Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-27
Committee Hearings
The following were among the
committee hearings held yesterday:
LEGAL AFFAIRS
Cases of Reimbursing Offieers-The
Zoning System Receiving Support

Judge L. L. Walton of Skowhegan
appeared Wednesday afternoon be-
fore the committee on legal affairs in
favor of an act relative to the reim-
bursement of officers and prosecutors
in cases of larceny and like crimes
where the culprit after furnishing
bonds defaults his bail. He said that
under the present law there was no
compensation to the prosecutor for
his loss and for the officer, even
though the county have the cash bail
in it's treasury, while, if the prisoner
escaped from an officer, before fur
nishing bail they were recompensed
for loss and money expended. The
pending measure made compensation
alike in both cases.
At the time Of the visit of Maj. Gen.
Clarence r. Edwards to Skowhegan
there were a number of pickpockets
operating in the town. Through the
efforts of Sheriff John A. Mooers
some of these were captured. They
provided cash bail to the amount OF
$2,250, which they defaulted. AS a
result neither the sheriff nor any of
the victims could be compensated for
their losses.
Answering questions by Rep. Will
lard and Weeks, Judge Walton said
this would be but justice to them and
expressed the belief that the bill was
sufficiently retroactive to make it
possible for the Sheriff to recover his
expenses.
Daylight Saving Opposed
No one appeared to support the bill
providing for daylight saving which
came over from the last session, but
w. J. Thompson of So. China, State
Master O fthe grange, c. III. B. Craw-
ford of Houlton, Mr.. Hughes of Pres
que Isle, Senator Tuttle of Aroostook
and Rep. Wood of Bluehill opposed
it. They all declared that the farmers
of Maine were opposed to the bill ana
that no measure before the leglsla-
ture could work more injustice to the
rural sections than would this.
The Zoning System
Rep. Winter of Auburn marshalled
the forces friendly to this bill provid-
ing authority to municipalities to es-
tablish zoning systems for the reg
ulation of residential, business and
manufacturing sections. In opening
the hearing he gave an outline OF now
this plan originated in Europe, where
cities had a great deal more power
to do things for their own beneht
than do American cities.
He then quoted various decisions or
the United States supreme court and
other courts to show the legality OF
hat q
under the police powers provisions or
the constitution.
Similar enabling laws were now in
force, said he, in Massachusetts. Wis
consin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New
York, Iowa. New Jersey, Ohio, lllf-
nois and Washington, d. G. Such
law would be, beneficial to any commu-
nifty. It's provisions were optional
and not compulsory. He also gave
it as his opinion that the people OF
Auburn were favorable to law of this
kind.
Prof. Hormell of Bowdoin, recog-
nized as an authority on this subject,
professor of political economy, was in
troduced and said that the trouble
with the cities was that their powers
were limited. A law Of this charac-
ter was much needed. in his Judgment.
in Maine. 1t would tend to protect
property.
Former Mayor Williams Of Auburn
said that while he had not made a
careful study Of ten bill he felt that
some measure was greatly needed. A.
O. Miller, former member of the Leg
islature from Auburn, endorsed the
idea and said that the people Of Au-
burn generally favored il. he thought.