Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-03-09
Notes from the Legislature.

The food gates of oratory are now
open, and hardly a day but sees more or
less discussion in the two houses. Even
so apparently unimportant bill as the
one creating an open time on gray squir
rels in three or four of the southern
counties has a day specially assigned
for its consideration, when we may ex-
pect considerable expenditure of lung
power over the merits and dement's of
our pretty little four-footed friends.
With routine business in both houses
increasing, and the members beginning
10 be little anxious TO see the end, the
hour of the forenoon session has been
changed from 10 TO o'clock.
Pattangal's bill to abolish the Office of
assistant attorney general was defeated
in the house Tuesday.
County aim houses will not be
product of this session The bill pro-
viding for them was not supported by
any one at the time of hearing, and was
promptly killed in committee.
What opposition there was to the crea-
ton of board of arbitration
at the hearing last week came from
representatives of organized labor. The
bill provided arbitration upon request,
not compulsory.
Not even Mr.. Pattaugall, the father of
the measure, appeared in behalf of the
bill to abolish the bureau of industrial
and labor statistics.
A favorable report comes from the
committee on agriculture on the bill
regulating the grading and packing of
apples.
The bill 10 regulate the practice of
optometry gets a favorable report from
the judiciary committee.
The Hersey bill, giving the governor
power 70 remove Delinquent county
attorneys, was passed in the house Wed
nesday, and the Eaton resolve, provid
ing for the submission Of a eOnS,itu-
tiOnal amendment giving the governor
power TO remove delinquent sheriffS,
with an incidental referendum on the
Sturgis law, passed the senate the same
day. Considerable discussion preceded
the passage Of both acts. Both are part
OF the Republican program Ia connection
with the matter Of enforcement % the
prohibitOry Jaw, and both were passed
by a stric, party vote. Republicans vot-
them.
The resolve spprOpriating $4,000 Tor
addition 10 state house, which had pass
ed the house with some opposition, has
been laid on the table In the senate, and
IL il understood % be the purpose %
keep IL there until some definite figures
regarding the expenditures aud the in-
cone Of the state are available. II will
probably have some opposition any way.
In the senate Thursday the Lo0ney
ballot bill. " hich substitutes the Mas-a-
chuSetts form Of ballot for that now
used in MSine, wAs defeated BY vote Of
10 toe The act repeating the "Morey
law" providing for doors on the voting
booths was also defeated, - % ;.
The Hastings bill, which would re-
Quire judges to give jail sentences In
LIQUOR cases, will be considered In the
senate Tuesday Of this week. This bill
has support from both friends aud oppo-
nents OF the prohibitory law, and also
has opposition from both sides.
There was a lively hearing Thursday
on the Bigelow bill, which provides for
the distribution To the towns, on the
basis of their valuation, Of the excise
taxes collected by the state, one-half TO
be used for schools and the other half
for roads. This bill is undeuiably de-
signed to get at the wild lands. 1t
would about double the state tax rate,
thus doubling the amount paid by the
wild lands, and the amount distributed
to the organized cities and towns would
more than offset the increase in the
rate. The wild land interests appeared
in force to oppose the bill. 1t is said to
have many friends in the legislature, as
a practical method of putting larger
share of the states expenditures on the
wild lands. o