Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-22
Important Legislation
Continued from Page One)

\SOuliIiuGQ ~ OItl GJS S'S/
$JGO,OG but there is some feeling
that the farmers would more readily
take advantage of the provisions if
the interest rate Was reduced even
one per cent.
Money borrowed under the Farm
Loan Act may be used in repairing
farm buildings. constructing new
ones, building siloS. rcfunding exist
ing mortgages, etc. Farmers may
have three years before they are
obliged to start payment on the prin-
cipal ana they have 20 years in
which to pay it all. Applications for
loans are made to the Department OF
Agriculture. The Farm Loan Com
mission consists of Governor Baxter,
State Auditor +. -. Hayford, State
Land Agent Samuel II. Dana, Com
missioner OF Agriculture, f. p.
Washburn and Or. \. Q. Thomas,
State superintendent of schools.
Proposed Coal Legislation
Following some discussion of the
coal situation in Maine which took
place at the Joint Republican caucus
last week. tho matter will be brought
to a head this week in tho S1St Leg
islaturc when an act will be present.
cd giving officers of the state the
right to seize coal during a shortage.
1t is understood that Attorney Cen
cral Shaw will he asked to draft such
4 measure. Those behind the bill say
that they want n law with teeth" in
it, and the act would give the officers
the right to search any premises
where they have reason to believe
that fuel is being boarded OF con-
ccalcr. The power to enforce this
proposed law, it is expected. will be
conferred upon the state fuel admin
iStration.
Heavy penalties will be prescribed
in the proposed lc2giSl2tlon for per-
sons or corporations convicted of OBJ
structing the distribution of coal as
directed by the fuel administrator
during any emergency declared to
exist. While coal dealers or others
from whom fuel seizures might he
made by order of the administrator
would have the hight of appeal to the
supreme judicial court under this pro-
posed law. any legal action would
not be permitted to stay the hand OF
the administrator. and t is prcsum-
ed that any relief allowed would have
to be in the form Of a judgment to be
subsequently paid by the state.
Under the proposed law, dealers
would be compelled to sell coal to
any persons designated by the fuel
administrator or those authorized by
him to give orders.
Gov. Baxter is tho administrator
and Andrew j. Lane is the director
of the Maine Fuel Administration.
Seek Appropriation for Maine
Building at Exposition
A matter which the Legislature
must soon decide, is whether or not
an appropriation should be made for
the building of a state of Maine
building at the Eastern states F.X
position at Springfield. The Lcgis
laturc will he asked to appropriate
$4,000 for this purpose, providing
that amount can be matched by prl-
waite subscription OF $4,000 from
those interested.
For several years the Maine De-
partmcnt of Agriculture has agitated
for a Maine building at this big OK
position. Two years ago q resloNe
for $4,000 Ior that purpose passed
the Legislature but was vetoed by
Governor Baxter
1t cost the Department of ASricnl-
ture last year $1,000 to hire a place on
the exposition grounds to exhibit
Maine agricultural products. y con-
siderable amount in addition was eX-
pended for care of the exposition
materials used and to provide for
those having the exhibition in charge.
With a building such as could be
erected for $4,000. not only would
there be space for the exhibition OF
the Maine Department of Agriculture,
but there could also be an exhibit on
q larger scale of the fish and game
and all the other resources of the
State.
Proposed Highway Legislation
New Highway legislation. which
will be introduced soon, will provide
that highway work as carried on by
the State shall be done upon three
classes of roads; first class, those
roads embraced in the present State
highway system: second class, those
reads included in the present State
aid system and such as hereafter may