The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-14

steadiness and desirable rapidity. To new
members the first week of the session seems
like decidedly 'sslow COACH" anditis not sur
prising that an expression should extensively
prevail among the verdant ones that legisla-
ton is not only a bore, but business well
adapted to that class of gentlemen known as
respectable loafers. They do not always con-
slider that business must be elaborated in the
committee rooms, and parties there heard, or
the old adage, that shaste makes waste" will
receive new illustrations every week of the
session.
One new and ambitious member-ambtious
to make his mark in favor of reform and econ
omy-yestcrday offered an order in the House,
which was adopted, suggesting that a fifty
Gays session should suffice to do up all the
work and find the members, salary in pocket,
vending their way homeward; but perhaps
he was not aware that the expense TO the
State of long session is but a trife more
than of short one, as the members receive a
specific salary instead Of per diem compensa-
ton. To 'hurry up the cakes in fifty days
would show a disposition on the part of the
members to do a handsome thing for them
selves, as for such session the salary would
be 50 per day instead of 81, as under the old
regime. II this early attempt TO secure a
short session is not followed by one of more
than ordinary length, 1t viii be because the
rule that has ordinarily obtaiEed will not hold
good in this instance.
N. .l.w sr.ro.t.,+ a.so a~uao.aJ a.
come up before the committee of the House
on elections. 1t Is the Hollis and WATERFORD
case. These are classed towns. 1t seems that
by agreement the selectmen Of the two towns
were to meet in Hollis at a specified time, to
count and compare the votes for Representa-
tive in the Legislature, and to give the proper
credentials to the successful candidate. The
selectmeD of Hollis met pursuant to agree
Inent, but neither the seiectmen OF the other
town appeared, nor the returns OF that towns
vote. The result was, the Hollis selectmen,
finding Henry A. Usher tUnion) had plu-
rality Of the votes before them, gave ham the
proper certificate to take his seat in the House
Within the time required by law notice was
served upon him by Henry X. Bradbury,
tDem.) that he should contest his tUsher's)
right to the seat. Ii am correctly informed,
Mr.. Bradbury claims that his majority in
WATERFORD was superior TO Usher's in Hollis,
thus giving him a majority Of all the votes
cast in the district, and emitting him to the
seat. Allegations of fraud are made and de-
MED in relation to the WATERFORD VOTE but
fi,a wh<,ja fI,inar will ka haard aud .l.a r.a,s
sifted out by the committee, and no doubt jus
tice will be done in the premises. | do not
claim TO know much OF the merits OF the case
and have briefly stated the points as have
heard them. The committee will know Meth
er fear, favor nor affection, but do what IS
right in justice to the action of the towns in
terested, without regard to the political aflIi-.
:. sssa. - -sas~ cvnsending PARTIES. II IS one Of
the cases in which justice can afford TO be
blind to all subsidiary considerations, and to
do right though the heavens FALL
A somewhat complicated election difficulty
is before the Senate-the Lincoln county case.
The returns Of votes as counted by the Gov
ernor aud Council, showed that no one re-
eeiyed a majority OF all the votes cast. There
were votes for Everett w. Stetson, for i. w.
Stetson, and for Everett Stetson. There were
also votes for Joseph L. Smith, for ]. E. Smith,
and for Joseph Smith. Counting all the Smith
votes together, and all the Stetson votes to-
gether, and Mr.. Stetson, the Union candidate.
would be elected by small majority The
Governor and Council had no right to so count
them, and the result was no choice 1t is now
shown-so am told that mistake was
made 10 the returns Of Boothbay, and that the
records of that town show, and the Clerk so
testifies, that Joseph f. Smith received some
forty votes more than were returned. which
would elect him by from twenty to twenty five
majority. On the other hand, Mr.. Stetson
proposes to show that, in the town OF Bristol.
enough illegal votes were counted for Mr..
Smith to throw him out, and thus leave Stet-
son elected by clear majority. The island of
Auscongus lies Off Bristol, but is not part of
that town; nor has it complied with the pro-
vision Of law which would enable 1t to vote in
the nearest town IF such a law actually ex-
lists, Of which ! have heard expressed some
doubts. Ii is said by one of the parties that
Muscongus has voted with Bristol from time
almost immemorial, and that this is the first
attempt to disfranchise her people. On the
other hand, it is asserted that Muscongus has
voted only when needed as a make-wcight:
that 1t has been one Of the democratic argu-
ments By which to decide and elinch difficult
questions; that the people pay no taxes, and
refuse 10 pay taxes because not legally holden
TO do so, and that in refusing to receive her
vote the legislature will only check-mate po-
litical tricksters, but do no injustice to any
honest man.
III Muscongus is thrown out it will seriously
disturb the pedestal on which the Bristol
member-Hon. Arnold Blaney-rests his seat,
for he was elected by bare majority less
than five, l think-and the rejection of the
Muscongus yotes--all democratic-would ere
ate disintegration beneath his chair, the con-
sequences Of which may be imagined. The
whole matter will undergo thorough inyesti-
CATION, and dare say substantial Justice will
triumph.
Yesterday, the weather being mild. the large
field 10 front of the State House presented a
lively and attractive scene. The I'd Maine
Cavalry, about two-thirds of which are already
mounted, were out for parade and drill, and
numerous squads of Infantry were seen in the
streets and on the field, giving to the town an
air particularly martial.
The soldiers here, generally speaking, are