The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-02-23
At Augusta.

On Thursday the committee on agfl.
culture has voted fought to passn on
the resolve appropriating 5000 for the
determination of the brown tail moth
and other insects. The moths have
created a large amount of damage in
the State, particularly In the western
section. The committee voted To re-
port "ought to pass" on the resolve
appropriating So 900 to prevent con-
tagious diseases among cattle and horses
The committee voted to report a re-
solve appropriating $50 for the Maine
Poultry and Pet stock Association.
The original resolve called for $500
The committee voted ought TO pass
appropriating $500 for the Main state
Fair Association. The original resolve
called for $1,000.
The committee reported in favor of
two resolves to the amount of $50, 900
for the Maine Industrial school for
Girls at Hallowel}. This il for the regu-
lar appropriation and additional amount
for building purposes.
The resolve in favor Of the Moosehead
Lake Sanitarum was turned down by
he committee.
On Friday in the Senate, MIR. Bailey of
Somerset presented bill for the pro
lection of muskrats is the latest in the
Senate. 1t WAS introduced by Senator
Bailey of Somerset and section one pro-
vides that no person shall in any manner
hunt, take, catch or kill any muskrat in
the towns of Hartland, Harmony, Athens
and Palmyra, in the county of Somerset,
for three years from the first day of
April 1905. section two provides that
any violation of the provisions of this
act shall be subject to the same penalty
as is provided in the general law of the
State for the illegal killing of muskrats
The purpose of this act is to prevent
extinction of these animals in Somerset
county
Among the measures passed to be
enacted we're: An act to amend section
of chapter 1l8 of the Revised Statutes
relating to the punishment of persons
who enter upon lands claiming authority
from a foreign government or magis-
trate.
An act to amend section 70 of chapter
4S of the Revised statutes relating to
the authority of the bank examiner over
trust and banking companies.
In the House large number of petit
tons appeared from citizens of various
parts of the State, praying for a passage
of the Merrill Bill for equalization of
taxes.
MIR. Vittum of Concord presented an
act to provide for a bounty Of IS for each
bear killed by a resident of Maine in
Somerset county, also IA petition of Hen
~ Sands of Bingham and - others for
change of law relating to the killing OF
beaver; bill an act providing tor a bounty
on bears in Somerset county
Mr. Smith of Madison pr scented IN
dorsement of Federal Labor Union ll6l3
, Madison for the initiative and retrren
DUN. also petition of harles Dunton
aud IS Others of Madison for came
Nh. shaw from the Kennebec conn y
/ delegation reported ought not To pass
on bill, An ACT to abolish the superior
court in Kennebee county.
Mr.. Reed of Portland took from the
table the reports of the committee on
legal affairs on the bill providing foI
non feasance in offica of sherffs, dep
uty sheritfs and county attorneys a fine
not exceeding 81, 900 or imprisonment
not exceeding one year. Mr.. Cakes of
Auburn moved that the majority report,
ought to pass, be accepted, and 1t was 81
| 'OASN nv h'holiN1 iOPOiNt puEib hpA
to pass, WAS signed by Senator staples
of Knox
The bill to amend the revised etAtntes
in relation 70 the appointment pt clerks
of judicial courts was taken trnm the
table and assigned To Tuesda, for con-
sideratiOn.
a hearing which will attract quite a
lot of attention is that on the Merrill
bib for the taxation of railroads which
will come before the committee on taxa
ton Thursday afternoon. The railroad
companies will, in all probability, be in
attendance to oppose it and il will be
quite lively contest. The bill provides
for marked increase in the rate of tax
alton which the roads shall pay If
passed it will mean large increase in
tie revenue of the state.
The following passed to be engrossed,
on Monday in the House An Act tn
autl orize Skowhegan Hall Assoclateon
10 issue preferred stock
An Act to authorize the town of
! ~kowhegan to subscribe to the capital
sock OF Skowhegan Hall Association.
An Act to amend Section 10 of Chap
ter IS of the Revised statutes relating
/ 10 TepleNln DODu.
An Act to increase the capital stock of
Skowhegan Hall Association.
Mr.. Howes of Palmyra presented a
petition of c. X. McCrlls and % others
of Palmyra for the equalization of tax
alton.
A feature of Mondays session was the
presentation of a gavel to President
| Goodwin of the Senate by Senator Simp.
SOD, in behalf of Hon. Horace Mitchell OF
York. The gavel is handsome one and
had the national colors attached 20 the
handle. Senator Simpson said that the
gavel was manufactured by j b. Fetch
er, chief carpenter of the United
States navy. He then read letter from
Mr.. Fletcher, which stated that the
gavel was constructed from portion of
the trestle tree, part of the con-
struction Of the maintop, located on the
top of the mainmast of the Spanish
naval ship "Reina Mercedes" which
WAS captured in the late Spanish war by
our forces at Santiago de Cuba. The
mainmast was cut in two between decks
by 12-inch projectile from the United
States battleship Massachusetts which
entered the hull on the port side and
passed diagonally out on the starboard
side. President Goodwin, in few well
chosen words, accepted the gavel.
The committee on temperance pre-.
scented to the House, Tuesday morning,
shortly after it convened. two reports
on the resubmission petitions The
majority report that the bill ought not
to pass was signed by Senators Pike of