Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-20
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On motion of Mr. BAKER.

ency of Separating the Justices OF the >. J.
Court who act on questions OF law from those
who bold jury trials.
On motion of Mr.. WHEELER,
Ordered, That the Committee on Education
be directed to inqui< into the cxpcdiency OF
amending the Normal School law so rs to adj
nit of graduating scale of diplomas.
Mr.. Kinks from the Committee on Kali
roads, Ways and Bridges, on the petition of }.
ID. Wyer for authority to lay out Il bridge
from Bailey's to Cars island reported refer
ence to the next Legislature.
Mr.. VosE from the Committee on the Judi
ciary on bill an act to make valid the doings
of William Caldwell as q Justice of the Peace,
reported the same ought to pass. Read three
times, rules being suspended, and passed to be
engrossed.i
Mr. FARwELL from the Committee on X. X.
WAYS and Bridges on bill an act to authorize
the Belfast and Moosehead Lake X. II. com
pany to lease the road and for other purposes,
reported the same ought to pass. Read and
assigned. H.t
Passed to be engrossed-An act to incorpor-
ate the Missionary Society of the York and
Cumberland Christian Conference.
A message was received from the Senate
through its Secretary signifying its concur
renee in the proposition for convention.
Resolves in commemoration of the char
acter and services of Edwin NJ. Stanton was
taken from the table on motion of Mr.. FAR
WELL, the question being on the adoption OF
the resolutions. (See remarks of Mr.. Far
well in another column.
The resolutions were adopted and passed to
be engrossed.
On motion of Mr.. BARKER the resolution
in relation to the State Valuation Commission
was taken from the table, the question being
on the adoption of the amendment offered by
Mr. Whidden to the amendment offered by
Mr.. Hartman.
Mr. BARKER expressed himself in favor OF
the amendment offered by the gentleman from
Calais and was ready to adopt it, but he was
prepared to go further, and either to vote
against the remaining part of the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Belfast or to
go for the indefinite postponement OF the
whole matter. The last he thought the more
sensible thing for the House to do.
Mr.. b. quoted from the act creating the
commission showing their duties, which are
to make a full, just and equal valuation of the
State. This was the power given them. 80
far as extending this time he thought there
would be no difference of opinion on the part
of the Legislature. that further time must be
given them. SO that indefinitely postponing
the whole matter was not refusal to extend
the time. But he went simply to the point
that they have authority enough under the
act without any special instruction OF ours.
They are an organized body and he Mr..
Barker) had been waiting for some request
from them as an organized body, indicating
that some want something for us to do, just
as we send to the Supreme Court, if we are
in doubt. He understood that the Commission
had asked no Instructions from this Leglsla-
ture. There may be telegraph communica-
tons between disaffected members here, and
hut hav
definite to act upon. He was opposed to Civ
ing instructions until they asked for them.
He quoted from the amendment offered by
the gentleman from Belfast, requiring the
Commission to take into consideration any
reliable evidence or information in relation to
the destruction or diminution of property IN
any locality since April 18th, 1869" He was
for allowing the Commission to exercise its
own descression in this matter, and he
thought they could be trusted.
He held in his hand some papers, but would
not tell where they came from, for the gentle
man who passed them to him said it would
defeat his (the gentleman's) cause. The in
tmation had gone out that the matter con-
tanned in the amendment would prevail, and
the papers he held were lists prepared and
certified to by the selectmen of towns of
damages sustained by flood, fire. etc. The
elements have been busy since April lst,
1869, and great deal of property has been
destroyed and shall we open up the whole
question?
He thought the commission could be trust
ed to do the things we provide by the law that
created them. The result of their delibera-
tons can be submitted to us and we can do
what we see fit. But if we open this pande-
monium box here we shall protract our SEES
sion until 1880 instead of 1870
Mr. HARTMAN replied to Mr.. Barker, and
concluded by moving that the motion be Ia
bled, which was done.
The hour of ~ o'clock meridian, having
arrived the time fixed by an act of Congress
for the two houses of the Legislature to con-
vene for the purpose of comparing the votes
for a Senator in Congress from this State to
fill the vacancy occasioned by the death OF
Hon. VIM Pitt Fessenden, and for other
purposes mentioned in said act, the Senate
came in and convention was formed.
IN CONVENTION.
The journal of each house for the proceed
ing day was read, and Hon. Lot M. Morrill,
having received majority of all the votes in
both branches, was declared duly elected
Senator to represent the State of Maine in the
Congress of the United States, in place of
VIM. Pitt Fessenden, deceased.
On motion of Mr.. LANG of the Senate,
Ordered, That the Secretary OF the Senate
be directed to inform the Governor that Lot
NJ. Morrill, has been duly elected by the Leg
slature Senator in Congress from this State
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the decease
of Hon. VIM. Pitt Fessenden.
On motion of Mr.. REED of the Senate,
The following gentlemen were appointed a
committee to receive, sort and count the
votes for State Treasurer for the current
political year Messrs. Reed and Lang of the
Senate and Baker, Chase of Woodstock, and
Patten of the House.
The committee subsequently reported,
Whole number of votes, l41
Necessary to a choice, ~
William Caldwell has al
| and William Caldwell was declared duly
| elected State Treasurer for the current fiscal
| year.
On motion of Mr.. CUSHING of the Senate,
Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate
be directed to notify William Caldwell that
he has been duly elected State Treasurer for
| the current fiscal year.
The purpose for which it was formed hav-
ing been accomplished, the convention was
dissolved, and the Senate retired
| The House was called to order by the