Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-01-25
Another Week Of the Legislature.

As far as completed business Is con
cerned, some may have the impression
that the legislature In its third week al
In the preceding weeks has been mark
ing time. Such an impression would bt
wrong. 1t is doubtless safe to say thai
as many of the important measures are
now in the mill as Ia usual at this time
| in the session. The committees gener'
ally are showing disposition to work,
and some of them have already visited
the institutions with which they are con
cerned. The committee on State Sana.
forums visited the Central Maine Sana.
forum at Fairfield Tuesday, and as that
was day of below-zero gales and clear
sky, they got q vivid impression of The
sightliness of the hilltop on which the
institution Is situated, and the purity OF
the air which sweeps over the bills and
fills the lungs of the suffers from ct.
B."
President Baxter of the senate on
Tuesday left bis seat N order to present
from the floor an act continuing the life
of the water power commission, and
memorial to congress. The memorial
asks for amendment to the federal water
power law, because in its present form 1t
may permit the carrying of hydro-elec-
trio power, generated in Maine, beyond
the limits OF the state, causing serious
and irrsparsble loss and injury to the
health and prosperity OF the state, and
to the future growth Of industries there
in"
The act to incorporate West Paris viii
lage was presented last week, and brief
summary of its provisions Is given else
where in this paper.
William r. Dawson of Lynn, Mass,
will give his illustrated lecture on Mount
Katahdin before the members and their
friends in the hall Of the house on the
evening of Wednesday, Feb. I'd.
The social whirl of the legislative SEES
sion has begun, the first of the legisla-
tive assemblies being held at the Au-
gusts House Thursday evening. 1t is
said this is to be the gsyest season in
some years. The climax of the season
will of course be the reception and ball
given by the citizens of Augusta prob
ably the third week in February, which
Is regularly one of the SWEETEST affairs
within the limits of the state.
An act was introduced during the
week to enable the citizens OF Dixtield
and Peru to free the toll bridge at Dix
field village.
One of the most interesting measures
introduced for the week, in some aspects
at least, was an order presented by Rep
resentative Msher of Augusta for an in
vestigation of the fuel situation Of the
state by q legislative committee, which
should have power to summon witnesses,
punish for contempt, etc. This order
was amended by Representative Rounds
of Portland to include the ice business,
which be is anxious to have investi-
gated. After having some other minor
amendments, the order was laid on the
table for printing, where it now is.
A former legislature, about eight years
ago, undertook an investigation of the
coal business. Many coal dealers were
summoned and told their stories. The
chief result of the investigation was to
make people wonder why the coal deal
ers stayed in business, with the lack OF
profit which they claimed, If they could
get out and earn lsborer's wages. Per
haps this investigation, il 1t Is author
lied, will come nearer to accounting for
the high price of coal and the difficulty
of getting 1t.