The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-17
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
Sayings and Doings at Augusta.

Sayings and Doings at Augusta.
An act to provide for the care and edu-
cation of feeble-minded children was
presented in the Senate Jan. 9th by Mr..
Staples of Knox. The act provides that the
State shall establish and maintain school
for the care and education of the idiOtic
and feeble-minded between three and q
years of age, that it shall be known as the
"Maine School for Predetermined Children" Z"
and that a sum of money not exceeding
$4,000 shall be appropriated to be expend-
ed within the next two years.
A board of five trustees, as soon as ap-
pointed by the governor and organized,
shall proceed as soon as practicable to pur-
chase a suitable site for the school and
home and erect thereon properly furnished
and equipped buildings to accomplish the
objects set forth in the act.
Ali children supported by towns or
counties in this State, who, in the judgment
of the selectmen or county commissioners
or State board of charities, are capable of
being benefited by school instruction,
shall be committed to the institution.
Predetermined children shall be admitted
to the institution in the following order: ::
First, feeble-minded children who are now
in public institutions supported entirely at
public expense; second, feeble minded
children not supported at public expense :;
third, feeble-minded children who are not
in any institution of the State, who have
no parents, kinsmen or guardian able to
provide for them; fourth, those residing in
The State whose parents, kinsmen or
guardian bound by law to support such
children are able to pay; fifth. children of
her States whose parents, kinsmen or
guardian are willing to pay.
In the House Jan. 9th Mr. Irving of
Lroostook presented the following bills:
Bill an act to ratify the mortgage and
lease of the Northern Maine and Searsport
Railroad
Also bill an Act tG ratify the mortgage
lease of the Schoodic Steam Railroad.
Also bill an Act to authorize the Bangor
4 AroostOok Railroad to purchase Schoodic
Steam Railway.
Also bill an Act to amend Chapter 222 of
the Private and Special Laws Of 1908 en-
titled can act to authorize the extension of
the Bangor & ArooStook Railroad.
In the Senate Jan. 10th Mr.. Libby of
Waldo presented Bill, an Act to amend
Chapter 212 of the Private and Special
Laws of 1908, as amended by Chapter 139,
by the Private and Special laws of 1905, re-
lating to the Searsport Water Co. and the
Stock ton Springs Water Co.
In the House Mr.. Dunton of Belfast pre-
sented resolves asking for the following
appropriations:
Waldo County General Hospital, 81, 800
annually for two years.
Children Aid Society of Maine to aid in
maintaining the home for friendleSS and
destitute girls at Belfast, $500 annually
or two years.
In the Senate Jan. 18th Mr.. Libby of
Waldo introduced an act to authorize the
Searsport Water Co. to purchase and hold
the franchise and property OF the Stockton
Spr ings Water Co.
The f eat ure of the session was the speech
of Senator Reardon of Kennebec. Senator
Reardon stated that beyond doubt the Of
fee belongs to Heselton and that he should
be seated. Senator Reardon was applaud
ed, and d resolve was introduced providing
for the payment of 800 to reimburse him
for the expense of his contest and for the
payment OF salary.
In the House Mr.. Colcord of Searsport
introduced an act granting Arthur S. Nc
Avery the right to establish ferry in the
harbor OF Stockton Springs between Cape
Jellison, Stockton Springs and Kidder's
Docks for the period of ten years.
Mr.. Duncan of Rockland introduced an
act requiring employers of alien labor to
assist in the assessment and collection of
poll taxes from alien laborers.
A bill is to be presented at this session
asking for S150,000 annually for the Univer-
slty OF Maine large proportion of which
will be used for several years for building
purposes. 1t was at first intended to intro
duce two fractional bill resolves, one for
the usual appropriation for the institution,
and the other for building purposes, but
the trustees have now concluded to present
one general bill, the same to include the en-
tire appropriation.
An Augusta special to the Portland Even
ing Express says that resubmission CONVEX
sation seems to be on the Wane among the
members Of the Legislature and many of
the leading members are very OutspOken in
their declarations that resubmssion will
not pass either branch of the Legislature.
The hurrah and howl and the cOnquering
hero conversation which both Senator Mer-
rill and Senator Staples undoubtedly looked
for when they introduced their twin bills
for the resubmiSSion of the fifth amendment
has failed to arrive and resubmissi0n and
the repeal of the Sturgs Law will probably
die in the committee on temperance a very
easy and painless death. No conversation
is heard from any out and out supporters of
the bill, while the strong opponents of the
measure are talking from the house tops
and are not afraid who hears them.
The long anticipated initiative and referen-
dun bill made its appearance in the house
Monday afternoon, being presented by
Weeks of Fairfield. The bill was drafted
along the lines agreed upon, it is understood
by a joint committee consisting of represen-
tatives of the State Federation of Labor. of
the Maine State grange and of the State
Referendum league.
Hon William P. Frye was on Tuesday
forenoon reelected United States senator
from Maine for term OF six years, the vote
in the two branches of the legislature being
100 to 66. In the senate 20 votes were cast,
% Republican and 6 Democratic Each
party lost one vote, the Republicans through
the inability of Hon. George W. Heselton,
senator-elect from Kennebec county, to take
the oath of Office in the absence of the gov
ernor, and Sen. Phloon, one of the Demo-
cratic members, being absent.
Maine Debt Reduced $3.50, 900.
AUGUSTA, Jan. IA. The fact that the
State debt has been reduced $6S0,00 during
the two years administration of Governor
William I. Cobb was made known today
when Governor Cobb in conjunction with
Oramandel Smith, the retiring State treas