Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26
Notes from the Legislature.

Whatever criticism may be made on
this legislature-and there Is some that
may with justice be made-it is work
ing body. Even those who object to its
being in session only four days and q
fraction each week will probably admit
1t. During the first seven weeks OF the
session, up to the beginning OF last
weeks sessions, the governor had signed
forty resolves, eighteen public acts, and
seventy five private and special acts.
Considering that there are before the
legislature numerous matters of unusual
importance, including several which may
involve q change In the constitution,
that Is very good record. The work OF
the session is as we'll along as usual at
this time, and there Is even talk OF ad-
journing by the 18th of March, but that
talk comes mostly from those who are in
q great hurry to get through.
The committee on public buildings
and grounds visited Portland Saturday,
the 10Th, to inspect the suggested sites
for that new state house.
A bill of interest to Paris especially is
that to incorporate the Paris Trust Co..
which was presented Tuesday by Mr..
Dyer. The list of incorporators Is given
elsewhere.
Another act along the lines of modern
legislation is the bill providing for the
indeterminate sentence which was pre-
sented last week by Mr.. Davies OF Var
mouth.
The committee on salaries and fees
has reported sought not to pass" on a
bill to increase salary. 1t is the clerk
Of courts in Androscoggin County who
| is the sufferer. The senate, however,
declined to accept the report.
Mr.. Hastings on Tuesday put in bill
which really authorizes the extension OF
the Portland and Rumford Falls Railway
to Portland, though 1t Is in form bill
to incorporate the Portland and Rum
ford Falls Railroad Co. The incorpo-
rators are Hugh ]. Chisholm, Waldo
Pettengill, George D. Bisbee, Fred e.
Richards and Roswell C. Bradford.
The road which they are authorized to
build under the bill is to extend from
some point in the town of Poland
through Poland, New Gloucester, Gray,
North Yarmouth, Cumberland and Fall
mouth to some point in the city of Port
/ land. The capital stock is 81 ,000,O 600.
The first debate of considerable length
in the house came Tuesday, the subject
being the bill to have the state maintain
all highway bridges over forty feet in
length. The opposition was largely on
the ground that there was no knowing
what the expense would be. The bill
has passed the house.
A bill presented incorporating the
Cornish Water, Light and Power Co.
gives the company rights not only In
Cornish but also in all parts of the town
of Hiram except South Hiram. There
is quite long list of incorporators.
Mr.. Stearns of Norway has presented
an act amending the Law establishing the
Norway Municipal Court, and fixing the
salary of the judge at $3.50. Under the
present law the compensation of the
judge is from fees.
Senator Hastings presented on Tues.
day q bill to authorize the Rumford
Falls and Bethel Street Railway to main
tain dam on the Androscoggin River
near the mouth of Bear River.
The bill for the protection of gray and
black squirrels gets favorable report.
Regulation of trout fishing In the
tributaries of Swift River is asked for
BY Hon. John P. Swasey and Others, as
Is q law against putting sawdust and
other refuse into Swift River.
Hearings which were prolonged and
of considerable interest," locally or
generally, during the past week, were
those on the Portland water district, and
continued hearing on Commissioners
Sargent's good roads bill. This bill.
which imposes mill tax for state roads,
while approved by many, encounters
considerable opposition from the cities,
which think they would pay large part
of the tax and get q small part OF the
benefit.
The hearing on the bill establishing q
third term of court for Oxford County,
to be held at Rumford Falls, was held
before the judiciary committee We'd
nesday afternoon. Hon. John P. Swasey
opened tho case in behalf of the bill, and
Hon. George D. Bisbee closed 1t. Quite
number Of lawyers and others from
Rumford Falls and vicinity testified as to
the necessity and advantage of the court.
Hon. James s. Wright conducted the
case in opposition tn tho bill, Hon. D.
A. Ballard of Fryeburg, county com:
missioner, appearing as the principal
witness in opposition, basing his oppo-
sition largely on the matter Of expense.
As the bill stands, It establishes terms
Of court at South Paris on the second
Tuesday of February and the second
Tuesday of October, and at Rumford
Falls on the second Tuesday Of May. 1t
ia to take effect April 1st, so II 1t passes
there will be term at Rumford Falls