Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel], February 25, 1870, Image 2

About Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975

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the latter that a largo business ** ‘^nr
Bt Again he makes the remark of general ap
r,'rr;::mH,Of thin?-, th.- interests o1
tl„. shareholders and the public can never he
identical,"
When the Dexter and Newport 11. II.. 14
miles, commenced running under a lease to
the M. C. 11. It., some had the simplicity to
expect the rate of freights to t>o one dollar
per ton. Mr. Nove*. the Superintendent, at
once placed it nt #2.50 per ton—just at the
figure that would drive oil' teams, ltaiiroad
men do not pretend to manage their roads on
tiie principle of pliilanthrophy. I hev will
tix the rates nt tlint point which they think
will best subserve their own interests, as oth
er men do in other kinds of business. That
point must be so fixed as to accomplish two
objects; one is to drive off competing teams,
tiie other is to promote production so far as to
give them business at high rates, hut of course
not too high.
It is said again that this hill “contemplates
a change of gauge, or a uniformity of gauge.
In what section of the bill I should like to
know ? There is not one word in the bill
“contemplating” any such thing. And yet
this argument is constantly repeated in tiie
newspapers, and passes from mouth to mouth in
all the forms of iteration and reiteration. O',
but these gentlemen say that you pass this bill
and. they the Directors ', ‘contemplate’ a change
of gauge. What care you for their “contem
plations’'? What. I ask. does the hill “con
template”? There is a pertinency I think in
this question. If it be of any interest to the
committee I u'ill state that I “contemplate
going to bed at 12 o'clock to-night. 1 here is
quite as much force and pertinency in im
statement ns in theirs, and certainly as much
truth.
Sir, and gentlemen, a change of gauge will
be postponed indefinitely by the passage ol
this bill. The Kuropean and North American
will soon be completed to Halitax : the Aroos
took branches will soon he built. The Somer
set, Belfast and Mooschend Kailroud w ill soon
pour their traffic upon the M. ('. If. In the
mean time the P. & K. has the advantage of n
continuous track through Portland. Is it not
self-evident that the stimulus of rivalry will
soon, very soon compel the M. If. If. to
overcome the difficulty at Portland either by
a change of gauge or a third rail to Boston,
or by the adjustable axle which is now coming
into extensive use. and is pronounced to be u
success, so that a ear can in a few minutes be
changed from one gauge to another? But
you consolidate the roads and tiie stimulus of
competition to produce the desired result is
annihilated. Then you may change cars at
Kendall's Mills or break up at Portland. In
any ease the great “consolidation” gets your
money. As an illustration of the manner
in which legislation is sometimes effected,
i reicryuii iu iui uu n^mivn
which certain interested parties procured. The
act forbade any change of gauge, and requir
ed the Attorney Gemini to prosecute any vio
lation of the act. The last line how ever was
in these words, ‘‘provided however, this act
shall not apply to the roads etisi oj 1 ’oil
ia nd." And then the title of the act was “an
act to promote safety of travel on railroads.
All which implied that the laws of nature were
one thing cast of Portland, and another tiling
west of Portland. Very few knew of the ex
istence of this act till in 18(14 the commission
era who went to the Massachusetts Legisla
ture to get aid to the European and North
American Hailroad were refused aid until this
law should he repealed. Thereupon in 18(!.»
the act alter the keenest contest of the ses
sion was finally wiped from the statutes.
Again it is said there w ill he peace in the
Legislature; these two great companies will
fight no longer. Peace! There will he a
sword-iustead of peace. These two compa
nies will regulate their farces to their lik
ing. will bo purchasing the stock of other
railroads in order to control them; will be
gobbling up one road after another, cancel
ling the leases, watering their stock when ne
cessity requires it, and in the course of years
making millions of money for themselves,
created through the extinction of the rights of
others under the forms of law, or without it.
But let them not expect that all this will he
done without a struggle. There will he n
struggle and a fierce one, hut in the end unit
ed persistency of action and immense wealth
will conquer. Then 1 grant you there will he
peace. Hind a man hand and foot and stand
over him with a club, and I grant you the con
test is ended, there is peace, hut what a
peace! It is such a peace as followed in the
bloody track of the Homan armies, and to
which Galgaeus, the Caledonian Chid alluded
when he said, “they make a solitude and call
it peace.”
There is a provision in the charters of these
two roads, and probably in nearly all the rail
road charters of the State, certainly in the
Athens railroud charter, and Saco river rail
road charter, granted as late as 1869, that
whenever the income of the road pays ten per
cent, on the stock, the balance shall be paid
into the State Treasury. The stock of the
Maine Central Kailroad has within three or
four years advanced from §.’> to 840 per share.
Such is to be the great increase of traffic and
prosperity of the road, that in ten years or
less, if the affairs of this road should be hon
estly administered, the State would receive
an income from this provision. The same is
true of other roads. A provision somewhat
similar exists in the laws of New York in re
laltun 10 me sew lorn central aim oiner
roads. That provision is, that the Legisla
ture may reduce the rate of fares, but not so
low as to make the profits less than 10 per
cent, to the stockholders. The income of the
roads is sufficient to pay the 10 per cent, two
or three times over. How do the railroad
men evade the law? They "water'' the stock,
issue any number of new shares, divide the
shares among themselves, and calculate the
dividends on the increased number. In this
manner the stock of some roads has been
doubled, and the stock of the Erie railroad
increased in "twenty-two months from $1G,
574,300 to $70,000,000. that is, hv an addition ;
of three hundred and twenty-two per Cent, of]
mere water,' " so says Charles Francis Ad- j
anis, Jr. The Legislature of New York, tin-1
dor the control of bad men, is utterly power- I
less to provide a remedy. The Legislature
of Maine is now pure, but what may it be
come in ten. fifteen or twenty years? Let us
take warning before we are enslaved.
The baleful influence of great railroad cor
porations has been many times alluded to in
this discussion, and among others the Camden
& Amboy is mentioned. 1 understand Mr.
Noyes to state that he has been to New Jer
sey, made inquiries, and the result to which
he 1ms arrived is, that Camden Jc Amboy has
been vilely slandered: in substance, that there
is a hallowed |K-rfume emanating from that
corporation; that there every rose smells
sweeter, and every lily is purer: in short,
that if tiiere be any spot upon earth fit to he ;
called the Gate of Heaven, and Paradise of
God, that spot is the purlieus of Camden &
Amboy. Permit me to say that 1 think these
petitioners might have sent a more impartial
witness. I suppose that Mr. Noyes considers '
it written with the finger of destiny, that il
this hill passes, he is to lie the Snperintend
ant of all the consolidated railroads in Maine,
with a salary of #10,000. At any rate if he
does not, public opinion points him out for
that place. Under such circumstances I re
spectfully distrust his judgment. 1 cannot
assent to all his facts or conclusions. I must
have better security than liardolph; I like
not the security. As an offset to him, permit
me to read to you the conclusion of an article
in the January number of the North Ameri
can Review, by Charles Francis Adams, Jr.,
a man who does no dishonor to the ability or
virtues of his grand-father, J. <j. Adams, that
sturdy, old, incorruptible puritan, who fought
the battles ol liberty all his life, and died with
harness on.
• Meanwhile, here are two systems growing
and espaBtimg sale by side,—the representa
tive republican system of government, adapt
ed to a simple and somewhat undeveloped
phase of society ; and the corporate industrial
ty .torn, the result and concomitant of a com
T'lox and artificial civilisation. How long can
they develop together? The peculiarities and
combinations now noticed in our legislatures
ami market-places, the growing torpidity of
public opinion, the constant strain under
which our machinery of government visibly
work*, the crude, undigested propositions for
reform which emanate from every quarter,
the startling rapidity with which change de*
velops itself, and the rapidly shifting phase*
1 which all interests assume, clearly indicate
some deep-seated social and political revolu
tion now in progress. \V hat this will result
in time only can disclose. It would he a
mere waste of space and ingenuity to en
deavor to forecast it at present. One thing
is, however, daily becoming more evident,
j and as a result may, according to present in
dications. soon he classed among the things
that are inevitable. Our political system can
not much longer sustain the conflict with
corporations. Modern civilization has crea
ted a class of powers which are too strong for
the control of our governments. The ma
chinery of combination and perpetuity is too
perfect. The future in this matter is in some
degree foreshadowed by the past. Once al
ready has a great corporate interest grasped
tit the control of our government, and it
could only be thrown off by the convulsion of
a civil war. On one other occasion the gov
ernment became involved in a conflict witK^\
private corporation, wielding the power of
only $35,000,000 of capital, and for years the
• country was disturbed. Both of these were
1 the episodes of the earlier and simpler days,
i What is the aspect of the present? The
' States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
' Maryland are respectively owned by corpora
j tions within their limits. New York is gov
! erned by two corporations, acting in concert
i with one corrupt political ring. The United
j States is struggling painfully with half a
! dozen great combinations of private and cor
j porate interests, and no well-informed man
| doubts that to-day it is in the power of the
national banking system alone to dictate to
j the national government any financial policy
J it may desire, and to compel its adoption.
| The simple fact is, that on the people, who
| w ith us are the source of all power, these
i combinations, through their material influ
j eneo and their power to create or allay dis
; turban re, exercise more control than officials
j and reformers combined. How indeed could
it be otherwise? Compare the things of to
day with those of yesterday. The Lnited
1 States Bank, in the clays of its greatest pride,
boasted a capital of $115,000,000. The slave
power was welded together by nine hundred
millions of property, but controll d only one
section of the country and could be combated
in another. The bank was overthrown through
its own folly, after a nine years’ struggle; the
destruction of slavery was accomplished after
| twenty-five years of agitation and four years
of civil war. The present banking system
consists of one compact organization, senai
| live to the common interest, subject to a com
mon control, which now enjoys $42(1,000,000
<>i woniui, aim u* mwniv,
distributed all over the country. The rail*
road system dwarfs even this. Single
members of it control two hundred millions of
capital and employ tens of thousands of men.
As a united influence it shoots out its rami
fications into every State and county anil
town of the whole L’nion. and represents and
wields all the power contained in $2,000,00}),
000 of wealth. These are the disturbing
forces now called upon to take part in a
social system which grew up under a govern
ment created in 17b9. What will he the lim
its of their action? May not the oak tree
already be shattering the porcelain vase?
These powers and influences, be it remem
bered, do not violently overthrow, but rather
quietly antiquate, any system of government
which thwarts their development. In our
case they will prove a disturbing, and proba
bly, under the present system of government,
an uncontrollable, force just so long as their
development is a subject of legislation, and so
long as the community seeks to impose legal
restraints upon them, or they have ends to
gain w ith legislative bodies. The real danger
lies in the sad fact that in the conflict the gov
ernment has not an equal chance. The cor
porations are always in earnest; the officials
rarely arc. Above all, the corporation does
not change. Its whole organization aims at
unity in council, persistency in action, and
the selection from the community of the high
est order of that ability which it needs, and
which, once found, it permanently retains in
power. It is a disciplined, organized ar
my. This superb, effective organism, the
last development of modern civilization, is
then placed in subordination to, or brought
into conflict with, n political administration
which originates in the caucus, is continually
trembling for its retention in the temporary
power which it received on the principle of
rotation in office, and which it signalizes by a
new illustration of the maxim that to the vic
tors belong the spoils. In conflict with such
a system it needs no prophet to forsee that,
in the future, as in the past, the spoils will as
a rule, belong to the corporations.”
Here are the facts stated by Mr. Adams.
Ho you doubt them ? l)o you doubt his con
clusions ? Is not the danger impending over
our republican government very great? Arc
not these great corporations consuming the
vitals of the Republic? Just look at New
Vork city. Republican government .has al
ready disappeared from the great heart of this
nation. The legislature is bought and sold
like sheep in the shambles, the judges are
corrupt, brothels and grog shops rule the city,
murders are committed every day, one man
is shot upon his own door steps, another one
being refused a glass of whiskey shoots the
man refusing ; their most distinguished mem
ber of Congress is a prize fighter, and at the
elections the rule is for the honest man to vote
once, und the villain to vote twenty times.
Sir, this bill places too much power in the
liuncls of one set of men, however respectable.
Hut who will be their successors? A man
before he is entrusted with such power should 1
be first baptized with the Holy Ghost and
with fire. To what untold evils may not this
great Consolidation lead? Wilt thou make
ti covenant with him, wilt thou bind him for
thy maidens, wilt thou put a hook in his nose ?
Will he make many supplications unto thee?
Will he speak soft'words unto thee? Behold
the hope of him is in vain. The sword that
layeth at him cannot hold; the spear nor the
dart, nor the harbegeon. He esteemeth iron
as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
This tremendous power will be the fountain
of untold corruption. It will eat out the sub
stance of the people. It w ill create an order
of nobility. It will bestride
-“bestride the State
lake a (JoUossus; and we petty men
Walk under its loiKe legs, and peep ubout
To tiud ourselves dishonorable graves.”
Gentlemen, the people of this State are not
willing to see all the future railroad interest ;
pass from their control. They wish to build
railroads where they may judge to be best, ]
and when they so adjudge, and are not ready to
be put, or to put themselves under guardian
ship. nor, when they may want a new rail
road, are they willing to go to even these
gentlemen ami more especially their succes
sor*. and cap in hand, in a bondsman’s key,
with bated breath and whispered humbleness,
ask their consent.
Bet me repeat, gentlemen, that this bill
once passed is utterly irrcpcalable. Do not
forget this fact. I pray you. Do not forget
that you were not chosen in reference to this
| matter. Ib it right. 1 ask you, to adopt a
' measure fraught with such mighty conse
quences betore the people are heard? See
what an opposition is already beginning to
: manifest itself. The Common Councils of
I l.ewiston, Portland and Bangor have passed
' resolutions against it. There has been a new
bearing in Bangor, and they stand to their
first vote. If such is the opposition in the
cities, what do you expect to find in the rural
districts? In the country, so far hb 1 know,
in my judgment not one in twenty favor it.
Then let it go over. I.et the people examine
it and send representatives here another year
I with their instructions. Publish it in the
newspapers, discuss it. If the people see
fit finally to adojit it, I shall, of course,
submit to the inevitable with what grace I
can, but with the deepest regret. Ot one
thing I am sure, thnt the man who does not
know that the people of Maine value their
independence of character above every other
consideration, has studied their nature to
small purpose.
MAINE LEGISLATURE*
Senate.
Tm nsoAV. Feb. 24.
Met according to adjournment.
l’rayer by Hev. Mr. Take of Gardiner.
liecords read and approved.
Tapers from the House disposed of in con
currence.
On motion of Mr. Flatten, House resolve
relating to making streets on south and west
side of the State House, was recommitted.
Mr. Wr.nn. from Committee on Division of
Towns, reported leave to withdraw, on peti
tion of N. S. Allen et als., of Kdmunds, to
annex a portion of said town to Dennysville.
Mr. Heed, from the Committee on the Ju
ciciary, reported no amendment necessary in
regard to order relating to sec. tS chap. 225 of
the public laws of 1808.
On motion of Mr. Collins,
Ordered, That the Committee on Division
of Towns, inquire into the expediency of
changing the registry district of Aroostook
county.
On motion of Mr. Lane, the resignation of
the Attorney General received yesterday was
accepted.
Mr. Lane, from (lie Judiciary Committee,
reported legislation inexpedient upon order in
regard to further legislation for protection of
bridges against the frequent use of firearms.
Mr. Ginns, from Committee on Manufac
tures, reported bill an act relating to regula
tion of river and interior fisheries. Tabled
and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Neallet moved a reconsideration of
the vote whereby the Senate concurred with
the House in indefinitely postponing bill an
act relating to the election of selectmen,
treasurers and collectors. '1 he Senator spoke
in opposition to allowing the same man to
hold the offices of selectman and treasurer.
Carried, and the Senate insisted on its former
rote.
On motion of Mr. Nkaixey, the following
were appointed a committee on conference on
the subject, on the part of the Senate. Messrs.
Ncallcy, Buck and Holland.
On motion of Mr. French.
Ordered, Thnt after this day the hour of
meeting of the Senate be fixed at 'J o’clock A.
M. except on Mondays.
T.eave to withdraw was granted on petition
of Wm. Dyer et ills., for amendments to laws
relating to savings banks, and to A. F. Brad
bury et als., of Dexter for same.
Mr. Metcalf, from Committee on Hanks
and Banking, reported legislation inexpedient
upon order relating to change in laws relating
to Savings Banks making loans on names
alone.
mime neuaiur irum »muu lumimwv,
ported ought not to pass, upon bill an act to
amend an act in relation to savings banks, to
enable them to make loans on names alone.
Mr. Cushing, from Committee on Kail
roads, WayS and Bridges, reported bill an act
to incorporate the Androscoggin Valley Kail
road Company, and on his motion it was lnid
on the table and ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr. Lang, bill an act to regu
late the sale of milk, which came up on its
passuge to be engrossed was indefinitely' post
poned.
Mr. Lindsey, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported legislation inexpedient on order
relating to amending the laws in regard to
appointing commissioners; also in regard to
order asking for a law making railroad cor
porations liable for injuries.
Same Senator reported bill an act further
regulating probate courts. Printed.
Mr. Lindsey, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported bill an act to establish the num
ber of pounds of coal which shall constitute a
ton, (2240). Laid on the table and ordered
to be printed.
On motion of Mr. Lang, bill an act to
amend the charter of the Maine Suite Ag.
Society, laid on the table on motion of Mr.
Kked, was taken up, amended by striking out
the word “six” after the word “treasurer”,
and passed to be engrossed us amended.
On motion of Mr. Biffcm,
Ordered, That the petition of J. H. Eveleth
et als., to be incorporated for the purpose of
improving the North Branch of the Piscata
quis river, referred to the next legislature, be
recommitted to the Committee on Interior
Waters.
Mr. Lane, presented petition of Helen A.
Gilman, President of the “Association for re
lief of aged indigent women", for clinnge of
name of said association. Referred to the
Judiciary Committee under a suspension of
rules.
Read and assigned—An act to incorporate
the Stetson High School and Library Associ
ation ; resolve in aid of building a bridge over
Fish Stream in Island Falls plantation; re
solve granting a lot of land to Francis Albert,
Jr.; an act to change the names of certain
persons ; an act to change the name of Kugene
W. Libby; an act to change the names of
certain persons; resolve in aid of opening a;
road through parts of Crystal and Island Falls j
plantation, in Sherman ; an act to change the j
names of certain persons; resolve in aid of,
building a bridge in plantation No. II. K. 1. i
County of Aroostook; resolve in aid of build
ing a bridge over Beaver Dam Brook in
Island Falls plantation; resolve in favor of I
Moses Perry; an act to change the name of
the Skowhegan and Bloomfield Village Cor
poration to the Skowhegan Village Corpora
tion : bill an act to incorporate the Bueksport
Savings Bank; an act to legalize the doings
ot the First Parish in Bethel; an act to incor
porate the Corinna Fire Insurance Company.
1‘assed to be engrossed—An act to amend
sec. 8 of chap. 11 of the Kevised Statutes, re
lating to supervision of schools; an act to
amend chap. 40 of the Revised Statutes, re
lating to herring boxes; an act to establish
the salaries of certain county officers in Cum
berland County; an act to incorporate the
North Anson Savings Bank.
I’asstd to It enacted—An act to incorporate
the Sagadahoc Icc Company of Richmond;
an act relating to the extension of the wharf
of Joshua and Bonj. C. Adams in Camden; an
act to extend the charter of the Rockland Fire
and Marine Insurance Company; an act to
incorporate the Mayfield Slate Company; an
act to incorporate the Casco Bay Steamboat
Company; an act to incorporate the Bangor j
Milling Company; an act to establish the
Ridge School District from the towns of
Dexter and Corinna; an act to incorporate
the St. John Agricultural Society; an act to
incorporate the Aurora Mills; an act to in
corporate the Russell Stream Dam Company;
an act to incorporate the liartland Savings !
Bank ; an act to incorporate the Damariscotta
Village Cemetery Corporation ; an act to au
thorize Samuel l>. Carleton, Joshua Q. Nor
wood and 1’. J. Carleton to extend a wharf
into the tide waters of Rockport harbor, in the
town of Camden.
The question of the division of the town of
Westbrook, which was before the Senate at
time of adjournment yesterday, was taken up,
and Mr. Webb continued his argument in op
position to division. He spoke to consider
able length, going over the action of the peti
tioners before the committee, adducing the
evidence of witnesses, and fully explaining
the condition and state of the case.
Take twenty men's names from that peti
tion, and it would never have been here.
They have spent time and money to secure
their ends. One man speutthree weeks time, |
and only obtained one hundred signers to the ;
petition. The whole thing is a conglomera- '
tion of wrong and injustice. There are those
who had rather be first in a little village, than
second in an empire, and this fact is at the
bottom of the whole movement.
We want large towns and power, not small
towns and weakness. In union there is
strength.
Kvcn if it should be found necessary to di- J
vide the town the proposed division is unequal
and unfair. But if fairness is carried out!
there will he no division at all. By division
wounds would be made instead of being healed.
There was not one single allegation set forth
bv the petitioner except in regard to the pop
ulation and valuation of the town, that was
sustained, while the remonstrants hare sus
tained every point made before the commit
tee. His sympathies were at first for the
petitioners, but the proof was too strong
i against them. If they are sent bark this
year they will never trouble the Legislature
again.
Mr. Lane said if the gentleman who just
spoke is not a lawyer by education he is eer
l tainly one by birth, as liis actions in this ease
show. The gentleman does not have such
a great regard for majority reports in all
cases, as in the present.
He read the allegations set forth in the
prayer of the petitioners for a division of the
town, and explained upon them, meeting the
' objections brought against them by the pre
vious speaker. It may be that the two allc
i gations admitted to be true are enough to
make out the case. There is nothing on
either side that we want to conceal or keep
back for we want the full facts. The fact
that either of tne gentleman from Somerset
went to Westbrook, should have no benring
' upon the case.
The bill should have been reported to the
House. This remonstrance was not seen be
fore the committee, hut we have no conceal
ments to make in the question. The majority
report is signed by five, the minority by four,
so the majority report is not a very large one.
There was a long and laborious investigation
and it is not perhaps well to go back of their
; labors.
lie took up the items in the majority report
and briefly examined and adverted to their
merits and demerits. The same arguments
have been used on former occasions against
division as were made to-day.
Tending the question the Senator gave way
for the purpose of adjournment.
On motion of Mr. It CEO,
Adjourned.
Correction.—In the printed report yes
terday, of the vote on the capital punishment
question, the name of Senator Nealley of
York, who voted No, was accidentally omit
ted.
House.
Thursday, Feb. 24.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Herring of Gardiner.
Papers from the Senate disposed of in con
eurrenee.
Read and assigned—An act to authorize
the County Treasurer of Cumberland to pay
Mattimore Wafts for services ; an act to amend
see. 2S of chap. 11 of the Revised Statutes re
lating to the location of school houses; re
solve in favor of Houlton Academy; an act to
incorporate the Bangor Life Insurance Co.;
an act for the preservation ol certain birds,
resolve for making an appropriation for the
Penobscot tribe of Indians.
Bill an act to establish State Uniformity of
Text Books was read twice and Mr. Vose of
fered amendment “A” which was ordered to
be printed.
On motion of Mr. Bradford,
Ordered, That after undebatable matter
which comes up in the morning business is
gone through with business under considera
tion at the last aiyournment of the House shall
first be considered, and after that matters
specially assigned in the order of assignment.
On motion of same member,
Ordered. That a committee of three be ap
pointed on the business of the House whose
duties it shall be to examine the files and see
that all matters upon the table and not spec
ially assigned are taken up and disposed of as
early as practicable.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Bradford,
Twitchcli and Mildram as the committee.
On motion of Mr. Smith of Hodgdon,
Ordered. That the Committee on State
Lands and State Roads be instructed to in
quire into the expediency of making an addi
tional appropriation to complete the bridge
over the Moiunkus stream on the Maine Mili
tary road.
On motion of Mr. IIinkh,
Ordered. That the Committee on Railroads.
Ways and Bridges be instructed to inquire in
to the expediency of repealing or modifying
sec. 1 of chap. 5 of the Revised Statutes re
lating to the survey of railroads.
Mr. Greek from the Committee on Agricul
ture reported legislation inexpedient on order
relating to distribution of premiums by Agri
cultural Societies.
Mr. Heme from the Committee on Legal
Reform reported reference to the Committee
on the Judiciary on petition of Thomas Des
mond for an act to allow cattle to run at large
in Whitneyville.
Same member from the same Committee re
ported reference to the Committee on Ag
riculture on petition of G. Andrews for an
act to prohibit the trapping of birds.
Mr. Harding from the Committee on Mer
cantile Affairs and Insurance reported legis
lation inexpedient on order relating to tuxing
of foreign insurance companies.
Mr. Barker from the Judiciary Committee
on order inquiring whether appropriations
made to literary institutions may be revised
by the State when such institutions cease to
exist, reported inexpedient.
Mr. Chamberlain from the Committee on
Mercantile Affairs and Insurance reported
ought to pass on bill an act additional to chap.
34 of the Revised Statutes relating to auc
tioneers.
Mr. IIixks from the Committee on Rail
roads, Ways and Bridges on petition reported
bill an act additional to an act to incorporate
the Portland & Kennebec Railroad Co., and
that the same be printed and recommitted.
Mr. Barker, from the Judiciary Committee
on petition, reported bill an act amendatory
of chap. 338 of the special laws of 1850 re
lating to ways in Vinalhaven. Read and as
signed.
Mr. Heme from the Committee on Legal
Reform reported ought to pass on bill an
act to incorporate the Corinthian Hall As
sociation in the town of Hartland. Read and
assigned.
jir. UAnlu.i iruiu nil* SHUic \>uiiiuimt'v ic
ported t>ill an act authorizing the-Municipal
officers of Winthrop to lay out winter roads.
Head and assigned.
Mr. Hammond from the Committee on In
terior Waters reported ought to pass on hill
an act authorizing Charlea H. Bartlett to
build a wharf into tide waters of Piscataquis
river. Head and assigned.
Mr. Thuhloloh, from the Committee on
Agriculture, on order, reported bill an act al
lowing annual stipend to the Waldo and Pe
nobscot Agricultural Society. Head and as
signed.
Mr. Cousins, from the Committee on Man
ufactures, reported bill an act additional to
chap. 48 of the Revised Statutes, concerning
Manufactures. Ordered printed.
Mr. Barker, from the Judiciary Commit- I
tee, on order, reported bill an act to repeal
chap. 291 of the laws of 18(15, relating to poll
taxes. Printed.
Mr. Barton, from the Committee on Legal
Reform, reported ought to puss on bill an act
additional to chap. 90 of the Revised Statutes, {
concerning mortgage ol real estate. Printed.
Mr. BAKKn. from the same committee, made
the same report on hill an net to amend chap.
81 of the Revised Statutes, concerning the
commencement of civil actions. Ordered to
be printed.
Mr. Burnham, from the Committee on
Manufactures, reported ought to pass on hill
an act to authorize cities and towns to aid in !
promoting manufactures therein. Ordered to
be printed.
Mr. Biiadford, from the Committee on
Indian Affairs, on petition, reported a resolve
making appropriations for the I’assamaquoddy
Tribe of Indians. Head and assigned, and
ordered printed.
Bill an act to incorporate the Wassatagwick
Dam Company being on its passage to be
engrossed, was ordered to be printed on mo
tion of Mr. lit:me.
J'atstd to be eng meted—An act to amend
an act entitled an act to prevent the destruc
tion of alewives in Denneys river; an act to
make valid the doings of the town of Uucks
jiort; resolve in favor of the town of Buek*
port; an act to incorporate the Kennebec
Savings Bank ; an act to prevent the throw
ing of slahs and other refuse into the waters
of Mousam river in the town of Kennnehnuk
an act to authorize the Congrcgationalist
Church in Kenduskeag to sell their
title to the Baptist Meeting House in
said town ; an act to make valid the doings
of the town of Karmingdale; an act to incor
porate the Gardiner lee Company; ail act to
authorize Gilbert Longfellow to erect fish
weirs in tide waters o. Jonesboro', at Shore}- «
I Island : an act to regulate the taking ot pick
erel from Pattccs’ pond, in Winslow.
Passed to be enacted—An act to authorize
i Edward Hilton to build a fish weir in the tide
waters of l’igcon Hill Bay in the town ot Steu
ben ; an act to promote the improvement of
\ the navigation of the Kennebec river; an act
to incorporate the Mechanic Falls Savings
Bank ; an act to incorporate the Scbec Lake
i Slate Company ; an act to authorize the city
of Bangor to aiii the Bangor Water Power Co.;
an net for the protection of tish in the towns
of Hiram and Porter; an act additional to
chap. 82 of the Revised Statutes, relating to
proceedings in court; an net to amend sec. 21
of chap. 82 of the Hevised Statutes, relating
to offers to be defaulted; an act to atnc.td chap.
101 of the laws of 1859, relating to drainage;
an act to establish certain rules for the con
struction of statutes; an act to regulate the
taking of tish from Aides str. am in Corinna; an
act to change the name ef the Moosehead
Lake Kailway Company ; an act to amend the
charter of said Company; an act giving to the
inhabitants of that part of Scarboro' annexed
to Gorham their portion of money paid by the
State to Scarboro’ under act of 1888 ; an act
to amend sec. 10 and 12 of chap. 3 of the He
vised Statutes, relating to the choice of high
way surveyors: an act to enable the city of
Bangor to extend further aid to the Bangor
and Piscataquis Railroad Company; an act
to incorporate the Madison Manufacturing
Company.; hill an act relating to the Su
preme judicial Court and to pay certain ex
penses of the Justices thereof; hill an act to
amend chap. 31 of sec. 4b of the Revised Stat
utes, relating to Railroads; bill an act amend- j
atory of an act establishing the times of hold
\ ing the several terms of the Supreme Judicial
I Court in the county of Hancock, approved
; Feb. 28, 18*57; an ac t to authorize the build- |
ing of a dyke or dam across Branch Stream j
in Addison.
Finally passed—Resolve in favor of Paul
Taber; resolve granting land to Francis Al
bert, Jr.
1 15111 lin KOI lO ONIHPUMI ITVriHlII luivn mm Uiv :
■ construction of Statutes, being on its passage
! to be enacted, the rules were suspended, tlie
vote passing tlte same to be engrossed recon
sidered. amended as per sheet "A” on motion
of Mr. Yost and passed to be engrossed.
Bill an act in relation to habitual truants,
on its passage to be enacted was recommitted
with instructions to report the same as u gen- j
cral law of the State.
Bill an act additional to chapter 3G ot the ;
public laws of 18Gfi, relating to the taking of
porgies, was read a third time.
Mr. Mii.ukex moved to amend by striking
out the foutth sec. and advocated his motion.
He said this is supposed to be a law lor the
protection of citizens of this State in their in
dustrial pursuits. Section four exempts a
certain portion of the State from that law.
His constituents largely engaged in Fisheries
are by this section cut off front tho benefits
which this law proposes to make more effect
ual.
Mr. Davis explained the action of the Com
mittee. The law prohibiting the seining of
porgies within three miles of the shore was
passed last winter, and as it is variously de
fined, it is hard to tell whether it is three miles
from the head lands or islands. Petitions
have come in asking the repeal of the law so
that parties may be allowed to seine within
three miles of the shore (and seining is very
destructive to the fish). Those using set-nets
have remonstrated. The present bill is
to make the law of 186'J more effective, and
he understood that in the vicinity of Tremont
and among the islands they have been inter
ested in seining to some extent, so that set
nets cannot be used to advantage. Different
sections are differently interested in this mat
ter, and in order to effect a compromise, the
committee excepted that part of Frenchman's
Bav as expressed in this section, and it seems
to run across the town of Tremont where the
gentleman (Mr. Milliken) lives. The gentle
man had been before the committee and ex
pressed himself as not wishing to usefseincs in
this section.
Mr. Mills said from an intimate acquaint
ance with the fisheries of Maine, he thought
it impossible to regulate this matter of fishing
so that a part of the water may l>e used for
the taking of fish with seines, and excluding
them from the other parts. He thought seine
fishing should be prohibited within three miles
of the shore in order to keep New York and
Photic Island parties from annihilating our
fisheries. If this is not done the poor men in
the fishing localities will be compelled to seek
sustenance elsewhere. If as stated the por
gie fishery is worth three or four millions
annually, can we afford to take it from these
poor men and give it to capitalists out of the
State? He thought nut. He was no fisher
man, but from an intimate acquaintance with
that class he thought he could express their
opinion. They say if the seiner comes into
our waters with liis regiment of boats and
other apparatus, and strips our water of por
gies, it will leave us in poverty, and we must
leave our little homes and go to the farm
ing regions. Mr. Mills continued at some
length, pointing out the pernicious effects of
allowing seiners to come into our waters. It
poisons them, and is driving other fish from
their familiar haunts. He asked of the
House protection of all the waters of Maine
within three miles of the main land from seine
fishing with early legal action in the case.
Mr. Stovkr as a member of the Commit
tee which reported the bill wished to say that
he voted-against the fourth section in the
committee, for he thought it would weaken the
bill. He expressed himself as opposed to the
fourth section at the present time.
Mr. Wasson represented a constituency
who arc exceedingly interested in the fate of
this bill. With regard to the proposed amend
ment he was not sufficiently acquainted with
the coast line of his county to know what its
effect will be. and he deterred his judgment
to that of the gentleman from Tremont in this
matter.
l ne amenamuni win* u*j«pivu, *uu ww
then was passed to be engrossed.
Resolve in favor of Wilton Academy, spe
cially assigned for to-day, was taken from the
table, the question being on the motion of Mr.
IlfMK to reconsider tbe vote whereby the
same was passed to be engrossed.
Mr. Wasson favored the motion and nrgued
against the resolve. Remarks to-morrow.
Messrs. Farwell, Stickney, Mildram, Hum
phrey, Cousins, Whidden, Marker, Smith of
Litchfield, Bonney and Dunning argued
against the motion and advocated the bill.
Messrs. Hume, Mills, and Bradford favored
the motion and spoke against the resolve.
On motion of Baker the yeas and nays
were ordered on reconsideration, which being
taken resulted in the negative by 65 yeas and
70 nuys as follows :
Yeas—Messrs. Adams of Bkideford, Alexander,
-Ames. Baker, Berry of Damariscotta, Berry of Bux
ton, Boothliv, Bradford, Brawn, Brown, Burnham,
Campbell. Chase of Woodstock, Chase of \\ inn,
Clark of llolden. Cole, Conforth, Cox, Darling, Gup
till Hiuks, Hume, Jones, Jordan of Minot, Kimball,
Brighton, Lewis of I'ittston, Lord, Martin, Mason,
May, Mayo, Mc-Dougal, McKown, Means. Mills,
Mlllikrn. Moulton, Penvey. Pieree, Klggs, Sargent,
Sherman of Camden, Sherman of Isleshoro’, Smith
of Warren, Smith of i’arsonntleld, Stover, Thomp
son, To boy, Twite hell, Wasson, Wentworth, White
house, Whitney, Young —.VS. .
Says—Messrs. Adams of Mayfield. Allan. Barker,
Barton, Bartlett, Uearcu of Lewiston, Bearee of
Turner. Bean, Blake. Bliss, Bonney, Brackett, Bur
gess, Chamberlain, Clark of Iteuillleld. Cousins,
Crockett, Cushing, Daggett. Davis. Dearborn, Den
nett, Douglass, Dunning, Duncan. Farwell, Folsom,
Foss. Gannett, Uott, Green, Greeulivf, Hanimoml of
Westbrook, Hammond of Paris, Hamilton, Hard
ing, Halhorn, ilawes, Holbrook, Humphrey, Hus
sey, Irish, Jordan of Brunswick, l.aue, Lewis of
Liberty, Libby, McGilvcry, McLain, Meals, Mil
drain. Newcomb, Nickerson, Palmer, Patten, Pow
ers, Sawyer, skinner. Smith of Hodgdon, Smith of
I.itehflflri, Smith of Sum, Stlekncy, Thurlnngh,
1'ose, Waterhouse, Weston, Wheeler, Whidden,
White, Wilder. Wilson—70.
Aiisext—Messrs Bird, Boyd, Burbank', Cotton,
Foster of Argyle, Gates. Gould, Ham, Harrlman,
linlmnu, Main, Phillip*. Plummer, Pray, Purlnton,
Kay, Reed, Spaulding. Sturgis, Stone, Warren—21.
So the Home refused to rccortsidcr the
vote.
On motion of Mr. Bautos,
Adjourned.
Petition#, Bill#, &c., Presented andTIe
TEKRKl). ,
Bv Mr. Barton—Remonstrance of Oliver
Libbey et uls., against the annexation of Unity |
plantation to the town of Unity. Referred to
the Committee on Division of Towns.
By Mr. Boro—Remonstrance of Wm. G.
Call et 116 als.. against repealing an act to 1
regulate river and interior fisheries ; of Eben
Small et GO als.. in aid of same; of Horatio
G. Allen et 40 als., in aid of same. Referred
to the Committee on Fisheries.
By Mr. IU’mpiihet—Petition of Joshua
Chamberlain et 30 als., for an act to author
ize them to erect piers and booms at Edding
ton Bend; petition of Win. H. McCrills et
als., for incorporation to improve Sebois
Stream. Referred to the Committee on In
terior Waters.
By same member—Petition of S. D. Thurs
ton et als., of Bangor, for establishment of
another “State agency” for sale of spirituous
liquors. Referred to the Committee on Tem
perance.
By Mr. Lew is of Liberty—Remonstrance :
of Wm. H. Hunt et 24 als., against taxing
insurance companies. Referred to the Com
mittee on Insurance.
By Mr. Baker—An act additional to chap.
00 of the Revised Statutes, relating to di
vorces.
By Mr. Cousins—Remonstrance of Harri
son Lowell et 43 als.. of Biddeford, against
petition of Wm. Curtis et als. Referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. Bliss—Remonstrance of James
Jewell et 24 als., against the petition of
Samuel D. Reed. Referred to the Committee
on Interior Waters.
By Mr. Born—Remonstrance of the in
habitants of Dresden against the repeal of the
act regulating the river and interior fisheries. !
Referred to the Committee on Fisheries.
Resolve ill favor of the widow of Sainui 1 I
B. Holt was by leave laid on the table by Mr. j
Bouncy.
Pailjj ^cnitcbrc Journal.
.A. UGU8 X -A..
Friday Morning, February ‘J5, 1870. !
RAILWAY NOTICE.
WEDNESDAY, March iu, i» assigns,1 for tbe
consiilerntion of the petition of the Portland and
Oxford Central Railroad for right to extern! their
rua<l to KuuitorU.
Per order.
♦2tfeb-4iu T. H. Ct’SUING, Chairman.
CUBAN DIPL OMA Cl'.
The President sent to the House on
Monday document* covering the corespou
denee between Secretary Fish and Gen
eral Sickles on Cuban afliurs. In a letter
of January 26th, Secretary Fish wrote
Sickles that public interest in the United
States on Cuban affairs had decreased
since the flagrant violations of the law by
the agents of the insurgents had become
known- Had the Junta expended their
money and energy in sending to the in
surgents arms and munitions of war as
they might have done, consistent with our
own statutes and with the law of nations,
instead of devoting them to the deliberate
violations of the laws of the United States,
and had they in lieu of the illegal employ
ment of persons within the domain of the
United States to go as armed bands to
Cuba, proceeded thither themselves and
participated themselves in the struggle, it
is possible the result would have been
different in Cuba, and certainly there
would have been a more ardent feeling
in the United States in favor of their cause,
and more respect for their own sincerity
and personal courage.
On Tuesday copies of the corespondence
between Minister Sickles and the Spanish
Minister of State were received in the
House. In these the latter said bis gov
ernment accepted the humanitarian offices
of our government with gratitude, in re
lation to Cuba, but could not grant the
indcpeudauce of Cuba. She would allow
amnesty to those who fought against the
mother country, gradually emancipate the
slaves, and allow freemen to hold office.
He says the duration of the struggle does
not prove the strength of the insurgents.
Spain cannot believe nor admit that a ma
jority of the inhabitants of Cuba are fa
vorable to a separation from the mother
country, but that the insurrection is the
work of a turbulent and blind minority,
excited and aided by adventurous specula
tors of other countries, by filibusters and
pirates, guided by evil persons and not by
patriotic purposes.
The Statu Republican Convention ot
Indiana wan held on Tuesday. The
present State officers were renominatad
except the treasurer, attorney-general and
Supreme judge, tor which General R. 11.
Milroy, Nelson Lester and A. L. Osborn
were respectively nominated. There were
five colored delegates, one of whom, the
Rev. II. T. Malone of New Albany, was
sleeted a vice-president. The platform
demands economy in national expenditure,
reduction of taxation, a tariff for revenue,
die currency to he limited by the demands
jf trade, and opposes money subsidies or
land grants to railroads, and the state and
national administrations were endorsed.
Nothing has been heard of the missing
steamer City of Boston, now 31 days out.
The agents of the Inman line, to which
she belonged, think she has met with an
accident to her machinery, whereby she
lias been obliged to prooeed under canvas
alone, aud are not apprehensive of any
serious disaster. She left New York for
Liverpool on the 25th of January aud Hal
ifax on the 28th. She had no cabin pas
sengers from New England but took on
SO at Halifax, at which place a despatch
says her safety is almost despaired of.
The Legislature of Texas has elected
C. Hamilton, the Lieutenant Governor,
United States Senator for the long term,
and Mr. Flanagan for the short term. It
used to be a great argument for secession
that if the Southern States were conquered
they could not lie made to take part in the
government again, but there does not ap
pear to be much difficulty of that sort ex
perienced.
LETTER FROM WA8MSQT0X.
The. admission of Mississippi—The Mem
bers from that State ask the President not
to sign the Bill—The Fifteenth and Six
teenth Amendments—Appreciation of U.
S. Ronds—The Funding Bill—Female
Clerks—The Departments as Hotels dee
Inralides— The Congressional Globe not
Abolished—The Monarch—Liquor Sel
ling in the Capitol, <fcc.
Washington, Feb. ID, 1870,
On Thursday last the bill admitting
Mississippi was finally passed by the Sen
ate, and all that now remains to make it
law, is the signature of the President. Tho
delegation from that State called upon
the President yesterday to urge him not
to sign the bill, they objecting to the ad
mission of the State upon the terms re
quired by the bill, which are the same as
those in the Virginia bill. Only two States
now remain out, Georgia and Texas, and
it is hoped that they will speedily lie ad
mitted, as reconstruction has dragged
along to such a wearisome length that the
people North as well as South are getting
tired of it, and there cau he no doubt that
a large majority of the American people
have come to the conclusion that this ques
tion has already been delayed too long in
its final settlement. The telegraph this
morning announced that Nebraska has
ratified the 16th amendment, which makes
the triumph of impartial suffrage sure, and
takes away the only remaining excuse for
delay in admitting tho States yet outsido
the Union. The success of this grand
idea of the 19th century will secure the
republicah party the State of Pennsylva
nia. In the city of Philadelphia alone
there are 30,000 colored people, and many
more scattered throughout the State. All
that now remains to perfect the idea of
universal liberty is for Congress to grant
suffrage to women, and that is only a
question of lime. When the people of the
eountry become sufficiently enlightened
upon the subject by its free discussion
prejudice will wear away and will surely
succeed. Already the territories of Wy
oming and Utah have adopted it.
1 he value ol American securities is rap
idly advancing in Europe. The 6-20's
have already touched %in gold, and there
can now he but very little doubt of the
success of the new loan of $1,200,000,000
proposed by the funding bill lately report
ed by Senator Sherman, which, is the same
bill submitted to the Committee on Finance
by the Secretary of the Treasury, except
that it makes a change of time. The bill
reported proposes $400,000,000 at 5 per
cent, to run from ten to twenty years, and
like amounts at 4 1-2 per cent, fifteen to
thirty years to run, and at 5 percent, twen
ty to forty years, while the bill ot the Sec
retary proposed twelve to eighteen, eigh
teen to twenty-four, and twenty-four to
thirty years. The Secretary of the Treas
ury is constantly in receipt of offers from
the leading Bankers of the United States
and Europe to assist in floating the new
loan, and he is confident of his ability to
do so at par in currency, and is perfectly
willing to risk a trial. The chances seem
now to be that the experiment will soon be
tried. The hill has been made the special
order of Wednesday next.
The House has rejected all amendment*
to the appropriation bill, increasing sala
ries. Yesterday (Friday) the proposition
to pay the female clerks in the Departments
the same salaries as the male clerks when
they perform the same amount and kind of
labor, was rejected on the ground of expe
diency. The ladies in the Department un
doubtedly perform more labor than the
men, but on the other hand the salaries
paid them by the Government are much
more liberal than they would obtain out
side, while the same is not true of the male
clerks, who get on the average about the
same amount of salary as is given for sim
ilar labor by private individuals. Those
who are iu positions to decide, say that it
would be much more economical to the
Government, as well as much less trouble
some, to hire boys to do the counting of
the currency and bonds, now done by la
dies. The employment of women clerks
is a source of great scandal, and the an
noyance to the officers of the Government
can hardly be imagined. The fact of it
is that the Departments, the Treasury es
pecially, have come to be considered as
sort of Hotels des Invalides. Were they
conducted as a private individual would
curry on hw owujbusiness, uie cost 10 uie
Government would exceed two-thirds of
what it does now. But the pressure from
Senators and members of Congress to put
in their ‘‘poor relations’ and friends in
distress is so great that the Department#
are filled with them.
A vigorous effort was made early this
week, to abolish the Congressional Globe,
but it failed to succeed. It is maintained
at a great cost, but it would seem a very
niggardly thing to stop it and leave Con
gress and the country to the merej of
newspaper reporters, Horace Greely to
the contrary notwithstanding.
The “Monarch is at Annapolis. She is
undoubtedly one of the monarchs if not
the monarch of the seas. Our government
has had no ship since the destruction of
the Ir onsides, which would compare favor
ably in any respect with this fine ship.
But you have seen and heard enough of
her, I presume, ere this. It is expected
that the President and members of the
Cabinet, will visit her next week.
It having been reported publicly that
the restaurant keepers in the Capitol, have
been secretly sellingliquor in violation of
the rules of both Houses. The police on
duty there, have been ordered to excuse
unusual vigilance to prevent and detect
such violations. It appears reasonable to
suppose that there is just cause of com
plaint judging from the fact that Congress
men have been seen going home to dinner
very mellow, and as there Is no respecta
ble saloon near the Capitol, it is strange
where they get their liquor, unless, we sup
pose them to carry “pocket pistols."
“Occasion ala v