Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-29
judiciary Committee.

4 The judiciary committee went
| through its calendar at a rapid gait,
Tuesday afternoon. cleaning it up in
little over an hour The first matter
| taken up was the act to extend the
charter of the Sebec Power Co. Henry
Hudson of Guilford appeared in favor
of this and explained that it was
simply to protect the rights of the
| company in a consolidation of in
| terests.
| NJ. J. Bird Of Portland appeared in
| favor of the act to authorize the
Maine Telephone < Telegraph Co. to
| increase its capital stock Mr.. Bird
| explained how the company had taken
over other companies and the business
| had been increased. The original stock
was $4,000 but this had been increa sed
| to $4,000 by vote of the directors to
| take care of new business. 1t had
been found that this was contrary to
| raw Now the company wants more
| capital and is asking for capital
| stock not to exceed 100000 The act
is intended to legalize the old in
| crease and to provide for a new issue.
The act relating to the Ellsworth
| municipal court proved to be the most
| lively of the afternoon. At present
| the clerk of courts in Hancock county
| is ex officio recorder of the Ellsworth
| municipal court, a custom that has
| been In force about 81 years. 1t is
proposed to divorce the offices on the
| ground that ii will be more convent
| ent Tor the attorneys and the public.
Clerk Mason Of the judiciary commit
| Tee read The act and explained its
provisions.
| John f. Bunker of Bar Harbor, who
| holds the offices, appeared in opposi-
| ton to the bill. He stated that his
salary as clerk of courts is s210O per
year and $500 per year as recorder
| Out OF this he pays about $500 to his
| deputy clerk in addition to the 5000
allowed her by the county. He be-
| heved the divorce of the two offices
would be of no benefit to the general
pubic ana would be an inconvenience
| 10 many attorneys. The offices had
| been combined for 81 years without OBJ
lection from any one and he could see
| no good reason from separating them
| now. Mr.. Bunker also frankly oh
Jected to having his salary reduced
during his term of office.
| Ihere was some doubt as to the
scope of the act in relation to the
boards of registration of voters. Port
land people being especially interested
as they are planning to revise their
board, Clerk Mason explained. how
| ever, that the act related only To the
city OF Ellsworth. The law provides
mat cities of 1000 people shall have
| ooarus OF REGISTRATION. AT the las
census Ellsworth fell below the 1000
marx so her board had to be abolished.
Inc act simply provides for the re-
establishment of the board The COM
\ mittee asked Mr.. Bunker. If he wished
10 say anything on this after but he
aiiowed that he did not care to din
| INTO the politics OF Ellsworth or offe,.
any suggestions to the peonIe of the
| city as to the management Of thair
! local affairs.
Mr.. smith of Auburn, a member of
'iie committee, explained that the act
| eid,iis 10 malicious mischief extends
pehdit'es SO as to include high
ways ana other engineering work. AS
| ~ IS at present the law only protects
me stakes and marks of engineers an
/ gagged III railroad work.
| no one appeared for or against the
| ACT 10 establish board of state mark
commissioners and the act to author
| re the Van Buren, Water district r.
| issue bonds. ~
| mere are two elaiments for the rri-
Nuege OF being designated the stata
paper, The Kennebec journal of An
gusta and the Portland Press of PORT
anu me present State paper is the
new Age of Augusta L. A Rur,e;,,,
VI lhe hennebec Journal was heard
i.ist ana argued that the Kennehec
o"'i MAJ should again be made tho
0'".e paper, as its location at The
capitai would be most convenient far
those interested in State advertis;na
~ had also been the custom ia eirsn
pie privilege 10 the dominant naIi,;-
cal party i'T''''-
{. +. Flynt also thought tbe tyorno
bee Journal should be desipnate ~
cause OF its location and exnlainad
1pout rates and service. He stated
mat when last the State paper, the
journal had had a special greement
, iesaruihs rates. but that the rate
would De the commercial or Sl.25 per
men Tor three insertions. He osti-
mated the income from the State
paper advertising at from $500 TO Sooo0
! per year.
Harry Nj. Bigelow, editor of the
, Portland Press, appeared in behalf of
ms paper, stating that he had been
! unable to find any reason why some
+, paper outside of the capital should not
De designated the State paper. He con-
sidered 1t only fair that other papers
IN the state should have a share OF
TINS State business. His paper was un-
aple 10 compete for the State printing
: or any of the legislative printing hui
ne peiieVed could do the State adver.
using as well as any. He had beer
toid that the income amounted ia
: S449o during the last administration
? me Fress would charge the reeula,
commercial rate for State business
winch would be IS cents per inch fo,
lhe irst Insertion and so cents an incl
. Iof each additional insertion.
appropriations and Financial.