The Republican journal., 1909-01-21
The State Capital.
Legislative Sayings and Doinas.

Legislative Sayings and Doings.
One of the much talked of substitutes for the
Sturgis law was introduced in the house
January 18th by Mr.. Hersey Of Houlton. The
Dill provides for constitutional amendment
giving the governor power to remove execu-
tive officers after hearing on charges of ineffi-
cheney or neglect of duty. The bill follows
out one of the planks in the platform adopted
by the Republican State convention at Bangor
last June, and is designed, said Representative
Jersey to newspaper correspondent, to
While the bill provides for the removal of all
executive officers, which may be the mayors
OF cities, the seectmen' of towns and assessors
OF plantations, yet it is the aim of the law to
get after the sheriffs who fail to enforce the
prohibitory liquor law.
A measure of great interest all over the
State was that introduced January 18th by
Senator Knowlton in favor of the University
Maine, which calls for two mills on dollar of
the State valuation for a period of six years.
There seems to be disposition on the part of
the legislature to recognize the rights of the
university and it hardly seems probable that
the bitter fight of two years ago will be re-
peated. Accompanying the resolve is
statement of facts with an estimate of expend-
itures and income of the University of Maine
for the years 1909 and 1910.
A measure to be considered by the legislature
is one providing for their travelling auditors to
work in conjunction with the State Auditor
The idea is, if the bill becomes law to have
the three auditors visit the various State insti-
tutions, like the Maine school for deaf, the two
insane hospitals, ETC., once month and look
over the accounts to see that no bills are con-
tracted which are not provided for in the stat
utes. 1t is believed that this inspection
which wOuld eytapd TO tho min TOT
buttons might be the means of saving consider
able expense. An effort is also being made to
abolish the Office of auditor of State printing
and have it so fixed that one of the clerks in
the auditors Office shall be practical printer.
who shall oversee all the work that is done for
the State.
An act relative to the trusteeing of wages
which has been introduced into the Legislature
or which may be introduced is exciting much
interest in Portland. 1t provides or will pro-
vide for the amendment of the existing law so
that only one half of the wages of any man
may be trusted, thus leaving a portion for
the support of his family. AS the law is to-
day it is stated that all of mans earning NAV
be trusted and his family may suffer for the
necessities of life before the trustee process
expires. The bill in this form will not be
fought very strenuously by those who are OPP
posed to change but if it goes in in the form
Pio'iueu ioi ny some MEMBER OF tGe leglSia-
ture, prohibiting the trusteeing of wages when
they are less than $40 a week there will be
great opposition to it.
M The following order, introduced in the House
by Representative Ross of Bangor, was given
unanimous passage:
Whereas Friday, the 18th day of February
1909 is the centennial anniversary of the birth
of one of the grandest characters in America
history, Abraham Lincoln, held in reverent
memory by all lovers of freedom and liberty
in every cline.
"Whereas, a day which will he f;tingly obse.-
we'd in thousands of schools and public bodies
throughout this broad land of ours, may with
appropriateness be honored by the State of
Maine at its capital city, therefore be it honor.
ed, the senate concurring, that suitable public
exercises be held in the Hall of Representa-
tives or place to be selected by the committee,
the evening of Feb. II, 1909 and that a Joint
committee consisting of seven on the part of
houses with such as the senate may join be
named to make all necessary arrangements.
At a meeting of the joint committee held
Thursday noon it was decided to obtain the
services of Gen. Joshua Chamberlain as one of
the speakers, if possible. Pres. Deasy of the
senate will probably preside. 1t had been
hoped to have address by Gov. Fernald but
the chief executive some weeks ago accepted
an invitation to deliver the address before the
Lincoln club of Portland on that date The
committee organized with the following sub
committees. On place and decorations, Sem
Macomber, Representatives Ross and Burleigh; |
on choice of speaker, Sen. Irving, Representa-
tives Hall and Bigelow, committee of program
and printing, Representatives Hyde, Hall and |
Hines; committee on invitations, Sen. Hastings !
Burleigh and Ross.