Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-14

linea. Referred to Committee on Railroads,
Ways and Bridges.
=5ig ---7Tr ------7-TT------
-e9A e House.
a@ D@ 5eN FRrpAY. Jan. IS.
Papers from the Senate disposed of in con-
curFence. >ts
On motion of Mr.. Com,
ORDERED, That the Committee on Educa.
ton inquire as to the expediency of repeating
the law establishing county supervisors o.
schools, and report at as early a day as prac-
ticable.
Mr.. NoRcRoss offered the following order
ORDERED, That the duties of the commit.
tee called for by the order introduced by the
gentleman from Portland, (Mr Bonney,
shall be to apportion the number of Senators
and Representatives from each county, but
not to classify them.
Mr.. BoSsEY explained the original order
introduced; and the indefinite postponement
by the House of Mr.. Norcross' order met with
thst gentleman's approval.
On motion of Mr.. Com,
ORDERED, That the Finance Committee
inquire into, and make a report as early as
possible, of the total expenses to the State OF
the Board of Education, including the cost OF
county supervisors, teachers institutes, ad-
vertising, printing, &c.
The order was amended on motion of Mr..
SEwALL, by adding 'and report the items
thereon"
On motion Of Mr.. HASKELL of Portland,
ORDERED, That the Committee on Legal
Reform be directed to inquire into the expe-
diency Of making provisions for calling a
Constitutional convention for the purpose OF
revising the Constitution of the State.
The Speaker announced the following
named gentlemen as selected by the several
county delegations, to compose on the part OF
the House, the committee to apportion the
number Of Senators and Representatives, and
classify the same:
Messrs. johnson, Dingley, Stickney, Robe,
Perkins of Pennington, Hopkins Of Bluehill,
Bird, Moore Of Buckfeld, Thompson of
Dover, Weed, Hobson, Pas:en, Hathaway,
Hartman, Hobart, and Sanborn of Kittery.
Mr.. COUSINS offered the following order
ORDERED, That there be added to the Com
mittee for apportioning and districting the
State for Senator and Representatives five
members from the minority part of the House,
who shall be nominated by the Speaker.
Mr.. BoSSEY said the committee now con.
sists oftwentythree, and if five more are to be
edded, the matter might as well be submit
ted to the House without the Intervention Of
any committee. As far as democratic repre-
sentation is concerned, they have one nom.
mated by q county delegation, and one on
the part Of the Senate and he thought the
committee large enough.
Mr.. COUSINS said that after consultation
with leading members of the majority of thi,
house, and with their appreciation he intro.
dnced the order, for the purpose of giving
them the privilege of accepting the
services of our democratic friends in max
ing the superintendent of the State. But il
this House refused to give the minority any
voice in this districting and apportionment
the responsibility is theirs, not ours. The
committee as now constituted consists OF
twenty-three meslbers, all republicans except
two--one democratic member from the House
has been appointed for Penobscot, and one
Senator from Knox. He appealed to the gen.
crosby of the majority of the House to give
this order a passage, and give the democracy
OF me State voice in this most important
WORK. ne asked as a matter of right and in
oenaii OF thelr Large constituency and because
ne peIeseo there were many republicans on
the floor who would choose for the minority
to share this responsibility with them.
by the suggestion of Mr.. johnson, Mr..
Cousens struck the words minority party of
from his order leaving it with the Speaker who
to appoint.
Dir. WILSON suggested that the number
added to the committee be three instea OF
five, which would perhaps obviate the objec-
ton Of the gentleman from Portland.
Mr.. COUSINS accepted the suggestion.
Mr.. OseooD of Lewiston hoped that the
order would pass. Although his constituents
had been unfortunate perhaps, in electing two
democrats, still they have an interest in the
matter and he thought they should have a
voice in the committee.
Mr.. STIcKSEY hoped that three or four from
the minority Of the House would be added ia
the Committee that they might have chance
to look after their interests.
2 The order was passed and the Speaker Joined
Messrs. Cousins, Wilson, Osgood of Lewiston,
Talbot and Heath TO the committee
subsequently the vote passing the order
was reconsidered on motion Of Mr.. BoNSEr,
who desired to make statement. He said
the order makes the matter very unequal.
The order originally introduced contempla-
ted one from each county. The one under
discussion gives Androscoggin and KennebeS
counties three members each, while the coun'
~ Of Cumberland, much larger, has only one
He thought questions might come before th'
~ the number, of representative