Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-17
Of Rhode Island Assem- bly,
Is Convened Tuesday,
RsdIskIctIOg Report.-1ax Law
Revision. Other Bus mess.
Gov. poihier Recommends q Con.
ysrvailon Commission.

Providence, r. l., Aug. 16-The Cen
eral Assembly Of the state convened
today in a special adjourned session
fer the purpose of acting upon the re-
port of the re-districting commission.
enacting., a corporation tax law and
considering other legislative matters
OF importance. 1t is a. rare occurrence
for the Assembly to meet at this sea-
son Of the year and il. was called in
order that the next election might be
along the lines laid out by the re-dis-
tricting commission. ,. e-.
The session is expected to be brief
one, about two weeks, but the number
OF important matters which will come
up for consideration promises to make
it notable. In addition to the redistrict-
Ing report It was announced that the
body will also have to pass upon the
bill Tor the revision of the tax laws
which includes corporation tax bill
and bill for the creation Of a state
tax commissioner.
Other legislation which may come be-
fore the Assembly includes amend
ments to the egg lobster law. which
caused the withdrawal of several Of
the inland fisheries commissioners;
cOnfirma tion of appointments of new
commissioners; appointment of a state
harbor Improvement commission to
take charge Of the expenditure of the
5000 bond issue and resolution for
the relocating and repairing of the
boundary stones between Rhode Is
land and Connecticut The boundary
marks between this state and Massa-
chusetts have been relocated and put
in good condition during the past year.
The creating of a conservation commits
sion to collect all necessary information
for complete list of the available I'M
improved and unproductive lands of the
state and to prepare the state to be rep
resented officially at the national con-
servation congress at St Paul next
month, Is urged by Governor Aram j
Pothier in a special message to the Gen
eral Assembly today. The governor
makes strong plea for the reclamation
Of abandoned farms in the state and
thinks that list of such opportunities
for agricultural pursuits would aid very
materially in awakening interest in the
subject
The message in part is as follows:
The 1905 census of the states industries
and resources exhibited total of 325 so
called abandoned farms" in Rhode Is
land. Since Jan. /. 1910. Sc letters of in
quiry have been received at the Office o
the State Board of Agriculture from par
ties outside the state and over 80 in
quiries from persons residing here. Man!
of these Inquiries have come from tn,
Far West and South and from Canada.
The efforts of the State Board of Ag
riculture and the evident interest in tn,
opportunities offered by rural Rhode Is
land have forced me to the conclusion
that conditions in this state are at
most suspicious stage for undertaking
complete inventory of mnproductive par
cells Of land, comprising all the informa
tion pertaining thereto that could b.
made OF practical use.
believe that rf list of such proper
ties. scientifically prepared. were to b,
compiled and published we not only would
be surprised at the extent and wealth o.
resources heretofore unrealfzed within
our state, but we would see an immediate
and gratifying result in the development
of enterprise upon those valuable areas
now Tying In idleness and. above all, tn,
rapid advancement In population ant
wealth Of the sparsely settled section OF
our state.
/ therefore recommend the passage Of
an act. constituting a conservation com
mission of five members; said commission
to have general oversight and supervision
OF The natural resources survey and such
activities Of similar nature as NAV he
deemed proper and to serve without com.
pensation.