The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-03-18
The State Legislature.

respectful halt on Thursday morning,
when Mr. Burleigh of Augusta read
letter from the Governor, calling his
attention to the bill raising the salary
of Judge Hall of the Superior Court of
Kennebec county, from S2500 to
$4,000. This was the first bill to reach
him in the course Of legislation
raising salaries, and the Governor
said that at this time when business
is so dull is moi the proper time to do
so. On Mr.. Burleigh's motion the
bill was indefinitely postponed. This
will be the Governors course OH all
similar matters.
The Senate refused to accept any
amendment cutting down the appro-
priation of $3.50, 900 for the enlarge
ment of the State House, and passed
the original resolve in concurrence
with the House, Is to s. So the
State House will be enlarged under
the direction of a commission to be
appointed by the Governor.
The committee on taxation re-
ported direct inhe ritance tax. The
collateral inheritance tax now yields
about S9S, 900 annually and it is be-
lieved the direct inherit nee tax will
add enough to bring the receipts from
inheritance up to about 100000 per
year. That is, if the bill passes,
The House by a vote of 81 to 43,
refused to substitute the minority re-
port of the committee on the judiciary
sought not to passo and for the un
conditional repeal of the Sturgis law
on the resolve introduced by MIR.
Eaton of Washington for a constitu-
tional amendment giving the govern
or the power to remove delinquent
sheriffs The majority report OF the
com nittee fought not to pass" and
signed by the nine Republican mem
bers of the committee, was accepted.
Tue rules were suspended and the re-
solve was passed to be engrossed.
Two thirds of the members present
did not vote for the passage OF the
amendment, however, and the re-
solve is lost. The House voted
squarely against the unconditional
repeal of the Sturgis law
The Senate % to 81 refused to pass
the resolve resu. Z ting to the peo-
pie the prohibitory amendment. So
that question is settled for another
two years.
The bill has passed providing a
board of examiners in optometry (the
science of fitting glasses to the eyes, F.
The sum of $500, 900 is appropriated
for the Home for Feeble Minded,
which is to be erected. Then these
poor creatures will be taken from the
aims houses where they now are.
Bill introduced to provide for a
commission to investigate the con-
dilion of the forests of the state of
Maine and to recommend such laws
for their preservation and increase as
they ay deem necessary.
1t is proposed by bill presented to
have an inspector of gas meters.
The foolish legislation against NOV
ing pictures has been abandoned.
According to the figures of the
committee on taxation, the State will
receive from 100000 to $4,000 ad-
ditional from the steam railroads and
from $4,000 to $4,000 additional
from the street railways as the re-
suit of the bills which they have re-
ported and which are now going
quietly OH their way.
The 58hour bill, brought forward
by the labor unions has been signed
by the Governor, and the pen with
which he signed the act presented to
Representative Beals of Auburn,
President of Maine State Federation.
The Legislature has memorialized
! Congress to remove the hulk of the
| battleship Maine from Havana har-
Dor.
The committee on forest preserva-
ton and water supply reported ought
to pass in a new draft on the bill to
require persons operating portable
saw mills to procure a license and
file bonds with municipal officers and
on the bill to amend the law for the
encouragement of reforestation by
excepting cultivated trees from taxa
ton, which reduces the number of
trees per acre from 1000 to $40.
On motion of Mr.. Burse OF Pitts :
field the act to provide for the uni
form grading, packing and branding
of apples was passed to be engrossed.
In the Senate Mr.. Baxter Of Cum
berland offered a new draft to the
county bridge bill which cuts out the
ten-foot class and makes the coun-
ties take over and build all bridges
having a span of 20 feet or more be-
tween abutment.
The county bridge bill which was
offered as substitute for the Doni-
gan DIiNRt Dlll, Was iANN hHilCig POoo-
poned. Also the bills to provide for
deputy superintendent of schools and
for State certihcation OF teachers.
The act providing for fire and
police commission in Skowhegan,
was passed to be engrossed.
The Governor has reappointed
Ernest w. Emery of Augusta, State
Librarian, and Turner Boswell of
Scion, Disclosure Commissioner.
The committee on taxation re-
ported sought not to pass" upon the
bill recommended by the Maine Tax
Commission for the taxation of saw
ings deposits in National banks.
The list of postprandial speakers
has been decided upon for the ban
quet to be given Monday evening,
March %, at the Augusta House by
the Senate to the Governor and
Council and Speaker Weeks OF the
House. Senator Donigan as chair
man of the committee will introduce
as POSTMASTER, Senator Osgood. The
speakers in their order will be
Governor Fernad, Speaker Weeks,
Senators Warren, Knowlton, MILL
ken, Staples, Hastings, Hamilton,
and President Deasy of the Senate.
Both branches are working like
beavers to bring about a final ad-
journment on the 9th.