Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-14

when he thought it was his duty to have 1t
decided here. He hoped the bill would not
be indefinitely postponed, but that it would
have passage.
Mr.. BLISS read, in response to letter from
a member of the Somerset bar, q letter from
Judge Dickerson, in which the court house at
Norridgewock was described as being unfit
to hold court in, but expressing no opinion in
regard to the proposed change to Skowhegan.
Mr.. Bliss, continuing, thought it was an
insult to the members of this House to ask
them to vote to refer this question to the
people of that county; that we were elected
10 decide questions ourselves, and not to ask
our constituents to vote for US, thus Sinking
the responsibility and duty. Gentlemen,
trust we will exercise our privilege and main
tam our manhood, giving forth the true doe
trine that we are independent in this question
as we ought to be in all matters.
Mr.. WILSON of Hallowell defended his
city, which he said had increased 700 in the
last decade, while the inhabitants in the State
had decreased. He considered it the mos
flourishing city on the kennebec river. The
pay roll for labor during the past year has
we'll.
In regard to the question before the House,
he said he thought the shire town of county
should be where the grand centre is-where
the people of the county go to transact bust
ness. He understood that Skowhegan was
this grand centre in Somerset county, and for
this reason he favored the bill.
Mr.. WILSON Of Thomaston understood that
the amendments submitting the matter to the
people had been rejected, and to save time
and bring the matter directly before the
House, he would move the previous question.
The House refused to second the call.
Mr.. HuMPHREY remarked that he was nee
essariy absent when the vote on the amend
ments was taken. The matter was before the
Judiciary Committee and the majority of the
committee reported the bill now before the
House. The minority of the committee were
in favor of the bill, providing it should be SO
amended as to be submitted to the people.
He thought no proposition was ever made more
fair than this. 1t is one of the fundamental
principles of our government that the people
shall rule There are some things that can
not be trusted to the ability of the people, but
this was not one. The question before the
House is upon removing the shire town OF
Somerset county from Norridgewock to Show
hogan, and the people were certainly compe-
tent to pass upon that matter.
Mr.. Gray offered to withdraw his motion to
indefinitely postpone, for the purpose of Civ
ing Mr.. HUMPHRET an opportunity to move a
reconsideration Of the vote whereby the
amendments were rejected.
Objection was made, and the Speaker ruled
that the motion could not be withdrawn with
out the full consent of the House.
Mr.. WILSON of Thomaston again moved the
previous question, and the House seconded
the call.
A motion to adjourn was lost.
Mr.. LEBRoKE remarked that he believed
that the people of Somerset county and those
of other counties would be better convened by
having the shire town at Skowhegan. 1t will
cost nothing for the first five years, except
for the moving of the records. New build
ings must be erected soon if the shire town be
fixed at Norridgewock. He did not under
stand that any one was to be injured by this
change, except few who keep boarders in
Norridgewock, and he hoped the bill would
receive passage.
Mr.. WILSON of Thomaston remarked that
from his knowledge Of these questions it is
usual to settle them here, though the law
gives the power to refer to the people.
The Legislature denied the people of Knox
county the privilege of settling its shire town,
and settled it here, and he believed the prac-
tiee productive of good, for it avoids throwing
the matter back to be quarreled over at the
polls.
The House ordered the main question to be
put, which was on passing the bill to be en-
crossed The yeas and nays were ordered
and taken, the result being in the affirmative
as follows:
YEAs.-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Bachelor
Baker, B-s, Bragdon, Briggs of Brownville, Bur-
leigh, Burri Bennett Buttcrfeld, Carleton, CARL,
Campbell, Clark, Cook, Coombs, Cornish, Erskipe
of Palermo, Estes, Evans, Farwell, Fessenden
Flitner, Fogg, Folsom, Foster, Getchell, Glidden.
Griffin Hahn, Haines, Harding. Harmon of Bux.
ton, Holbrook of Freeport, HolDrook of Knox, Hol.
brook of Madison Humphreys Jepson, kenniston,
Knight. Lambert, Lebroke, Lord Of Detroit, cal.
lister, Millay, Milliken, Palmer Partridge, Paul
Perry ofBridgton, Pierce, Prescott, Randall, Ray
Reed ONO. II Reed of Wadoboro', Rogers, Rund.
lett, seely, smith of saco Smith of Wayne Snow,
ssprague, Stanley, stevens, Talbot, Thompson,
Wadsworth, Walker Of Newport, Webb, Weston,
White of Dixmont, Wiggin, Wilson of Hallowell,
Wilson of Thomaston, Woodbury., Wyman-7s.
ing Fields, Fifeld, Foss, Gray, Hamilton, Hanson
Harmon ofLubec, Haskell, Hayes, Holden, Howard
Humphrey, Jordan, keegan, Lord of Bluehill,
McKusick, Nash, Perkins Of Auburn Perry of OK.
ford, Phillips Pike, Potter of Webster, Potter Of
Woolwich, Porter, Preble, Prince, Richardson
Robinson, Springer, stuart Tabbut, Tibbetts of
Brooklin, Tibbetts of Greenbush, Titcomb, TORY,
Trefethen Turner Walker of STOW, Whitcomb'
Whitnore, Winslow, Woods.
So the bill was passed to be engrossed.
Mr.. REED Of Wadoboro' moved to recon.
slider the vote whereby the report ofthe Com
mttee on Legal Reform was accepted re-
porting legislation inexpedient on order relat-
ing to the repeal of the act creating the State
Liquor Agency, and that Wednesday at Il
o'clock be assigned. Pending this motion the
House
Adjourned