rather doubtful if
his bill comes up again, and if it does :
t seems very probable that it will be
abled.
BY the new law, with but one-half of
he tax going to the fund, there is an
Increase of s9,311.45 over the amount of
he fund which was apportioned last :
ear. These figures give those who
we're opposed to the bill, something to
ak on and it is the general belief that o