The Portland daily press., 1875-02-19

discovered. He wished to give every town ex-
actlv their due. he could not vote for wrong
nrincinle which was involved IN this matter,
and he tboupbt as matter of right the town
of Houlton and all other towns which have
been similarly reimbursed, should pay back
every cent.
Senator Stevens advocated the claims of the
towns. He rehearsed the story already pub
lished of how the demands,were made upon the
towns and how some paid and how some re-
fused He protested against the remark of the
Senator from Oxford in regard to his town of
Lexington's quota being shorG for he knew
every man who went into the army and knew
some who died there. He continued at some
length. showing if the Adjutant Generals
course was in.itself upright, it was in defiance
of the express provisions of the law
Senator Cutler opposed the resolve. He
thought it was wrong to reimburse any OF the
towns, and protested against the commitment
of any future wrong, by reimburslng any more
1t was paying premium on d'sloyalty TO do
it, for they refused to come to the support OF
the country when it was in danger.
Senator Corthell advocated the resolve He
said the first of the paper credit cheat was not
discovered till 1870. The papers produced by
Mr. Swasey had uncovered the well, and en-
abled them to look in upon these TRANSACTIONS.
The commission fer equalization did its duty
we'll and nobly in looking into these matters.
They compared the muster rolls of the army
with the Adjutant Generals books and it was
found that many men had been fraudulently
presented He gave the history of the uncov-
erlng of the frauds and SO forth. In
regard to the deficiency of quotas, the call up
on the town of Fort Fairfield was not made till
July oath, 1864, and the book quoted from by
the Oxford Senator was made before this call
was made. She paid for twelve men that never
was credited upo1 the muster rolls of the army,
and in the equalization of the debt she was not
credited with those twelve men she supposed
she had furnished. The other towns who had
paid Communication money were served in much
the same manner. All this was the result OF
the in tended fraud, but which failed. Some
body failed and most thoroughly. There was a
little episode in relation to Fort Fairfield The
town paid $240O for twelve men, giving $1,000
in money and note for $1400. After a year
or two, when the investigation had begun, the
the state treasurer wrote to them saying, 1--WE
have S14O0 note of yours which does not be-
long to us, come and get it" and they went and
| got it, What kind of dealing was that?
Senator Swasey wished to correct the last
speaker by saying they were credited with the
twelve new mel credited to them, and still are
deficient some men. In all the settlements
thus far, and the present claim will, if granted
swell their receipts to $500.
The discussion was continued at length, the
cases of different towns and individuals cited.
Senator Emery thought it time to stop in the
discussion and take an observation, and ascer-
tain the latitude and longitude. He thought
the whole question was a question OF fact and
Thought the matter should be referred to an
other tribunal. If it were a question of princi-
pie it would be decided here.
Senator Haskell thought if the matter was to
be referred to a commission it should not be re-
ferred to the gentlemen named in the amend
ment Governor, Adjutant General and State
Treasurer) who will be before the people for a
reelection perhaps before the question is de-
cided.
The question was then put upon the recon-
sideraton of the vote by which the amendment
was lost, and was carried.
Senator Stevens moved an amendment to
this amendment, that when the commission re-
port their decision shall be final and the Cover
nor shall draw his warrant for the amount adj
Indicated if their decision is final.
Senator Cortbell moved in addit ion that
the commission have power to send for persons
and papers in the examinations.
After considerable discussion, an amendment
providing for the above, and also that the rec
ords of the Adjutant General, Secretary of
State and State Treasurer's Office be ACCESSIBLE
and the decision be reached by June list, 1875,
was adopted.
A motion to indefinitely postpone was lost, 6
to &c.
The resolve was then passed to be engrossed
The resolve relating to the Insane Hospital
was taken from the table and tomorrow at IL
o'clock assigned. Also bill relating to Peneb.
scot Indians, which was indefinitely postpon d.
A claim of the city of Portland was recommit-
ted to the Committee on lClaims; resolve in fa-
vor of the Insane Hospital ito finish chapeD
and assigned for Friday at 10 o'clock; resolve
in favor of Island Falls was taken from the
table and indefinitely postponed.
Resolve in favor af E. B. Bradford was taken
from the table and passed to be engrossed.
Resolve in favor of j. f. Palmer ct ais, was
indefinitely postponed.
Resolve in favor of S. S. Smith ct ais. was
taken from the table and passed to be en-
crossed.
Resolve in favor of Louis G. Coffin was taken
from the table and passed to be engrossed
The last few resolves were all for land in
Aroostook.
The resolve in favor of the town of Roxbury
in Oxford county, was passed to be engrossed
HOUSE.
The Financial Committee reported resolve
providing that the laws of the state be promul-
gated by 'extras" in all the papers of the state,
but that no provision be made for printing the
same in the state paper.
Resolves were also offered in favor of the
Reform School Committee, and granting state
documents to the town of Shirley, which, I'M
der suspension of the rules, were passed to be
engrossed.
The Joint special committee on Woman Suf-
frage reported a bill to give women the right to
vote in municipal elections. Printed.
The Senate bill fixing the fine of town clerks
who do not furnish the Clerk of Courts with
records OF marriages (S2 instead of $1O) was
passed to be engrossed in concurrence.
After the morning hour the resolve appropri-
ating $4,000 to the Maine General Hospital,
with Mr.. Wheelwrght's amendment, was TAX
en- up.
Mr.. Leavitt gave notice that if the amend