The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-04-04
Legislative Acts Briefly Told.


things and some things not 80 good
and two or three things especially
bad. Its treatment Of tie liquor prob
lem IS audaciously bad The refer
endum is now a law but the legisIa-
ture refused to apply the referendum
not only TO the prohibitory issue but
to the issue Of the removal Of the
capital. In Bunkum much of Maine
politics Of both parties is suspended
Under the new Maine law the referen-
dunn resolve applies only to statute
laws not TO the constitution-hen
can never be applied TO prohibition
| he referendum is the irst movement
| 10 get Maine bosses into harmony
with public opinion, but after enact
ing the resolve, the legislature bolts
applying it to two important issues
A good deal has been done by law
to promote public morals, like cut
ting out the bucket shops and slug
glng matches--as if law could reform
us! Under the new bill six round
bouts are to be tolerated without de e.
clslons! The Legislature, however,
does not prohibit stock gambling or
purchase of stocks on margin, which
is the feature of current speculation
that has produced the present trou
bles in the stock market.
The Somerset Moosehead railway
and the Portland Rumford Falls rail
way have the right to extend their
| fn In 1
Augusta and WaterVille street rail
ways now mold important trolley
rights in Central Maine. Gonsolida
tlon III railways, electric and others
is all right-but please do not resent
government regulation; but please
do resent such railway commission
er as the democratic Chadbourne
who has outraged public opinion il
attacking federal rate regulation
The Sargent good roads bill has
been passed and will put S134, 900 il
the hands of State Highway Commits
sioner Sargent for distribution among
small towns that appropriate funds
for permanent roads. The minimum
age at which minors can be legally
employed in mills has been raised
from II to ID years. Sanitary condi-
lions i'll factories have also beer
ordered. In 1910 Maine will have a
new institution for the care of the
pauper insane. Maine is also to have
a state workshop where the adult
blind may learn trades. Thirty thou
sand is also appropriated as a home
for the feeble minded. A pure food
law, similar to the national law, has
been passed. All state officials will
hereafter be prohibited from using
deadhead tickets. The pay of legis-
lators is raised to 8300-none toe
: much.
Governor Cobb has been given new
power relating to extradition. The
10Th of April will hereafter be obsery-
ed in Maine as Patriots Day. Fast
Day is wiped out The University of
Maine gets S130, 900 for maintenance
for two years and $4,000 for new
buildings, and the B. A. degree viii
continue-shoWing the power of q
faithful lobby, The office of state
binder will be abolished and the bust
ness hereafter will be put under com
petition
The expenditures of State Insur-
ance Commissioner Carr are criticised
III a report of legislative committee
that has inspected his accounts. The
report objects to expenses incurred
in studying advanced means of eX-
tlnguishing fires in Boston and the
return visit, at the States expense
of Massachusetts official. Mr.. Carr
thinks that these expenditures are
worth more than they cost. He urges
they were incurred in order to put
the State officials recommendation
on to scientific basis We hope that
the report will not intercept the good
stories at the insurance commission
er's headquarters. 1t would be a
pity if Official comradeship, highly
appreciated in all quarters, should
suffer detriment.
The Heselton bill for the better
regulation of State liquor agencies is
law, but bill to abolish the agency
system has been defeated. Now, we
shall see whether the new system will
run without men of the real sort i'll
charge. Machinery needs power
man power-not boss, mule or fox
power.
The supreme court of Maine is ask
ed TO render an opinion touching the
eonstitutionality of our laws regula-
ting cutting timber. Nothing is said
about requesting judicial opinion on
the exemption of Bangor Il Aroos
took, Washington County and Somer-
set railways from taxation. Glad to
see Senator Sewall hasn't forgotten
Names greatest economic profile NJ
the wise use of our lake system for
promotion of power and common
wealth-not forgetting scenic beauty.
Ii appears that holder of an A. b.
degree from the University of Maine
is entitled To enter Harvard College
as a regular student without present
alton of diploma or an official certiti
cate of graduation. Why not? But
are state agricultural colleges formed
for the Harvard idea.
In the report of the legislative pro
ceedings in Tuesday nights. March
26, Lewiston Journal, Representative
Folsom of Norridgewock was given
as voting against the repeal of the
Sturgis law. whereas he voted to re l.
TOR TUREO DAY AND NIGHT.