Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-03-06
Augusta Correspondence.
Legislative Digest.
AUGUSTA, March 4, 1Sj !

The Legislature is now at work in
earnest. Railroad quarrels are multi
plying fast upon our hands The House
for the week past. has been scene of
noise and cxcitcmcnt-a legislative fight
between the Bangor and Augusta roads.
Those who are not personally intercs-
ted, will judge only. as shall best secure
the rights OF the community. The Ok
ford ard Central rs Grand Trunk roads.
will soon be before US. Also. Seward.
Morrill, & Co., wharf builders. rs.
Grand Trunk, which three question will
probably excite more persona! feeling,
than all others combincd.
Mr.. Williams on THURSDAY, a, y o.
clock. NJ, was conductcd--in the pres
cnce of large crowd from the Senate
Chamber to the Governors Chair. Mr..
Williams, on retiring, made an elegant
and appropriate speech subsequently,.
Hiram Chapman of Newcastle. Lincoln
Couaty. was chosen Presi dent, receiving
l6 out OF IS votes. lie is an efficient
legislator. having been seven times a
mclNber. This | think is the second
time tat the President of the Senate
has ofic;atad IS Governor.
A strong effort has been mad to in
crease the salaries of several otfic RS
thus far withou. success. There is de-
cded disposition not t. increase the cost
Of government, either by enlarged sala-
rics, or contingent funds. \ motion
made in the Senate, saturday, to increase
the pay of witnesses. WIS refused pas
sage, Those Banks which have pet;-
toned for rc-charter, are subjected to
scru,inizins examination by the COM
mittee
Three titles of the revision have been
reported. nine more vet to come.
Judge Davis is in town, and looks
finely. ! had long conversation with
him yesterday. about the trying scenes
of last winter he IS far from exhibiting
any spirit Of revenge against these who
prosecuted him.
Talbot, whose countcnance indicates
him to be an even-tempered man, mad
time, made a long. bitter. invec-
tive speech against Davis in particular,
and all the world in general.
AS h. was seating himself, some one
moved Lis chair, thus bringing his dem
ocratic posierior "co-thwaek > to the
floor. The discussion which grew out
Of the Davis case, has brought to ligh.
the Wells, Barnes 4 Co. mode Of leg
i>lation. After Davis was removed, in
hot haste they proceeded to abolish the
office. rather than decide who should fill
it. Judge Howard or dictator Barnes
But how did they go to work Let us
sec what the journals OF the two branch
cs say
The bill first saw the light, April s,
reported in the Senate by the committee
on bills in the second reading. 1t was
before no other committee, there is no
record that it was ever introduced and
properly referred. When read, sub
stitu,c was offered b. Mr.. Hayden. as
coming from the committee on the judi
iciary from that time there is no record
that it passed the Senate. April 8. the
record of the House shows that it came
from the Senate passed to be engrosscd.
l. was read AID the same afternoon
assigned for its third reading. but there
is no record that it ever passed in either,
branch. and nothing more is known Of
it until it turns up among the published
what stages the biii wOutu n",u gone
through, had it followed the usual course,
aad all iu one day. 1t must have been
received from the senate, read once,
twice, assigned for its third reading in
the afternoon, reported oy committee
on bills in third reading. considered,
rassed to be ensrossed, carried to en-
crossing clarks. en5rosscd, and passed to
be enacted in both branches, and APP
proved, for date approved is April 81
And to do this, rules must have been
suspended, and all in one day of
necessity.
But there is still something more i'm
pcrtant The bill was never passed at
all. 1t purports to have heen approved
April C. 1t must lave beea taken and
carried to Gov. Wells, and without
doubt he was as ready to approve it as
those who originated it were to get it
through without observing the forms of
legislation. Do gentlemen propose to
get out of the dilemma by saying that
although the record does no. show it,
still the bill passed: Here is your re-
cord. What does not appear there is no:
testimony. 1t was made by your own
sworn Clerk and it is no omission off
the printer in the printed journal. but
accoris with the written journal, and
signed by David Dunn AMI ole thing
more, it does not appear by the journal i