The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-05
Maine Legislature.
SENATE.

their names. The presence of the Senators
elect having been announced, the Cover or
came in and administered the usual oaths. A
comittee for the purpose reported that Hon.
Charles Buffum of Orono, was elected
President, receiving q votes to for Senator
Torrey (Dem). Mr.. Buffum accepted the posi-
ton in the following remarks:
Senators:-l accept the responsibility to
which you have called me and for this dlstin-
gnished honor I tender you my warmest
thanks believing that the same kindness which
has placed me here will sustain me and that l
can With confidence rely upon your assistance
and cooperation in the proper discharge of
my official duties 1t will be my purpose to
that the rights of each Senator are properly re-
spected. We are assembled here to enact
laws. Let us see to it that we do our duty,
keeping in mind that obedience is the end and
object of the law. The penalty is annexed to
it not as the aim and end for which the law is
established but to secure the end. In all of our
deliberations let US be true to ourselves and it
will follow as the night the day that we can
not be false to our people. Once more thank
ing you for the honor conferred I wait your
pleasure in completing the organization of the
Senate.
Capt. S. w. Lane of Augusta, and Mr.. H. M.
Hatch OF Gardiner, were respectively unani-
mously elected Secretary and Assistant. ia
bez Mariner and ]. n. Banks were elected
Messengers. 4.
The Secretary of State transmitted the vt to
for Governor Senators French of Franklin,
Vose, Roberts, Kinks, Sawyer, Morris and
French of Somerset, were made committee to
count the votes on the part ofthe Senate.
As is usual the case, the Paper Credit Com
uittee can't report now and want more time,
which the Senate proposes to grant.
Petitions for private legislation must be ON
hand as the Senate proposes to refer all petit
tons for private legislation to next Lesgisla.
ture, received after February 1st.
Senator Morris presented an oder asking
the Justices Of the Supreme Court to report to
the Legislature the validity of the leasing of
first move against consolidation-which pass
ed.
Same Senator presented a number of consti-
tutional amendments filling twelve pages Of
letter cap closely written.
The two daily papers caused long discuss
ion, but it was finally agreed to take the Ken
nebec Journal and let the members select the
second.
HOUSE.
The members elect were called to order at
ten o'clock A. NJ, by the clerk of the last
House, 81. Cbadbourne, Esq. Prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Martin of Augusta. Upon the call
of the roll al members elect responded to their
names.
Mr.. Cousins of Kennebunkport was charged
with message to the Governor requesting
him to come in and administer the oaths
of Office. The Governor came in and admin.
tered the usual oaths.
On motion of Mr.. Robbie of Gorham, Messrs.
ROBBIE Of Gorham, Woodbury. of Houlton
Cleaves Of Portland, Thompson of Dover, Jones
Of Norway, Reynolds OF Lewiston and Bartlett
of Harmony we're made committee to receive
sort and count the votes for Speaker. The bal
lot resulted as follows:
Edwin B. Smith of Saco had 100
Edmund Wilson of Thomaston, Is
Scattering, 2
Mr.. Smith was conducted to the chair by
Mr.. Wilson and made very pretty speech, in
which he recommended short session and
economy in appropriations. He spoke substan-
TALLY as follows:
Gentlemen of the House, unaffected
difidence approach the discharge of those
duties to which your partially has called me.
That they shall be performed in a manner
satisfactory to you and probably to the
State is only possible through the aid and
courtesy of older and more experienced legisla-
tors thaa and the forbearance OF all the menu
bers. can only bring to them the earnest de-
sire to perform them faithfully, tor heretofore
my studies and labors in the law have been
mainly devoted to the narrower field OF apply
Il sv,Is 10. To-,
its general principles to the legislation affect
ing the State and all its citizens. My practice
has been in those courts which try causes be-
tween party and party and not the general
court which presides over the destiuies OF ALL
One of the early masters of the subject declares
that the parliamentary law-the source of all
human law-ought to be sought tor and at
tanned by all; but is ignored by most, and
known to but few. Among the few who krow
it have no claim to be counted; but in it
shall be a willing ii not apt scholar, ready to
receive and grateful Tor instruction from any
quarter whence it can be obtained. The fun
damental principle. however, which Gas I be-
lieve) lies at the basis of all legislation was
announced by one, who so well understood
how to cOndense volumes of wisdom into an
apothesm,", That govern ment is best which gov
ems least" Though we are here as legislators,
trust our study will be TO see with how little
change, amendment or additions the existing
laws of tie State can be made to answer the
States necessities This is the fiftieth !egisa-
ture of Maine, ard when it adjourns lis records
will complete the legislative history of our first
half century's existence as State. The SEES.
sion Of the first legislature of Maine lasted but
twenty-nine days, the second "a days, and the
fourth forty-two days. They had all the legis
lation of the state to enact, to harmonize it
with the new constitution. with the conflicting
views and theories Of projectors and visonaries
who found favorable opportunity to breach
their schemes in The founding OF a new State
and to adapt 1t to the wishes and necessities
of the people. Since then. though railroads,
telegraphs and numerous other changes in the
modes of transacting business have called for
some new species of legislation; there is
little or no recent changes of the kind that
need long occupy our attention. The whole leg
islation of the State has been carefully revised
and condensed into one compact volume which
is now passing through the press, therefore it
wonld seem that but a very short time would
suffice for the passing of such additional laws
OF & neral character as the interests of the
State require, and no general law that is not
inaperotively required ought to be passed, since
every law is an abri6gment of the liberty Of the
citlzen-substituting our will for bis. The pop
ulation nj the State has changed so little in the
last decade and little in Its location that the
necessary duty of new app rtionment can be
easily aud speedily performed. Therefore
everything would seem to Indicate that our
duties here mig ht be quickly and yet properly
performed. The people are entitled to be
economically as well as wisely governed. 1t is
not the mere expense of our daily sittings that
is to be saved by an early adjournment, for it
is the universal experience OF all persons OBJ
servant of legislative assemblies that appropri-
ations (nOt absolutely required by the require.
ments Of the government and for the attain
ment OF those objects for which it is instituted
which would be rejected by large majority on
the 18th day of the session are permitted to
pa. almost unchalleneed on the 18th.
I am OF those who believe that wise and
judicious economy, equally removed from parsi'
mOny upon the one hand and extravaganza up
on the other is the highest virtue of legisla.
tor, and think that the people of this State (in
view of their heavy public burdens) rightfuily
expect at our hands economy in great things,
economy in little things, economy in all things.
aud only as we fulfil this Just and reasonable
expedition shall we receive at the conclusion
Of our labors, the plaudt of "well done good
and faithful servant"
A committee raised to receive votes for Clerk
reported as follows:
Sumner J. Chadbourne OF Dixmont had LOT
Frederick Lyford of Lewiston. q
The same committee reported that 2. A.
Smith received 1O4 votes for Assistant Clerk to
rs for VIM. 81. Anthony of Augusta.
An order was passed declaring J. B. Walker
of Turner Messenger, and D. c. Lombard Of
West Bath and L. B. Kmball of MT. Vernon
assistants.
Communication was received from the Sec
rotary of State transmitting gubernatorial vote.
The Speaker appointed Stickney of Presque
Isle, Knapp of East Livermore, Cobb of Wind
ham, Perkins of Pennington, Snow Of Win
throp, Whiting of Ellsworth, Wilson of Thorn
dixie, Mahoney of Newcastle, Knight of Swe-
Minot of Phipsburg, Taylor of Norridgewock,