Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-03-11
Notes from the Legislature.

Notes from the Legislature.
The pros psct for an early adjournment
may be judged from the action of the
house on Wednesday, when, as Speaker
Harrington said, IL emulsted the mobile
Duke Of York, who had ten thousand
men. He marched them up the hill one
day, then marched them down again"
The calendar Of the house was clu,-
tered with measures Of all kinds which
had been going on the table ever since
the frat of the session. By an order
passed few days since, all measures
that are on the table are 10 be taken on
on Wednesday of each week. Accord
ingly the list Of measures were taken OF
the table one by one-snd with the ex-
ceptiou of two or three OF those OF least
importance they promptly went back on
the table again, for one reason or another.
Some Of them were assigned for consid-
GRAFTON on a fixed day, but that day was
In nearly every instance at least week
10 the future.
Now here Is q sample case showing
something Of why . session OF the legis-
lature lasts longer than 1t need to. One
Of the measures taken of the table
Wednesday, and assigned TO Wednesday
of this week bad been oDthe table for
month, yet the member who bad il re-
tabled stated that an amendment was
"being prepared" but was not ready.
Such case generally indicates simple
negligence or Incidence.
Then there 10 q tendency TO hold back
committee reports on the most important
measures until near the end OF the SEES
sion, so that there may be no attempt to
upset the work after the legislature has
acted upon IL. Instances have been
known where laws have passed early in
the session and then been partly multi
led by other laws introduced later by
those interested in the matter.
And another reason for delay at the
end of the session 10 that some members
apparently don't wake up until along the
eight or ninth week of the session, and
begin to dump bills into the hopper.
The new bills which have come in during
the past week have averaged about 3
dozan day.
But after all, there 10 still reason to
expect adjournment by the 29sh, though
few have hope now OF reaching il by the
22d.
One of the largest hearings OF the SEES
sion wss that OF Wednesday afternoon,
on bills amending the workmen's COM
pensation law. Some half dozen of these
bills had been introduced, varying oae
from another, but all 10 general iucreas-
ing the compensation received by the In
jursd workmsn and reducing the "wait-
Ing time" allowing him to select his own
physician, and containing other features
10 the advantage Of the employee. The
hearing opened at o'clock Wednesday
afternoon in the hall Of the house, and
continued until nearly 9 O'Clock. In
favor of the more liberal provisions con-
tanned 10 the bill there appeared repre-
seutatives OF organized labor and indi-
viduals, and in opposition . number OF
representatives of the manufacturing and
industrial corporations Of the state. The
twenty men composing the committee
sat patiently through the long hearing,
and the ball was filled with Interested
spectators.
Two OF the bearings Of Thursday at
ternoon were also attended by so large
crowds that II was necessary TO hold
them in the two largest rooms the state
house affords. 10 the senate chamber
before the legal affairs committee was
heard an act to provide for the building
OF public wharves and adequate port "a
cilities in Portland, when the great sd-
vantsges of Portland as port were pre-
scented to the committee. This hearing
was conducted by the Portland Chamber
Of Commerce.
In the hall of the bouse the same after
noon the judiciary committee heard
number of matters, the one which took
the most time and drew the most people
being the bill providing for the registra-
ton of osteopaths and regulating the
practice Of osteopathy. This bearing,
which is the most recent OF q series Of
regular biennial affairs, brought osteo-
paths in Q swarm from all directions,
men and women. The bill provides for
the examination and certification of o.
teopaths az such by board Of osteo-
paths. 1t provides that persons so regis
tered shsll not practice medicine by the
use of drugs, or surgery by the use OF
Instruments. The claims of she osseo-
paths TO recognition and protection were
we'll set out 70 the committee. Opposi-
ton to the bill came from tho physicians
Of whom q considerable number were
present, who contend that all who prac-
tice the healing art should take the same
examination and show the same qualifi-
cations.
Bull moose, on which there Is q close
time Of four years ending next NOvem-
Der, will then, IL q bill now on its way
becomes q law, have TO face q hunting
season OF one week each year, from the
24,h to the sob OF November.
let's of several lakes and ponds in the
state provides an item OF 800 to be used
for this purpose at Howard Pond, Han
over. The resolve requires thai the sew
eral towns 10 which the screens are
placed shall engage to keep them free Of
obstruction.
The sequel to the Oxford Electric Co.
bill promptly appeared few days since
ip the form Of bill introduced by Allan
OF Portland, Q member of the public util-
ities committee. IL adds 10 the law re-
gardipg o complaint made to the public
utilities commission by Q public utility |
against itself, tho following sentence:
"Any such public utility may also make |
com plant to the commission - 70 the |
result to 1t and to the public OF being |
compelled to contipue the rendering OF
the whole or any part OF the service u 10
rendering; and after notice and public
bearing thereon said commission may
authorize any such public utility, for .
definite or an indefinite period. 70 dis
the rendering Of oil or . stated
part Of the service 1t 10 authorized 10
render"
The bearing on the above bill 10 ut Q
o'clock Wednesday, March IL.
Card Of Thanks.
I wish to extend my thanks to the