The Republican journal., 1911-02-09
Men and Things at Augusta.
Legislative Notes on End page.

NleH ana lMngS a. Au6uStd
Legislative Notes on End page.
The fishermen who are anxious that scallop
along the Maine shore be better protected
have taken a unique way to appeal to th'
House and Senate members. Last Thursda.
each member found on his desk clean white
scallop shell on which was emblazoned the one
word, "Help" The shells make excellent ash
trays and will doubtless last longer than all the
printed matter that could have been distribut-
ed in the two chambers.
The prevalence of fatal hunting accidents in
Maine has caused Rep. Phillips OF Shirley to
introduce bill, which appeared Friday, pro-
viding that the person guilty of killing a
human being while in the pursuit OF game shall
pay the heirs of the victim of the accident
$1,000, and, in default of payment, stand COM
mitted until the fine is actually paid. At the
end of 60 days, if the offender is still unable to
pay, he may obtain his release by taking the
poor debtors oath.
Rep. Mitchell of Kittery thinks it would be a
good idea to license the Maine lobster fisher
men and he introduced bill providing for
doing so in the House Friday. The license is
to be issued by the commissioner of sea and
shore fisheries and may be revoked by him
when the person holding it is convicted of a
violation of any law concerning the taking or
sale of Holsters. The cost of the license is fix
ed at 81 and the penalty for fishing without a
license is fixed at fine of not less than $50, or
Imprisonment for not more than 30 days.
The first bill and petition ever presented for
consideration by the Maine legislature under
the initiative law was filed in the office of the
secretary of State Friday morning, as is op-
tlonal Under the law, by Representative Davies.
1t is the bill providing for the nomination of
candidates of political parties by primary elec-
tions. A petition signed by $4,000 voters ac-
companies the document. The bill is lengthy
one and provides that candidates for any State
or county Office, including United States sena-
tor, member of Congress and member of the
State legislature, shall hereafter be made at
primary elections to be held in accordance with
the provisions of the law According to the
proposed law the voter is to designate his
choice of candidate for election by marking a
cross to the right of the name of each candi-
date.
The session of both House and Senate was
brief Friday morning and adjournment was
taken until 43O O clock Monday.
Governor Plaisted has appointed Parker L.
Hardison of Caribou, State highway commits
sioner to succeed Paul D. Sargent of Machias.
resigned Mr.. Hardison has been civil engi-
neer in Aroostook county for 25 years and for
time did similar work in Southern California.
There is a vast amount of interest in the
Hancock county fight which involves the sepa-
ration of Stonington and Isle au Haut from
that county and their addition to Knox The
committee on counties, who heard the argu-
ments on Thursday afternoon and evening,
adjourned until Feb. sth without arriving at
any conclusion. 1t is regarded as pretty GER
tain that majority and minority report will
be submitted and that the majority report will
support the contention Of the united Hancock
county delegation in both house and senate,
who opposed the dismemberment of the
county. Most residents of the county, out
side of the two towns affected, are free to
admit that if the convenience of the Stoninp-
ton and Isle au Haut people was alone to be
consulted there would be little to urge against
their joining Knox. But they believe the
matter to be a far more serious one and that
the separation would be but the initial step for
the dsmemberment of Hancock county. 1t is
determined in their opposition.
Most of the members of both branches were
back for the short session held Monday after
noon and q good deal of routine business was
transacted. Senator Pendleton of Waldo has
recovered from his illness and received
warm welcome back to his seat in the upper
branch.
In the senate the direct primary bill and the
petitions signed by $4,000 people were received
from Secretary of State Cyrus w. Davis, hav-
ing been filed with him Friday. They were
tabled on motion of Senator Staples of Knox.
Representative Murphy of Portland intro
duced resolve in the house, under suspension
of rules, in favor of the election of United
States senators by the direct vote of the
people.
Representative Williamson of AUGUSTA
asked permission to introduce private bill
out of order. The act was for the extension
for two years of the charter of the Waldo
Street Railway company and he explained that
error was made in not presenting it in
proper time and the explanation was satisfac-
tory to he house and unanimous consent was
given.
The house and senate were at loggerheads
Tuesday over the bill providing that all
measures carrying appropriations of money
be referred to the committee on appropria-
tions and financial affairs. It was intended to
bring in general appropriation bill embody-
ing all of them. The measure was indefinite
ly postponed in the upper branch Tuesday
of