Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-20

During the next few weeks the work
of the committees will tighten con-
SideTably, as many of the important
hearings have already been held. The
routine matter will increase, however.
as comparatively few acts and resolves
have bean passed. Among the hearings
which will take place during the next
three days is one on an act to increase
the excise tax on railroads. introduced
by Representative Merrill of Show
hogan. In effect this bill proposes 70
increase the tax on the gross trans
portatiOn receipts per mile from Il limit
of per cent. to not exceeding 10 per
cent. thus increasing the taxation Of
all the principal steam railroads in the
State nearly double what it is under
the present Law. 1t is the consensus of
opinion that the bill will not become Il
law, the present system being gener-
ally conceded to be an equitable meth
Cd of taxation. But Representative
Merrill has prepared some interesting
statistics bearing on the case, and will
present Il strong argument in favor of
| Il passage of the bill. The hearing will
take place before the committee on
taxation. Thursday afternoon, and it
will be heard. too said Mr.. Merrill to
a reporter, recently.
Other hearings scheduled for this
week are as follows: On an act to cS-
tablish a bounty on crows. COMMITTEES
on agriculture Tuesday afternoon: OF
| an act making the salary of Governor
$1,000 after Jan. /. 1907. instead Of $4,000
as at present, committee on salaries.
| Tuesday afternoon; on petitions from
| prominent people of the State pray
| ing that women be allowed equal Suf-
frage with men. committee on judi
| ciary. Tuesday afternoon.
| The question of womenS suffrage has
been considered by former Legislatures
| which have not seen fit to grant this
| privilege ANA the hearing, tomorrow,
promises to be as interesting as former
| hearings have been and will be at
! tended by large delegations of women'S
| clubs from various parts of Maine.
Another Interesting hearing wl:irh
! was rn-aSSiSned, last week. will take
place tomorrow afternoon. before the
| committee on judiciary. on a bill to
! abolish the Office of State liquor COM
| missioner and an order to investigate
the same. Senator Staples is RESPONSE
| BILE for both measures as they We're in
troduced in the Senate by him. The
| hearing WAS postponed. last week. III
order that Mr.. Staples might bring
| proof before the committee of certain
| accusations that he made concerning
the Office of liquor commissioners, but
which he could not at that time sub
stantitute.
The hearing on an act introduced.
|; st week. by Representative Gannett
of Augusta, to abolish the common
council Of the city. will be given
hearing before the committee on judi
ciary. March /.
| The committee on ways and bridges
will hold q hearing Thursday after
noon. of this week. on a resolve in IA
vor of building a bridge across the
| Nennebec river between the towns of
Clinton and Fairfield at Pishon's Fer
ry. to connect the counties of kenne-
bee and Somerset.
The board OF railroad commissioners
have ordered hearings on the following
matters:
Monday. Feb. 20 at 10 o'clock. A. NJ.
on the revival of The charter of the
Eiddeford Pool Electric Company. the
hearing to be held at the office OF the
board in the state House. Augusta;
Wednesday. Feb. -. at 10 o'clock. ~.
Nj. on petition of Somerset Railway
Company for crossing highway in Mos
COW. The hearing will be held at the
state House in the Office of the board
of railroad commissioners; Thursday.
Feb. -. at 10 o'clock. A. NJ. on APPROX