The Somerset reporter., 1909-04-08
Maine Legislature Adjourns.

session since 1859, when the period
extended over 81 days.
The Legislature has done vast
amount of work, and among many
bills passed Is that for a 58-hour law
for women and children employed in
mills; the employers liability act; an
establishment of an arbitration board
in labor disputes, and retiring the
judges of the supreme court upon half
pay at the age of 20 years.
One of the important matters is in
creasing the tax upon wild lands, in
: response to a sentiment among the
people that these lands have not been
sufficiently taxed. The tax upon
! railroads, both steam and electric, has
also been increased. The military
! laws have been revised, and it is now
mandatory to place a member of the
naval reserves upon the Governors
, staff The appropriation for the
propagation of fish for inland wa ers
/ has been increased from S25, 900 to
[ SAT 900.
The appropriation for $3.50, 900 to
enlarge the State House has been
| voted for.
After the Legislature had voted to
have cider classed among intoxi-
eating liquors, the Senate rescinded
, it's vote and took the apple juice from
the list.
, It was finally decided to make no
change in the Sunday hunting law,
and so this matter remains on the
? statute books as it has been for sever
/, ears.
he so-called Havey amendment to
Sturgis enforcement law is con-
cred by many to be the most i'm
rtant temperance legislation passed
some time. This amendment pro-
es that when the local authorities
any county will not enforce the
hibitory liquor laws, and it be-
mes necessary for the Sturgis en-
rcement commission to send depu
IS into that county to enforce the
Iuor laws, the expense of such en-
rcement will have to be borne by
at county.
1t is argued that no sheriff will care
incur the hostility of the people by
ing up an expense bill through his
llification of the laws. In the
nate the "r"ttes caused hot de-
Senator Hamilton of York, the
'mer claiming that Sturgis deputies
been sent into the Democratic
lnty of Knox when it was unneces-
y, as the Democratic officers had
'orced the laws against liquor
lug better than they had been en-
ced in the Republican county of
rk, VIII re no Sturgis deputies had
II ordered
If bill for enforcement deputies
presented to the county of Knox,
ill never be paid without law
j." was Senator Staples parting
trenuous efforts on the part of
lie OF the Republican leaders to
cal the Sturgis enforcement act
utterly failed. The attempts to
ali act giving the Governor
lority to remove sheriffs who are
,ict in their duties also failed.
lrl @. Milliken of Aroostook coun
ON a notable victory in securing
passage of bill to regulate the
or agencies. Senator Milliken
,ented a bill which provides
ing other things that all liquor
chased shall be of standard quail
w; hat it shall be purchased by the
: state upon competitive bids; sold in
Q sealed packages, as bought, which are
: not to be opened from the time they
leave the mandatory until they
reach the hands of the consumer. 1t
is believed that this bill will correct
r abuses which are known to exist in
g this agency matter.
1t has been hard fight, and those
: who were interested in the retention
of the old system expended great
q amount of time, energy and cash.
r The present agency system was
! thoroughly ventilated by The Herald
q two years ago, and the bill passed
+ Friday was, no doubt, the result of
the Investigations started by The
g Herald.
= During the closing hours of the $685.
. sion there was the usual discussion in
q relation to the nominations for Gov
a ernor. OF course, Gov. Fernald will
q receive a denomination, and it has
q been thought all along that Obadiah
q Gardner, Democratic nominee of last
year, would be renominated in 1910.
He has, however, this winter in
Cured the displeasure of some of the
Democrats, who charge that he has
been in league with the owners Of
+ wild lands to prevent the increase of
: taxes upon that class of property.
r Mr.. Gardner, who for many years was
. master Of the State Grange, has been
4 in Augusta this winter as the member
. of the legislative committee from that
a organization. He has advocated a
q wild land measure, known as the
q Grange amendment; but his party
/ associates assert that it was not in the
: interests of Democracy. In speaking
of this matter, State Senator l.. M.
Staples of Knox, member OF the
l Legislature for several years, said
q you may announce that, in the
! event of Mr.. Gardner not being a
. candidate, that shall be a candidate
! for the nomination, | have already
had many assurances of support. Mr..
a Gardner may not be candidate.
!, Many of us Democrats believe that on
: account of the legislation for which
y the Republicans are responsible
q passed at this session, Maine is GER
J tain to elect a Democratic Governor
: and Legislature in 1902
q w. Il. Pattangall, who has been the
+ leader of the minority party in the
House this winter, is also mentioned
prominently as a candidate for the
governorship of the Democratic party
! in 1910.
v Mr.. Gardner is not a man who is
Y likely TO be deferred from any de-