Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-28
Notes from the Legislature.

Notes from the Legislature.
Budget hearings have been continued
during the past week before the sppro-
priatious committee and the governor
and council, and have been attended by
many of the members who are generally
interested, as well as by those who are
particularly interested in the various
subjects by reason of their committee
positions Representatives Of many state
Institutions for the care OF different
classes of dependents, insane, ETC., have
appeared and presented their respective
wishes. It is interesting to note that
there is not one of these institutions,
whether q strictly state institution or
one which is receiving state aid, but
what finds Ii absolutely necessary" to
have large appropriation for new build
ings Of some kind or other. There are
also of course certain other buildings
which ought TO be built, but these are
some which are absolutely necessary"
Also it is absolutely necessary that there
should be considerable increase in the
appropriations for maintenance, in view
of conditions. Absolute necessity has
been the prevailing note In the weeks
hearings.
Also each of these institutions for the
care of dependents and detectives of
various sorts needs an increase because
of an expected, contemplated, or certain
increase of population in the near future.
1t is in a way refreshing to note that the
only institution reporting low popula-
ton is the state prison, which now has
only It's, but the officials base their esti-
mates on an average of 2l0 TO 225 in
mates.
1t is still evident that the problem
which will cause the legislators the most
gray hairs is to find way to get between
an endurable tax rate and the absolute
necessities" of expenditures. There is
al present decided feeling that strict
economy must be prscticed, the difficulty
being to harmonic this with the IN
escapable demands on the state.
Economy also is at present indicated
In the attitude on the matter Of salaries.
There is hardly a state official but that
feels be ought to have an increase OF
salary. How it will work out finally can
not be told, but at present the general
feeling is that there will be no lack OF
material to fill the offices at the present
compensation, and the committee on
salaries has been informally instructed
10 keep the lid on"
Besides the budget hearings which
have been the most important sessions
OF the week, the regular work of the
winter is beginning to take form. Bills,
resolves and proposed constitutional
amendments are being dumped into the
hui m "a uvh nl 10 in aao mi fx,
than usual at this period 10 the session.
Which Is to some degree encouraging,
as it points toward shorter session and
less tinkering of the statutes.
Only few measures of direct local
interest have appeared in the mill during
the week. One OF these is the bill TO an
mex the town of Grafton TO the town of
Newry. The bill to repeal the charter
OF the town of Grafton was already In,
and the two bills 60 to the committee on
towns, and will be heard together.
Representative George II. Bean of
Minot has introduced resolve for state
aid in the Improvement of the road lead
ing from the railroad station at West
Minot to the Western Maine Ssnstorium
on Greenwood Hill in Hebron. 1t pro-
vides for the expenditure by the state
of $1,000 for each of the years 1919 and
1920.
Resolves in favor Of Gould's Academy,
Bethel, the Rumford Hospital Associa- |
ton, and Thaddeus Cross Of Norway, are
among the measures presented Friday.
1t is understood that q bill repeating
the street railway franchise of the Ok
ford Electric Co. will be presented this
week. This bill is prepared by the COM
pany, which desires to surrender its
franchise.
A special committee has been chosen |
to investigate the desirsbility of pur-
chasing the Blaine mansion or some |
dence, in view of the fact that It is neces- |
sary for the governor TO reside in Angus |
ia during his term of office.
Representative Chellis Of Porter has |
presented an act changing the name of |
Sand Pond In Denmark TO Walden Pond. |
A resolve in favor of Josnn P. Libby |
Of Locke's Mills has been presented by |
Mr.. Swift of Greenwood.
A resolve authorizing the purchase by |
the state, when published, of history |
of Norway by Charles r. Whitman, has |
been presented by Mr.. Forbes of Paris.
Mr.. Sweat Of Andover has presented |
a resolve in favor of lighting the nsrrows
between Upper and Lower Richardson
Lakes.
The report OF the Committee on County
Estimates was made last week. The es-
timsted expenditures CO Oxford County
for the years 1919 and 1920 are Sl36, 900.
Only AndroscoggiD, Cumberland, Ken
nebec, Penobscot and York are larger.
Among measures of general interest
are:
An act permitting TO elect their road
II they so vote.
An act providing that 10 cases where
the school authorities refuse to transport
scholars, an appeal may be taken to the
Judge OF Probate, whose decision shall
be final.
An act providing for district (not coun-
ty) almhouses, TO take the place Of the
present town farms. Districts are to be
formed of less than 10000 inhabitants.
This measure Is reported TO have q much
stronger favorable sentiment than have
ZONE similar measures which have failed
70 previous legislatures.
The legislature established q good
precedent last week. The first commit
se report, and the only one for the week,
vas sought not to pass" and the judici-
Try committee, at Its meeting Thursday,
leld q three-minute session and voted
ought not to pass" on each of four
measures scheduled for hearing.
The hearing on the two bills relating :
o the town Of Grafton Is to be held at
o'clock Thursday afternoon Of this
seek. OF the two bills, one would re-
eal the charter Of the town of Grafton, .
nd the other would annex the town to
Iewry.
Because of it's real musical bean
,, Enrico Caruso has accepted with
eight the dedication Of Giovanni q
omilli's latest song, written to the Z
ords of Tennyson's poem, "Brsak,
resk, Break" Mr.. Romilli, who 10 Q