Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-02-09
Notes from the Legislature.

which considered the Sturgls law ana
allied measures. The decision was prac-
tically in accordance with the scheme
prepared by the committee of the for
mer caucus, the substance of what it was
determined to do being as follows:
l. To pass q bill authorizing the governor to
remove delinquent county attorneys anu 10 APP
point successors from the same party winch
elected the delinquent official
2 To submit to the people constitutional
amendment authorizing the governor to remove
delinquent sherifs and appoint their successors
from the same political party.
g. To repeal the Sturgis law, the repeal 10
take effect II the constitutional amendment Is
adopted but not otherwise.
"All Hancock County" was present at
the hearing of Wednesday afternoon on
the bill which would exclude automo-
biles from the towns which make up
Mount Desert Island. The hearing last
ed for four hours, before the judiciary
committee, and was held in the senate
chamber, which was packed all the after
noon. This bill is asked for by numbers
of the wealthy summer residents OF Bar
Harbor and the other towns on the
island, who desire to keep the roads free
for driving, and say the roads are not
adapted to autos. Not all the residents
are agreed upon the question, and there
is considerable opposition to the meas
ure from Mount Desert, as well as from
automobile owners and people generally
through the state, who perceive danger
in the precedent which would be estab-
lished by such legislation. The COM
mittee has not yet reported on the bill.
The first really extended debate of the
session took place in the house Wednes-
day, on the Psttangall order to request
the Supreme Court for an opinion as 10
the constitutionality of the Bangor and
Aroostook Railroad rebate bill now be-
fore the legislature. The result was the
indefinite postponement OF the order by
a vote of 70 to So, the vote being nearly
on party lines, most of the Republicans
voting for indefinite postponement, and
most of the Democrats against IL.
A resolve has been introduced for the
appointment of commission TO serve
without pay to investigate the judicial
system of the state, with view TO ex-
pediting business in the courts. 1t is
we'll known that in the present condition
of the Maine courts there is long delay
before the final decision of great many
cases, and it is for the purpose of learn
ing the best method of charging the
courts to do away with this that the in
vestigation is designed.
MT. Pattapgall's latest is a bill to
abolish the bureau of industrial and
labor statistics.
Senator Reynolds of Kennebec last
week introduced bill which stipulates
that no savings bank or trust company
organized under the laws of the state
shall pay dividends or interest on de
posits at higher rate than three and
one-h half per cent. There is provision
made in the bill that when the reserve
fund of savings bank or the surplus OF
a trust company equals ten per cent OF
the deposits, the net profits shall be di
vided among the depositors as extra
dividends.
A resolve providing for an amendment
to the constitution which will change thu
date OF the state election from Septem
Der to November was presented Wednes
day by Senator Donigan of Somerset.
The judiciary committee has made
favorable report on the bill to create
state board Of charities and corrections
this board to serve without pay. Thi'
bill, If passed, would make quite ;
change in the administration of a mum
Der of state institutions, as the stats
prison, jails, reform schools anC
hospitals would be placed directly il
charge of this board.
Mr.. Stanley has introduced bill t.
provide for ice fishing in accordance
with the general law of the state, IL
Spectacle, the Stanleys, Traitor and j
Bird Ponds in Oxford County.
Two of the tax bills presented by tht
tax commission have encountered quite
vigorous opposition. One was the bill
to make the poll tax uniform at $50
throughout the state. This was favor
ably reported, but on its passage wal
hung up, and is now on the table. The
bill to tax savings deposits in nationa
banks is opposed by the banks, and i,
was declared at the hearing on the bill
Thursday that if the legislature passe:
the bill imposing tax of one-half Of
one per cent on such deposits, there
won't be national bank left in Maine il
ten years.
The two "bridge bills" now before the
legislature, putting the maintenance Of
highway bridges, or portion of it, up
on the state, had field day before the
committee Thursday, and while they
were vigorously supported, they were
almost as vigorously opposed. Portland
is particularly strong in opposition.
One new town may result from this
session of the legislature, the town OF
Arundel, to be carved out of Kennebunk
port. There are two sides TO the mat
ter, and considerable said on both sides
The Bangor and Aroostook rebate
measure met its anticipated fate Thurs
day morning. The railroad committee
reported to the house that the bill
ought to be indefinitely postponed, and
it was done. The report coming 10 this
form, in advance of hearing, indicate.
that the bill was withdrawn at the re
quest 0s its promoters, condition
which was foreshadowed by the remark,
of Mr.. Montgomery, who introduced the
bill, when he spoke In the house il
Wednesdays debate. The house ther
Immediately passed the resolution intro
duced by Mr.. Davies on Wednesday, Civ
ing II as the sense of the legislature thai
rebates of taxes to railroads are mex
pedient. Only one member voted against
this, 1t being passed by a vote of lSS
to 1.
A bill introduced by Senator Hamilton
on Thursday, and said to be the Ser
Maid BILL" because prepared in accord
ance with Governor Fernald's ideas, pro
vides for the appointment Of a water
storage commission, composed Of the
governor, the state land agent, and three
citizens, one of whom shall be civil
engineer. Only the engineer is to re-
ceive any salary. The commission ID
authorized and directed to devise plans
for the progressive development of the
watcr powers of the state under state
ownership, control and maintenance fol
the public use and benefit, and for the in
crease Of the public revenue. The com
mission is to report to the next legisla
ture Immediately after it assemblies.
The finishing touch to the Bangor and
Aroostook rebate bill was given in the
senate Friday, when it was indefinitely
postponed In concurrence with the
house, without word except the usual
formula in such cases.
A large party of the legislators visited
Portland Friday on invitation of the
Portland delegation, for the special pur.
pose OF seeing Portland's situation in the
matter of bridges, and the effect that the
passage of either of the "bridge bills"
would have upon the city. The party
attended the Jefferson Theatre in the
evening.