Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-24
DATE OF ADJOURNMENT.

ing up to face the hopes of the legis
lators that adjournment may arrive
III March. Despite the wonderful eff
cheney with which TIM work has been
transacted it now seems impossible
that the sessions will not extend few
DAYS into April.
President MilIken of the Senate and
Speaker Peters OF the House met i'm
conference, Saturday noon, and agreed
that adjournment, sine die, must ar
rive later than March 20. Two ses-
sions i day, however, may accomplish
wonders.
Saturday morning, the workmens
compensation act made its re-appear-
ance and the new draft will have to
lie threshed out. The subcommittee
that made it is satisfied but some of
the other members of the Legislature
will have amendments to offer just as
they did in the case OF the public utili-
ties measure. Wednesday the work
mems compensation act will be dis
cuss6d in the Senate. but all proposed
amendments viii be offered in the
upper house not later than Monday at
ternoon. This will give everyone a.
is and what the amendments will b..
The new drafts were waiting for the
legislators when they adjourned their
session, Saturday morning. owing to
the quick work by the printers am
they will he able to consider them
carefully and have amendments ready
by Monday afternoon.
more serious fight is promised
over this workmen's compensation
than over public utilities. There was
more opposition in the hearing and I'M
foreground wires are known to have
been placed to blow up if possible any
portion of the bill unfavorable to the
corporations. A good part of this
week, and possibly more, will be taken
up on this measure alone The same
procedure will be followed as on the
public utilities. Monday is the time
limit for receiving Senate amendments
and Tuesday Will probably see the
measure passed by that branch.
The highway commission bill is ex-
pected to slip along without any oppo-
sition. this week. Rep. John c. Scates
of Westbrook, house chairman of the
committee. will resume his duties in
ness of several weeks.
Other Matters Waiting.
There are many other things on both
the Senate and House calendars. Some
of these have yet To be discussed at all,
while others have had amendments
tackled on both branches that will have
to be adopted by concurrent action.
Whether this can be done remains to
be seen. but there is a prospect of a
little fight over nearly every PROPOSE
ton.
Nearly all the committees have COM
pleted their work, and some have even
filed their final report. But the i'm
portant committee on salaries and fees
has yet to return verdict on the near
~ q thousand and one requests for
salaries that were made, and this will
be a signal for an argument as soon
as it comes in. The committee on
State prison, which is now investigat-
ing the financial affairs of that insti-
tuition, has a report it will have to
make What it will be and what will
he done with it is a matter purely
problematical.
Legislatures Great Work.
Even taking into consideration the
several more or less important meas
ures which the Democratic forces in
the House have made it point to
hold up, the work of this Legislature
has established a mark for efficiency
which is really remarkable. The pub
lie utilities bill was put through with
marvellous team work making futile
any efforts the Democrats may have
planned.
After the several hearings held, the
sub committee consisting of Aaron b.
Cole of Eliot, Ira G. Hersey of Houl-
ton, from the Senate; Alton c. Wheel
er of South Paris, Bertram L. Smith
of Patten, Lauren NJ Sanborn of South
Portland and Francis c. Peaks of Dow
er buckled down to work in "A way that
brought forth only words of admira
ton. They made no account Of time.
With one common purpose, to secure
. public utilities commission bin that
would be satisfactory to the people and
fair to the corporations, they did their
work as no other committee in this Leg
islature and probably of any other
Legislature, Maine has known has ever
done. The members of the sub-com-
mittee did the regular work of their
main committees and when they found
an odd minute. they plugged away on
the big question. Evenings they could
be found hanging around the State
house until midnight and sometimes
after that hour. They became tired,
and there were dark circles under their
eyes; sometimes they were irritable
and they were not to be blamed for it,
but they kept at their work.
Then the bill was finished. 1t went
to the joint committees and was APP
proved The members of the Senate
caucussed on it and worked for it.
The Senate discussed it thoroughly in
the committee of the whole, adopted a
"a,