The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-13
BY TELEGRAPH.
AUGUSTA.
ASSIGNMENTS FOR HEARING BY THE RAILROAD
COMMITTEE.
Especial by International Line.l

Especial by International Line
AUGUSTA, Jan. 12-There was a meeting OF
the Railroad Committee in the Senate Chamber
this afternoon at 2 o'clock. 1t was voted to
hold two regular sessions each week, namely
on Tuesdays and Fridays The following as
signment for special hearings on petitions and
bills already on its docket, were made
On petitions for a charter for Railroad from
Lewiston to some point on the Grand Trunk
Railway in Auburn, Tuesday, Jan. 10Th;
On the Maine Central consolidated bonds
bill, Friday, Jan. 18th;
/ On the petitions of the P. S. & P. r. R. for a
charter for a Railroad from Kittery to Kenne-
bunkport, Tuesday, Jan. 23d;
On petitions of Abner Toothaker and others
for Sandy River R. R., Friday, Jan. 26th;
of Hartford & st. Adams Railroad Co., JAN
23d.
Of Piscataquis r. r. Co for authority to con-
Struct branches Jan 10th.
In the matter of the petition of John Hayden
and others of Bath for charter for Railroad
from Bath to Portland, Mr.. Larrabee appeared
for the petitioners requesting the committee to
issue an order of notice as the petitioners had
neglected to do so. The Committee voted that
notice be given in the Press, Bath Times and
Kennebec Journal
THE SUPERIOR COURT BILL-THE DEBATE IN
--.aF THE HOUSE.
d The debate pending the passage of the Supe-
rior Court bill may be of local interest.
Mr.. Carleton of Whitefield, opposed it; he
said that court had no jurisdiction, civil or Grim
inal, at the present time; that chapter PIG, which
gave that court criminal jurisdiction, has been
entirely ignored in the R. s., and the gentlemen
who revised the statutes were fit for any other
business but revision; that Judge Goddard and
Others not satisfied with the jurisdiction of the
court, "logrolled and got the Jurisdiction in
capital cases. inserted Mr.. c. said he had it
from good authority that Judge Lane wants no
such responsibility. He urged that this legisla-
ture has no more right to confirm the doings of
that court than has the legislature of California
to confirm the doings of the Vigilance Com
mittee. He was unwilling to trust mems lives
this court. Mr.. Carleton volunteered his opin-
ion as follows: ''We have country lawyers bet
ter qualified to fill the position of Judge of that
court than any one that had filled thus far"
Mr.: Ray of Westbrook replied to Mr.. Carle-
ton. He thought he (Carleton) was the only
one who would say that the act comforting civil
power was repealed. He had assurance that
the present bill was drawn by one of the Supe-
rior Judges and had the sanction of the highest
legal authority of the State. 1t confers upon
the court the jurisdiction originally conferred
and also makes valid its doings. 1t was not an
er post facto law according to the definition of
the best authority, but merely an enabling
act. .. .. ...
Mr.. Wilson of Thomaston thought the ques-
ton was one of more magnitude than will prob
ably come before this legislature again this win
ter 1t was no more or less than creating
criminal court. He favored referring to the
Committee on the Judiciary. This trouble was
what he foresaw in allowing the statutes to be-
come law before publication and distribution.
The House opposed it but the Senate favored
and thereby disgraced themselves
Mr.. Knight of Portland favored the bill. He
said that he knew that men would improve the
golden opportunity to snatch themselves from
remorseless oblivion by attacking men and
courts; but it seemed to him to be all out of
place to drag in matters which have been here
He explained how the chapter happened to be
omitted.
Mr.. Fessenden advocated the immediate pas
sage of the bill and opposed its reference to the
Judiciary. .t.u
Messrs. Titcomb of Augusta, Humphrey of
Bangor, Perry of Oxford, Walker of Newport
and King of Lyndon favored the passage of the
bill by able and pertinent remarks.
BILL TO REGULATE RAILROAD FARES.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Stanley of Dix
mittee, provides that all railroads in this State
shall not charge more than two and half
cents mile for passenger fares. 81"