Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-02-14
Notes from the Legislature.

The legislature is now In sense be-
tween hay and grass. The flood Of new
measures has Stacked somewhat, and
final action IL yet possible on only few
matters. The committees are putting In
their time very busily with hearings,
and business Is going on rapidly, but it
makes no great show from the outside
at this stage.
The vote on the resubmission resolve
In the senate was postponed until this
week because Senator Irving of Aroos-
took, who is the Republican senate
member of the temperance committee,
was called home by the illness and death
of his mother. 1t 10 generally conceded
that the resolve will 20 through the SEN
ate and probably the house.
Some rather spicy hearings are held
by the committee appointed to investi-
gate tho financial condition Of the state.
The past and present state auditors and
treasurers have been summoned before
the committee and examined. Mr.. Pat
tangall acts ~ chief inquisitor, and
makes as much Democratic political cap.
ital 40 possible. So far, however, the
| investigation seems to show pretty con-
clusively that the methods of doing the
state bookkeeping need reforming.
Representative Murphy of Portland on
Monday put In q resolution fsvoring
election of United States Senators by
the people, and 1t was passed with little
opposition by the house.
Ar. PattsDgall advocates abolishing
the fraction OF . mill appropriation for
military purposes aud the roads, and the
appropriation OF q fixed sum for each
purpose.
Caucuses Of both political parties were
held Tuesday evening with closed DOORS
to consider matters of party policy, but
according to the story told by the news.
paper men. q boxing exhibition In City
Hall that evening took 20 many of the
legislators away that neither caucus was
able to accomplish much.
A bill introduced by Mr.. Pattangall
would retire the justices of the Supreme
judicial and Superior Courts on half pay
at the age Of 70, or, II the justice prefers,
he may serve out the remainder Of his
term and receive nothing thereafter.
Both parties again attempted to hold
caucuses Thurdsy night, but the at
fractions of the hearing on the herring
question proved 30 strong for most Of the
members that tho caucuses couldn't d.
much. Perhaps ono reason for the fail
ure of the Democratic caucus was that
the special matter to be considered was
ballot reform, and the Democrats don't
seem to be "enthusing" much over that
subject.
The committee favors tho Donigan
bridge bill, now doing its steenth SEES
sion, by . vote of five to three, but the
legislature 10 bound to be economical.
and 1t ID difficult to see how such an ex-
psnsive measure can be put on the state.
Senator Ailliken of Aroostook has IN.
troduced . bill TO repssl> the "joker," a.
It 10 sometimes called, In the liquor law,
which allows the imposition OF fine
only In case of violation. This IL .
measure just like the Hastings bill, in
troduced in the last legislature by Hon.
b. Fl. Hastings Of Bethel, passed by the
Legislature and vetoed by Governor Fer
maid.
Tho committees will follow Mr.. Pat.
tangall's suggestion regarding the appro-
priations for military and State roads,
and will report in favor Of fixed amounts
for those purposes, which will be smaller
than 10 tho past two years under the
fraction. of.a-mill method.
Several measures for consolidation of
Offices and state boards have been intro
ducsd. One OF them abolishes the In.
land fish and game commissioners, and
tho commissioner Of sea and shore fish-
cries, and IN their place establishes two
commissioners, one for inland matters
and tho other for aea and shore matters,
they to have . clerk and each of them to
have salary Of $500. The passage Of
this would Of course remove the present
Republican commissioner and FIJI their
places with two Democrats. Other bills
the management Of the In |
sane hospitals and tho school for tho |
feeble minded under one board Of trus-
tees, and another to consolidate the |
Of the state school for boys
and the state school for girls. Il 10
that bills for the abolish.
ment Of Offices Of either greater or less
Importance are not now finding % much |
lsvor - might be thought.
The SturRis law and the liquor agency
lew were repealed BY the senate Friday,
without dissenting vote, and almost
without comment.
The first town division matter on
which action 10 taken 10 that OF the town
IF Bristol, and the committees report ID
against division.
Representative Peters on Friday
Iprang . surprise BY putting In rssolu.
ION instructing the special committee
which 10 investigating the condition Of
tate finances 10 ASCERTAIN II any dis
,onest practices or violations Of Law
'xisted In any Of the departments Of the |
tate. The order WAS tabled, and will
oms up again on Tuesday. u