The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-04-04
LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY.

The Important Bills Passed by the S3d
Maine Legislature.
The resolve to provide for legislation
through initiative by petition and an option
al referendum stands at the head of the list
of more important bills passed during the
three months biennial session of the 73rd
Maine Legislature This bill applies only
to statute laws. 1t stands practically alone
as a measure making radical change in
the manner of government
Two laws treating of public morals were
passed. The first is the bill to prohibit the
operation OF bucket shops and the second
an act raising boxing contests from a mis-
demeanOr to a lawful pastime. The boxing
bill is very similar to the ordinance in force
in Philadelphia, which allows six round
bouts without decisions.
The bill granting the Somerset, the Moose
head & Sebasticook and the Portland &
Rumford Falls railroads the right to extend
their lines to theCanadian boundary and tie
bill merging under the head of the Lewiston,
Augusta & Waterville Street Railway all
the important street railway lines in central
Maine are the important public service cor
poration bills.
AS regards measures for the public i'm
provements the Sargent good roads bill
stands in class by itself. This measure,
which is supposed to be combination of
the good points of all the bills in force in
this country, will place about $133, 600 in the
hands of State Highway Commissioner Sar-
gent for distribution among the small towns
in the improvement of their highways.
There have been passed two laws much
sought for by the labor element, the first
raising the minimum age at which minors
can be regularly employed in mills or
factories from II to IA years, the second
establishing more sanitary conditions in
workshops and factories.
Under the head of charities comes the
bill to provide for the support of the pauper
insane by the State, which takes effect in
of a workshop where the adult blind may
learn trades and become self-supporting
and the $4,000 home for the feeble-minded.
A pure food law closely following the
national law was passed without much COM
ment. The subject of free railway passes
was a bone of contention between certain
factions for several weeks and bill finally
was passed prohibiting all State officials
from using them. The pay of the legislators
was increased from $3.50 to $500.
The bill amending the laws relating to ex-
tradition was passed and has been invoked
once since the session began. 1t gives the
governor alone discretionary power in such
cases.
Hereafter the people of the State will OBJ
serve the 18th day Of April as Patriots day,
long relic of Puritanism. A large number
of measures relating to miscellaneous sub
jects have become law. The sums Of $780,
600 for maintenance for two years and $780,
00O for new buildings were voted to the
passed ab0lishing the Office of State Binder
and directing that competitive bids be re-
ceived for State binding.
Two legislative measures which failed Of
q passage were the bills for removal of the
| State capital to Portland and for the re-
submission to the people OF the law prohibit
| ing the manufacture and sale Of liquors.