Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-02-18
Notes from the LEGISLATURE.

Notice.
Notes from the Legislature.
The first fireworks" of the session
came in the house Wednesday forenoon.
As pyrotechnic display IL was not so
. fiery as had been thought possible and
even anticipated, though 1t presented
some very frank talk.
To make il brief, the subject under
consideration was the special "pork bar
rel" message of Governor Milliken re-
garding the matter of special road re-
solves. On this there mas arisen differ
ence of opinion between Governor Mil
likeu, who has frankly stated that he
would not approve any special road
resolves, and the committee on ways and
bridges, which has as frankly announced
its policy of considering and recon-
mending some of these resolves as pre-
sented.
1t had been arranged that Senator
Peacock, the chairman of the ways and
bridges committee, should state 10 the
legislature the position of the committee
Tuesday morning, but as Ernest F.
Clason of Lisbon, the chairman on the
part of the house, was directly referred
to in the governors message, it was
decided that he should make the state
ment of the committee, which he did
Wednesday morning, reviewing the his
tory of that line of legislation in this
legislature and the preceding. he was
followed by T. P. Washburn of Perry,
another member of the committee, who
made a well worded talk covering vsri-
Gus phases of the highway work of the
state.
1t is impossible to give in the limits of
q small space the substance of the
speeches, further than TO say that they
presented in general the claims Of the
smaller places not directly on the trunk
lines to a share in the highway expendi-
ture of the state. They should at least
be given a reading BY the voter before
he decides offhsnd that the work of the
committee on special road resolves is all
pork barrel extravaganza.
In the senate the same morning there
came the most interesting event in that
body up to date, in the decision Of the
contested election case in AndrOscoggin
County.
In this case, DR.. 81. l.. Irish of Turner,
the Democratic candidate, contested the
seat of Edward r. Parent, the Republi-
can TO whom the certificate of election
was given. The case depended upon the
famoss vote of Ward Four, Auburn,
where there was apparent fraud. Throw
ing out the vote of that ward entirely by
reason of the fraud gave DR.. Irish a
plurality of few votes, and the COM
mittee on elections, composed entirely
81 DonnhliNana pnaHa O unanimous a
port in favor of seating DR.. Irish. By a
vote Of Is to Is the senate refused to
accept the report of the committee, and
Senator Parent therefore retains his
seat.
Thursday morning the legislature had
some distinguished visitors In the per-
sons OF United States Senator Frederick
Hale, Governor Bartlett OF New Hsmp-
shire, and United States Senator Poin-
dexter of the state of Washington. A
joint convention of the house and senate
was held, attended by Governor Milliken
and his council and guests, and large
general audience. Governor Bartlett
was introduced by Governor MillikeD,
and made very pleasant illusions to the
fraternal relations between Maine and
New Hampshire, and feelingly referred
to the cementing of the ties between the
two states by the blood shed by Maine and
New Hampshire men serving side by side
in the 103d regiment. Also incidentally
Governor Bartlett referred to the neces-
sity for free bridge between Ports
mouth and Kittery by expressing the
desire that it might be made possible to
step over the state line without paying
three cents
Senator Poindexter spoke more at
length, devotipg himself to q considera-
ton of the problems OF peace which are
confronting the country, and expressing
the hope that America may maintain the
policy which she has always had Of
managing her own affairs without be-
coming involved 10 the affairs OF Europe.
Except for a little delay in the finsn-
cisl program, the business of the legis-
lsture is now proceeding with good
speed, though none of the important
matters have yet come to iinal action.
The number of bills so far introduced 10
much less than the usual for the period,
and the same condition is said to exist
in Massachusetts, and other states where
the legislatures are now in session.
This indicates cheerfully small proba-
BILE amount Of tinkering OF the statutes.
Two of the large bearings of the SEES
sion to date were held Thursday after
noon. In the senate chamber there was a
hearing before the committee on ways and
bridges on the proposed memorial bridge
between Kittery and Portsmouth, to
take the place Of the present ramshsckle
toll bridge. It is considered reasonably
assured that the United States govern
ment will assume portion Of the cost
of the bridge, the states OF Maine and
New Hampshire paying the rest OF the
cost, which will be considerable sum.
Some of the speakers at the hearing were
Governor Milliken of Maine, Governor
Bartlett of New Hampshire, and Admiral
Bush OF the navy yard, besides num-
Der Of others.
The other hearing referred 10 was held
In the hall of the house, and had q large
attendance IL was before the taxation
committee, and was on the proposition
for a new method of taxation OF intsngi
bic property, with bill which had been
presented. Although the provisions Of
tho bill did not seem to be really clear
to any one, II provides for 9 listing of
his intangible property by every holder
of any such, q tax to be assessed on the
Income of 1t. A feature of the bill
which brought out strong opposition
from the cities is that after the present
year the tar would all go into the state
treasury, and none Of 1t to the municipal |
tiles. At least q hundred men from |
Portland, Bangor, Lewiston and other
places were present 10 oppose the meas |
ure, and 10 certainly struck on the whole |
about as hostile an atmosphere as has
anything that has yet been mp for hear
ing.
The hearing on the bill authorizing |
the Oxford Electric Co. TO discontinue |
the operation of Its road, and dispose Of
lis franchise and property, 10 assigned
for Wednesday afternoon, Feb. rs, be-
fore the committee on public utilities.
What was formerly Sand Pond In the
town of Denmark will hereafter be
known as Walden Pond, the bill to make
that change having progressed far
enough to assure It's final approval. |
II