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

The bill to authorize South Paris Viii
lage Corporation to establish a municipal
water system was introduced on Tues
day by Mr.. Lane of Paris, and referred
to the Judiciary committee.
In the absence of President Deasy due
to delay of trains, Mr.. Hastings was
elected president pro tenn, and presided
at Mondays session.
A bill introduced by Mr.. Hastings on
Tuesday produced more or less inme-
diate criticism, az it provides that pole
rights and locations for auy electric
company chartered by special act of the
legislature shall be granted by the
towns. This would take away from the
towns the right to refuse locations to
any such company. The bill is said to
have come from power company in
Hancock County, which was refused
locations In one town and consequently
had to 60 around it. Mr.. Hastings ex-
planned that he simply introduced the
bill by request and was not sponsor for
il.
Two bills introduced by Representa-
tive Pattangsll on Wednesday are evil
IDENTIFY intended to hit the wild land tax
question. They assess mill state taxes,
four and a half mills for common
schools, and three mills for highways.
The school money is to be distributed TO
the towns, one-third of it proportionate-
ly TO the number of scholars, and two
thirds proportionately to the valuation.
The highway fund is to be distributed to
the towns according to their valuation.
A bill has been introduced by Mr..
g. ali
Co. of Bethel to make and sell gas or
electricity or both.
Mr.. Bisbee of Rumford has introduced
a bill to ratify and make valid the or
J gsnization of the Mexico Water Com
pany, and authorize it to issue bonds
and extend its plant.
Mr.. Nelson of Hebron has introduced
an amendment to the charter of Hebron
Academy, increasing the number of trus-
tees to fifteen.
The taxation committee have consider
ed some of the bills prepared by the tax
commission, and have already acted
favorably on some of them, including
the one which makes the poll tax uni
form throughout the state at the rate OF
$500.
A bill providing that the judge of pro-
bate must be a member of the bar en-
countered opposition, and got an adverse
report from the judiciary committee.
Sagadahoc County is the only county in
the state now having judge of probate
who is not lawyer.
Perhaps no feature of the week caused
so much attention as the Republican
caucus held with closed doors Wednes-
day evening to consider action on the
Sturgis law and allied measures. The
committee which had been entrusted
with the duty reported three measures
to be submitted to the people at special
election to be held next September.
One of these measures is the present
SturgiS law, another the Eaton bill, pro-
viding for the removal by the governor
of sheriffs who do not do their duty,
and the third the HerSey bill, making q
similar provision with regard 10 county
attorneys. These are necessarily re-
solves for constitutional amendments,
not acts to be passed by the legislature
There was evidently lively debate in
the caucus, which lasted for two hours
OF more, and at the close so little prog
ress toward definite action had been
made that the caucus was adjourned for
a week
Representative William r. Pattangall
is getting into the limelight now. His
measures introduced last week include a
bill to abolish the Office of auditor of
state printing, an order asking the Su-
preme Court for an opinion as to the
constitutionality of railroad tax rebates,
and bill which would take away from
the game commissioners the power to
expend for the protection of moose and
deer the money received from hunters
licenses and from fines.
A resolve appropriating $3.50 for plac-
ing buoys on Richardson Lake has been
introduced by Mr.. Hastings.
Among the petitions relating to fish
and game matters is one asking that
Magalloway River above Aziscoos Falls,
Upper and Lower Metalluc Ponds, Lin
coin Pond, and Parmacheenee Lake be
closed to all save fly fishing, and the
individual catch limited to ten pounds.
Under suspension of the rules Friday
an act was passed by both houses max
ing Feb. 18th, the hundredth anniversary
of the birth of Lincoln, school and
bank holiday.
Mr.. Pattangal's order to ask the Su-
preme Court for an opinion regarding
the constitutionslity of the Bangor and
Aroostook Railroad rebate will have a
field day in the house Wednesday of this
week, when the subject of railroad re-
bates will probably be we'll thrashed