Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-02-16
Notes from the Legislature.

Notwithstanding that there is con-
siderable opposition to it, especially from
the cities, the Donigan bridge bill gets a
favorable report from the committee on
ways and bridges. This bill divides the
expense of maintenance of all large
bridges among the town, county and
state.
Representative Russell of Gardiner on
Tuesday presented a bill drawn by <. a.
Darling of that city, who is connected
with an extensive lumber concern, pro-
viding for state forester aud six as
sistant foresters who shall have complete
charge of forests with power to regulate
the cutting and reforestation. The bill
is entitled, An Act for the Preservation
and Perpetuation Of the Forests OF
Maine. 1t creates commission to con-
sist of State forester to be appointed BY
the governor and to hold Office for two
years, and six assistant foresters who
shall be appointed by the State forester.
The forester shall receive a salary OF
$500 a year and expenses. He may en-
ploy one permanent clerk at salary not
to exceed $1,000 per year. The assistant
foresters shall receive salary not to ex'
coed $500 each, year, and actual ex.
penses. The forester shall have full
charge of all state forests including the
power to reforest and regulate cutting
tho same and to provide young trees for
planting, and to have charge of enforc.
ing all laws to regulating the cutting Of
auxiliary state forests; to issue licenses
to land owners and scalers and permits
to any person, firm or corporation desir
| ing to operate on land of another, under
permit or contract with owner of the
land, and to have full charge of all mer
and equipment for the protection OIL
forests within the state against fires.
The bill establishing state board o.
charities and corrections has been made
a special order in the senate for Wednes
day of this week, when it is expected
that it will encounter opposition.
The bill making uniform poll tax oil
50 90 was considered in the senate Tues.
day, and Senator Staples offered ar
amendment making the amount 81 90
His amendment was defeated, and thu
bill was passed.
There was an interesting hearing Tues
day on Representative PattangalPs bill
| to abolish the Office of assistant attorne.
general. In opening his remarks IL
favor of the bill, Mr.. Pattangall stated
that there was nothing personal In hi
advocacy of the bill. He had nothin,
against Mr.. Barnes, the present incum
bent of the office, and did not know him
but he considered it an unnecessar.
Office. Attorney General Philbrook stat
ed that an assistant was necessary. Tn
legal affairs committee, to which the bill
was referred, voted ought not to pass
but MI, Pattangall will pay his respect
to the matter when 1t comes up in tn
house.
The owners liability for work done II
determination of moth pests will be In
creased from one-hslf of one per cent t
one per cent Of the value OF the property
if the action of the committee on agri
culture Is approved by the legislature.
Representative Davies last week intro
duced a bill to regulate lobbyists, re
curing them to register and render o
account of their expenditures. 1t
needless to say that no regulation OF tn
lobby now exists.
All sections of the state united In or
proving the appropriation OF $3.50, 90
for the enlargement of the state house
or the building of an Office building Q
wing connecting with it, on which
hearing was held Wednesday. Coz
ditions have changed since the fight wa
made to move the capital to Portlan
two wears ago, and there Is now a ger
eral feeling that the state house is II
sufficient and should be made larger
No one appeared in opposition.
The committee on inland fisheries an
game gave a hearing Wednesday on th
resolve increasing the annual appropri!
ton for the maintenance of fish hatcl
cries and feeding stations from $25, 0(
to $4,000. All who spoke favored t.
change. The committee has voted
recommend that the sum of $7 800
appropriated annually for the next tn
wears for the fish and game interest
besides 5000 for the establishment OF
fish hatchery In Knox County.