Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-02-14
ly everyone that they would never again

ly everyone that they would never again
enter it, HI
Charles S. Pettingill explained that the
present law of 1907 was but the consolida-
ton OF two school districts. working on
precisely the same plan. and had worked
well. Asked by Mr.. Dutton why the cost
had jumped from about $4,000 to about
$4,000. he said that the school popula-
ton had also increased in more than tina,
rate. He knew the people as rule were
satisfied with the present system and did
not want change.
Mr.. Harrington stated that the increase
Of cost Of the school department Of Au-
gusta had been less than any other de-
partment
Mr.. Dutton filed with the committee an
amendment to his bill. which would
change the appointment of the new
board from the mayor and four others
to be named by him, to the mayor and
four others to be elected by the city
council and one to be woman
William E. Peach of Eden appeared
for the bill to regulate the sale of milk
and cream in Eden. No one appeared in
opposition. although it was stated that
remonstrances had been circulated Mr.
Peach favored law requiring all deal
ers in Eden to have bottles with their
name or initials blown in the glass as
means of protecting the dealers and
public.
The acts for increases in the salaries
for the official stenogra piers of the su-
preme judicial and the superior court
were heard together and it is doubtful if
any body of men Of the same numbers
in the State of Maine ever had kindlie:
or more deserved words of praise read
and said to their faces than the stenog-
raphers. who were present in a body.
Judge L. M. Sanborn of South Portland
handled the presentation of the boys :
case, reading endorsements OF the bill
from some of our most prominent attor-
neys and setting forth the value of the
court stenographer to the court. the law
yers and the people in a convincing man
ner. He also showed that but five states
pay as low as Names $500, that % paid
more and but seven paid less, New York
paying $500, while the Maine stenogra PHI
ers asked but s2iOO.
Former Supreme Court Justice A. NJ
Spear spoke heartily in favor of the in
crease, having known the quality. the
character, the fidelity and the worth Of
the men through long years at the bar
and IA years on the bench.
Chairman BENZ. F. Cleaves of the Pub
lie Utilities Commission endorsed and
emphasized all that had been said in IA
vor of the stenographers. He had known
their value and worth if anything was
underestimated He put the pertinent
question as to where with $500 salar,'
as at present only to look forward to.
was the next crop of court stenographers
coming from. with all the increased la
bors devolving upon them and all the
increased expense?
Judge A. f. Nerrll Of Auburn and for
mer Attorney General Scott Wilson also
heartily endorsed every word that had
been said and urged the keeping up of
salary as an inducement for young men
to enter the profession
Representative Gurney of Portland in
troduced Court Stenographer L. I. Rich
ardson of the Cumberland county supe-
ror court, who told in detail of the in
crease in duties and work OF his position,
while the salary had remained for %
years at sl500. He asks s2400 and stated
that where a dollar now would buy but
one-half what it would 26 years ago and
the work of his office had multiplied
three times.
A special act calls for an increase of
the salary of the stenographer of the
Kennebec superior court from $500 to
$500 and Representative Harrington of
Augusta Attorney John E. Nelson of
Augusta and Senator Bartlett of Water
willie all expressed the opinion that ev-
erything in connection with the matter
warranted the increase and it was their
opinion that the increase asked was not
enough. The business of this court has
increased from about two terms a year
to five and the volume of detail in pro-
portion The court now has many cases
of more Importance than those heard in
the supreme court.
William L. Peach Of Eden appeared
/ for the act extending for two years the
charter of the Salisbury Cove Water
Co., granted by the Legislature in 1915
! stating that on account of the European
war the hackers of the company had
| not thought it best to begin any opera
tions toward building the system. Nc
one appeared in opposition,
| RAILROAD HEARING