The Republican journal., 1905-03-23

| law in Cumberland county, was accepted
! in the senate March 10. The report was as
follows:
'That from the evidence presented the
committee find that the sheriff of Cumber-
land county permits various persons to sell
Intoxicating liquors in q manner not
authorized by law; that this condition of
things is open, and matter OF common
knowledge, and was not in any way con-
troverted at the hearing that in the opinion
OF the committee this was clear violation
of duty. The committee considers further
investigation unnecessary"
The measure to allow free seining east of
the Penobscot river 10 weeks in the fall,
came up at the afternoon session of the
house, March 18th. The minority report
of ought not to pass was carried by vote
of 90 to 25. This was measure in the in
terest of the big canning concerns, and
would have deprived many of the hardy
fishermen on our coast of the means of
obtaining livelihood. The Senate, March
10th, concurred with the house in turning
down this bill
The insurance bill which went though
the Senate aftel hot debate was killed in
the House, March 10th, by vote of 8S to IA.
This bill provided for the elimination of
the compulsory arbitration clause in the
Maine Standard Fire insurance policy.
were Morey of Lewiston and Milliken of
Island Falls. Those who opposed were
Reps. Briggs of Auburn, Stevens of Port
land, Thomas of Topsham, Goodwin of
Sanford, Cusbman Of Woodstock, and
PurintOn of Bowdoin. The debating was
spirited.
The special joint committee on State
printing submitted its report to the Senate,
March 18th, accompanied by a bill to
abolish the Office of State printer and to
authorize contracts for State printing on
the basis of competitive bids, giving the
governor and council power to make con-
tract with reputable printing establish
ments to extend for not exceeding three
years, and to go into effect Jan. 1, 1906.
The report recommends the curtailing of
the number Of reports issued by the sew
eral departments.
When the bill to repeal the compulsory
arbitration clause in the Maine standard
fire Insurance policy, which was defeated
in the House, Thursday, was taken up,
March 18th, the Senate, on motion of Sena-
tor Clark, voted to insist on its former
action. But the House, by accepting the
mi of b,
then by voting not to reconsider the vote,
has clinched the matter as far as this ses-
sion of the Legislature goes, and the bill
will die between the branches.
By a vote of Is to the Senate voted to
indefinitely postpone bill reported by the
committee on legislative hearings relating
to advertising hearings Of legislative COM
mttees in newspapers of the State.
The committee on Judiciary, to which had
been recommtted the Potter bill defining
manslaughter, reported sought to pass in
new draft" which is satisfactory to the
Christian Scientists of the State who raised
strong objections to the original bill.
The committee on judiciary reported
ought not to pass on a bill providing for the
peoples veto through the optional referen-
dun.
A bill relating to trustee process was in
definitely postponed
The druggist bill, allowing registered
apothecaries to sell alcoholic liquors for
medicinal and mechanical purposes, was
turned down in the House March 18th with
out even the formality of a yea and nay
vote. The bill came before the House on
the question of adopting the majority re-
port of the Committee on Temperance
fought not to pass" Mr.. O'5rien of Lew
iston of the temperance committee, who
signed favorable report for the bill, mov-
ed the substitution Of the minority report
and spoke at some length in support Of his
motion. Mr.. O'Brien said that druggists
should be allowed to sell liquors for medici-
nal purposes and he believed that the bill
imposed enough restrictions so that there
would be no abuse of the privilege. Repre-
sentative Merrill of Skowhegan opposed the
measure, saying that he had lived in States
where druggists were allowed to sell liquor
and was familiar with the conditions. He
said he believed that this piece Of legisla-
tion was the most wicked yet proposed. No
druggists need fear the courts of this State
he said, if they use liquor for compounding
medicines.
Representative O'Brien replied, saying
that 10 druggists in Bangor had been indict-
ed merely for holding United States in
ternal revenue license and one OF these was
on the State Board of Pharmacy No one
ever intimated that this man was running a
rum shop.
By viva voce vote the majority report
that the bill ought not to pass was accepted.
Gov. Cobb signed the Sturgis bill at 2 30
Saturday afternoon. After he had affixed
his signature he presented the pen to Sena-
tor Sturgis.
In spite of small attendance both branches
of the Legislature held busy sessions Satur-
day morning The most important event
was the Knockout of the cider bill i'm the
Senate, the measure being indefinitely post
ed without dissenting voice. In order that
fused to reconsider.
When House document 225, relating to the
salaries of certain officials, came up the
Senate voted to reScind its previous action
and granted committee of conference ask ed