Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-03-25
The Work of the legislature

AS is usual at this stage of legisla-
tive session, some Of the most important
matters on which action is to be taken
are still under consideration, and waiting
for final disposition. Indeed, there are
perhaps more of these than usual, but
this is because the work laid out for
this legislature and expected of 1t in
cludes more important measures than
any legislature has had before in a long
time.
It is to be noted however that this
legislature did what no previous one has,
and refused 10 receive matters OF private
and special legislation after the expirs-
ton of the time originally set. 1t Is
also the fact that the legislature has got
the private matters pretty we'll out OF
the way, and that the things which have
occupied most of its time have been
matters of public interest. In sessions
generally there are number of matters
of contest between private interests
which occupy a large amount of time
and take the attention and energy of the
legislators, to the exclusion of important
public matters. Less OF this condition
than usual has prevailed at this session.
Some of the measures of most inter
est which have been disposed of by un-
favorable action are woman suffrage,
which passed the senate but failed mar
rowly of the necessary two-thirds in the
house; change of date Of state election
to November; the Massachusetts, ballot:
the perennial DeForrest Reyes claim !;
repeal of law of last legislature which
retires Supreme Court justices at 20
years Of age; while some others may
be revived"
OF what remains for action undoubted-
ly the three most important are the pub
lie utilities commission bill, the work
ingmen's compensation act, and the road
bill, providing for the two million bond
issue and the creation of state high
way com mission. OF these only the first
has been considered by the two houses
and got into something like the shape In
which it can be passed. Being perhaps
the most important measure before the
legislature, the public utilities bill has
been the target for more amendments
rightly or wrongly attributed to "the
ipterests'') than any measure before the
legislature. This bill has passed the
senate, and went through the house with
almost surprising ease on Friday. Some
minor features Of II remain TO be adjust
ed between the two houses, but 1t
stands a good prospect of becoming a
law without radical changes from the
form in which Ii was Introduced.
The bill introduced by Representative
Wheeler to abolish grade crossings got
an adverse report, but modified bill,
looking to more gradual adjustment,
has been put in and il is said stands
some show of passage.
Governor Haines last week sent in his
second veto, the object OF it being bill
raising the salary of the judge of the
Kenuebee Superior Court. In his veto
message the governor called attention TO
the fact that there are a large number OF
bills now before the legislature increas-
ing salaries of public officials, aud he
considered that the best way TO approach
the subject was for commission to in
vestigate the subject of salaries and re-
port to the next legislature. 1t is rs
ported that the governor will not sign
any bill making al increase Of salary.
His veto was sustained.
Although IL Is so late in the session,
new measures appear nearly every day.
One of the latest is the ''recall," in the
form OF a resolve for constitutional
amendment. IL Is hardly likely to &c,
consideration now.
A bill designed TO secure better en-
forcement of the prohibitory law, which
has the approval of Governor Haines,
makes IL the duty of the attorney general
to take charge of all the Investigations
before the grand jury where sheriff,
deputy sheriff or county attorney neg
lects or refuses to enforce the law. This
bill was introduced by Representative
Bowler of Bethel, at the governors re-
quest, and Hon. James 5. Wright APP
peared in its behalf at the hearing Thurs
day evening, saying that il passed 1t
would improve conditions in respect TO
the enforcement o! the liquor laws.
The county tax to be assessed for Ok
ford County for 1918 and 1914 is $50, 900,
the Same as for number of years past.
The optimists of the legislature talk
about reaching Adjournment the last OF
this week.