Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-03-12
Notes from the Legislature.

The judiciary committee on Tuesday
reported sought to pass" on the bill
establishing third term of Supreme
Judicial Court for Oxford County. In
the form in which the bill is reported it
differs materially from the one original
" put in. As reported it establishes a
third term, to be held at RumfOrd Falls
on the second Tuesday of May, without
grand jury unless it is specially ordered
BY any Judge of the court. The act is
now on its passage.
The reports on the state capital ques-
ton were made Tuesday. As forecasted,
five members of the committee on state
buildings and grounds favor removal
OF, rather, favor submitting the question
TO the people-and five are opposed.
The bill reported by the five who favor
removal provides for the change of the
capital from Augusta to Portland,
providing Portland contributes a site for
the new capital and S750,000 towards
building it. In addition there is appro-
four years from the state. The act is to
be submitted to the people at special
election on the first Monday of June.
The two reports will be discussed in the
legislature this week.
Mr.. Stearns of Norway has introduced
bill to create special commissioner at
$1,000 year, who shall be a professional
chemist and bacteriologist, to investigate
the comparative resource, utilities and
values of the inland waters of Maine,
the duration of the work to be limited
to two years.
The bridge bill, putting the mainte-
nance of highway bridges on the state,
was killed in the senate Wednesday,
after some discussion.
The University of Maine had a sort of
field day in the house Wednesday, the
session of that body being five hours con-
tinuous, and most of it taken up with
the resolve in favor of the university.
There were two points of discussion,
whether the university should be allow
ed TO continue granting the degree Of
bachelor of arts, and the amount which
should be appropriated for its mainte-
nance. Several different amendments to
the bill were presented and voted upon,
and number of speeches were made,
Mr.. Gleason of Mex co being one of those
who favored the most liberal treatment
of the university. As passed By the
house, the resolve allows the arts degree
to be retained, and appropriates $50, 900
for 1907 and the same for 1908, for main
tenance. The amendment fixing that
amount, which was presented by Mr..
Gleason, was carried 10 to "a.
The senate, which had previously
shown vote of 10 to 10 in favor of re-
submission, ON Wednesday passed the
resubmission resolve without division,
and ii will come up in the house this
week.
Hon. George d. Bsbee, appearing be-
fore the railroad committee Wednesday
in behalf of the bill allowing the extern
sion of the Portland and Rumford Falls
Railway to Portland, stated that il was
the intention tc make the road as now
run part of through route from Port
land to Quebec, which would be thirty
miles shorter than any route now
travelled.
The legislature plans to adjourn by
the 23d inst, and held session on Satur-
day to rush the work along. There will
have to be some hustling if the date set
is made good.
Six members of the committee on
salaries and fees are i'm favor of doubling
the pay of Legislators, and four are OPP
posed.
Fast Day seems to be dead, and
Patriots Day is substituted for it, but
the historic institution did not die with
out q funeral oration-in fact, several
funeral orations, and the vote in the
house was by no means unanimous.