Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-24
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Senate.

Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. JOHNSON
of Augusta.
The journal Of Saturdays proct edings was
and and approved.
Papers from the House disposed OF in con-
currence.
Bill an act repeating chap. Al Of the revised
statutes relating to hawkers and peddlers
came from the House indefinitely postponed.
The bill was read once and on motion of
Mr.. BOYLE was tabled.
The following bills were each read twice
and under a suspension Of the rules passed to
be engrossed.
An act to incorporate the Central Cheese
and Butter Factory of Winterport; an act to
incorporate the Warren Cheese Factory Com.
pany; an act to authorize the trustees of the
Methodist Episcopal Society in Yarmouth to
sell their house of worship.
Mr.. Foss by leave, presented bill an act to
incorporate the Eastern Slate Company, and
on his motion the bill was read twice, and un-
der o suspension of the rules was passed to
be engrossed
Mr.. HARMON from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, reported resolve making appropria-
tons for the Penobscot tribe of Indians.
Read and assigned.
Final report was made by the Committee on
Indian Affairs.
On motion of Mr.. EMERY, it was
Ordered, That Hon. 4. II. Whitmore of
Hancock be excused from further attendance
after Wednesday the 25th inst, and that his
pay be made up to the end of the session.
Mr.. MARTIN from the Committee on Towns,
reported an act to annex the town of Barnard
to the town of Sebec. Read and assigned.
Mr.. LoTHRoP by leave, presented an act re-
latng to the commitment of certain classes to
the Reform School, which was ordered to be
hat In of
any court or Trial Justice shall hereafter
sentence to the Reform School, any boy be-
tween the ages of eight and sixteen years,
convicted of vagrancy, truancy, or of being a
common runaway or night walker. 1t pro-
vides that the trustees of the school shall dis
charge therefrom all boys committed to the
school for the foregoing offences.
An act relating to the Judicial Court was
taken from the table, and pending its passage
to be engrossed, the question was on adopt
ing amendment A, striking out all after the
enacting clause, and inserting the following:
The presiding Justice in all jury trials
shall charge the jury upon matters of law
pertaining to the issue, and may state the po-
sitions of the parties relating to the issues of
fact arising in the case, but shall not charge
the jury with respect to the facts, nor CON-
ment upon the evidence, nor express an
opinion upon such issues; and any violation
of this act shall be ground for new trial upon
motion or exceptions.
The amendment was rejected, and the bill
was then given passage.
Bill an act to make the Both day of May
legal holiday, was taken from the table, on
motion of Mr.. EMERY, and given passage.
Report Of the committee relating to rail-
road connections Fought not to pass was
taken from the table on motion of Mr.. GRAN
DON.
The question was on accepting the report,
which the Senate so voted.
The Chair ruled that the vote of the Senate
in accepting the report, carried with 1t the
adoption Of the report. That the time to
amend report of a committee is after its ac-
ceptance, when call for division of the
question may be made npon the adoption of
the report. A report of a committee cannot
be amended until after it has been accepted,
but it may be rejected.
Bill an act to amend chap. "A Of the Re-
vised Statutes, relating to the settlement of
paupers, was read second time and passed
to be engrossed.
Subsequently, on motion OF Mr. EMERY, the
vote whereby the bill was given Passage was
reconsidered, and the bill tabled.
Bill an act to continue in force chap. 9S of
the public laws of 1873, providing pension for
disabled soldiers and seamen, was taken from
the table.
The question was on adopting amendment
marked b, offered by Mr.. PALMER, which
Senator spoke as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT A word of explanation,
or rather of apology, is due the Senate for
the action propose to take in this case.
have had much experience in examinations
for invalid pensions, and have seen so much
lying deception and craft practiced by appli-
haf | Cd RI xritb
picion on any law granting pensions, if not
most strictly guarded. With these feelings
l first examined this bill, and it appeared to
me that its provisions we're not sufficiently
guarded to prevent abuse. Hence the amend
ment before us. Like every thing else, pen
sion laws have two sides; whilst they should
keep out all intruders so far as possible, they
should let in all who are absolutely needy of
aid, and | would be the last one to vote to
withhold aid from any one of this class. On
more thorough examination and reflection
on this subject in as much as | find section
three repeats the only other law providing re-
lief for any one over twelve years of age, l
am led to think that this amendment may be
of doubtful propriety, and that it will on the
whole be better to trust to the vigilance of
the Adjutant General to guard this avenue to
the treasury. | therefore ask leave to with
draw the amendment that the original bill
may be put upon its passage.
The amendment on being withdrawn, the
bill was given passage.
READ AND AssIGSED.-A act to amend
sec. "a of chap. 40 of the revised statutes re-
lating to returns of foreign insurance compa-
MICS; an act to amend sec. SO of chap. 40 of
the revised statutes relating to insurance COM
panies; an act to amend sec. 40 of chap. so of
the revised statutes relating to sheriffs, off
GERS and constables: an act to authorize tho
town of Litchfeld to raise money for agricul-
taral purposes, in said town; an act to incor-
porate the Kennebec Coal, Hay and Ice Co.
an act to incorporate the Damariscotta Steam
boat Co. an act to increase the tolls of the
Nahamakante Dam Co.; resolve in favor of
DanI M. Libby; resolve in favor of Michael
Farral resolve in favor Of Francis Pennel re-
solve in favor Of Geo. Lander ct ais. resolve