The Portland daily press., 1866-01-11


was the necessity of joint select committee
on matter which was not of commanding
Importance. Joint select committees are un-
wise unless the subject matter of their INQUIRY
be more important than this at present appears
to be. He thought it should be referred to
some one OF the Committees already appoint
ed. fH EN
Mr.. Woodcock, said that perhaps this was
notOf SO great importance as to call for a Sc
lect committee, but this law had been a long
time upon our statute book, and it had been
pronounced unconstitutional by high judi
clal authority. He wished the matter looked
into and If it should be found unconstitution-
al, to have the law repealed. He thought a
committee of one from each county could best
do this. '1i@ - 5lTT'
Mr.. Shepley, said this was not the usual
course to say the least. This matter belongs
to the class of subjects usually intrusted TO
the Committee on the Judiciary. The gentle
man says this law has been pronounced mn
constitutional. 1t has been long time on orr
statute book but the discovery Of its illegality
appears to have been recently made. We have
tribunal in our State whose express dutv If
IS to decide questions of constitutional law.
We have also Judiciary Committee of the
Legislature to examine and recommend or
condemn propositions to amend our laws. The
proposition OF this order is, that Committee
OF one from each county is better authority on
questions of constitutional law than the Su-
preme Judicial Court If the State or the Ju-
dietary Committee. Such logic was not quite
clear to his mind. If parties outside the State
think the law unconstitutional let them try
the question before the proper tribunal. the
Supreme Judicial Court OF Maine, and if that
authority pronounces the law unconstitutional
he would be willing to erase it from the statute
book. Until such decision has been made. to
go outside the State and give greater WEIGHT
to the opinions of attorneys than to those of
our own judiciary, would be an insult to our
Courts, to the intelligence of the comnu.ity
ana 10 the judiciary Committee. He moved
that the order be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Woodcock called attention to the fact
that he did not by his order require the COM
mittee TO report by bill, but only to INQUIRE in
to the matter. He thought inquiry could not
do harm. rYG F.0a r-f
The order was indefinitely postponed. 81
voting in favor, nays not counted. , q
On motion Of Mr.. Stevens, of Augusta,
Ordered-Thot the Committee on the Judi
ciary be directed to inquire into the expedien-
cy Of so changing the law relating to poll tax
es, approved February 9Th, 1865, that the
amount assessed IN one year upon an individ-
ual for town, county and state purposes, ex-
cept highway taxes separately assessed. Shall
not exceed one dollar and fifty cents.
On motion OF Mr.. Woodman, of Bucksport.
Ordered-That the Committee on the Judi
ciary be instructed to inquire into the expetli
ency OF repeating or amending chapter ia of
the Revised Statutes relating to hawkers and
pedlers, and of chapter POO or the acts and re-
rolves of the year 1865 in amendment thereof
and to report by bill or otherwise as soon as
practicable.
Mr.. Woodman stated that he introduced the
a hon nyaIo nv hxr 2 2. : 4
IN CONVENTION.
Hons. Hiram Ruggles, Marshall Pierce. Jer-
envy w. Porter. Dennis Moore and Everett w,
Stetson came in, and took and subscribed the
oaths necessary to qualify them to enter upon
the discharge of their duties as Councillors
They then retired, the Convention was dis
solved, the Senate retired, and the House was
called to order by the Speaker. II .le -9I-gs-'T
IN HOUSE.
The Joint Standing Committees came down
from the Senate, and were Joined on the part
of the House as follows: I'D .29FCTfl &
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES.
On the Judiciary-Messrs. Barker, Abbott and
Kinds, of the Senate: Granger of Calais, Woodman
of Bucksport, Miller OF Portland, Garnsey of Ban
gOr. Wilson of Thomaston, Foster of WateryNe and
Holland of Lewiston, OF The House. iiFlT ! y -
On Federal Relations-Messrs. Abbott, Holbrook
On Military Afairs-Messrs Smith, Boynton and
Hobbs, of the Senate; Miller of Portland 9,arnsnv M
Bangor, Jones of Lewiston, Dodge of Cxf,rd Hersev
Of Belfast Hight of Scarboro and Smith of Phillips
of the House. - ~ aIfa 'ilfl r.
On Coast and Frontier Defences -Messrs. Hol.
crook, Southard and Campbell, of the Senate.
On Railroads, Ways and Bridges-Messrs. Wood
man, Manson and Ramsdel, of the Senate: Sbenley
land Foster Of Banaor N e. MGn Of E9s
of Bath, and Parlin of Norridgewock, of the House.
OnMercantile Affairs and Insuran ;e-Messrs. Man
son, Hobrook and Hobson, of the Senate: Foster OF
Bangor, Fairbanks of Pennington, Sanborn of Kit
terry, Nichols Of Searsport EveIeth of Durham we
Der Of st. Adams, and Adams of Castine, Of the
On Education -Messrs. Stone, Richardson and Read
q the Senate; Hathaway Of Skowbegan, Small q
lck Foster Of Hanover, johnson of Charleston, and
Dyer OF Strong, OF the House. RI VI r. n
On Banks and Banking-Messrs. Southland, Per-
kins and Mason, of the Senate. -; Il
On observation-disclosures. Chase Beal and Moore. OF
the Senate; Lang Of Vassalboro, Bradford of Tur-
wick, Adams of Wiit9n, Newcomb Of Sewburg. and
Wescott Of Standish, of the House. - - - -
On Manufactures -Messrs. Hamor, Denison and
Woodman. of the Senate. sz- = - =
On Interior Waters-Messrs. Porter, Moore and
Halves, of the Senate.
On State Lands and State Roads-Messrs PIERCE,
Smith and Halves, OF the Senate. = ~
On Division Of Towns--Messrs Weld, Denison and
Perkins, o. the Senate; Sawyer of Raymond, Wake
Chandler Of Exeter, Jewett of Clinton ano Haines Of
Nobleboro', Of the House.
On Division Of Counties -Messrs. Perkins. Peirce,
On isheiies-Messrs. Burpee, Hobson and Hamor
On Incorporation Of Towns-Messrs. Kinds, Mason
On Indian Affairs-Messrs. Manson, Richardson
and Bnrpee, OF the Senate. ~ -
On Clams-Messrs. Richardson, Hobbs and Camp
bell, OF the Senate; Millken of Burnham, LDbey of
Gray, Stilphen. of Dresden Morrill, Of Sumner, Wal
ton MT. Vernon, McKecSnie of Alton, and Coffin
On Pensions-Messrs. Burpee, Barker and Read, of
. On Insane Hospital--Messrs. Billings, Porter and
On Reform School-Messrs Boynton, Chase and
Eaton, Of the Senate Hopkins of Ellsworth, Comins
of Eddington, Wilson of Rockland Hanson of Bux-
ton, Worcester Of Portland, Bacon Of Rumford and
Smith Of Phillips, of the House.
On State Prison-Messrs. Ramsdell, BiHngs and
Wells, Hamblin Of Lowell, Bailey of Auburn. and ID
Gibbs Of Glenburn, Of the House. -
On Public Buidings-Messrs. Moore Eaton and
PIERCE, Of the Senate. & - - ''''N
On Library-Messrs. Stone, Barker and Burpee, of
IA portion of the Committees on the part Of the
House were not announced.l -
The House Joined to the Select Committee
to examine the Treasurer accounts, the mem
bers of the Committee on Finance. = Adj
journed.
Petitions Presented and Refsyred-Petition
of the Portland Rolling Mills for amendment
Of charter, bill accompanying, by Mr.. Shepley,
OF Portland; OF Jane T. Thurston, for in
demnity for lands, (by Mr.. Page, of Fort
KENT; OF the Judge and Register of Probate
OF Kennebec County. for an increase of sala-
~, tby Mr.. Stevens, of Augusta.)
Edward O'Brien, of Thomaston, was elected,
in Joint Convention. yesterday, to the office
of Senator from Knox, vice Dunton, deceased.
SPECIAL NOTICES.. "
.7n.11,- v.--..-I;. q. ..1.--- =, :. ~ -