Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-31


the legislature should pass upon matters of so
much importance; that hereafter when these ques-
tons affecting important interests come up, they
should go before proper committee of the legis-
lature, and then to the Senate and House.
Mr.. CLEAvEs replied. Reference had been
made to the Boston q Maine road, aud almost a
condemnation of the granting of that charter had
been pronounced. The Boston & Maine was
OF the most successful roads in the State, and If
the Eastern had not been successful perhaps the
gentleman from Gorhsm (Robie) would under
stand the cause. He again reiterated his belief in
railroad competition. 1t for the interest OF
the commercial industries of the State. lie re-
garded the proposed amendment to the law As the
greatest stride toward consolidation and centrali
eaton that was ever attempted by legislature
The result of the bill would enable the strong
porstons to override and swallow up the weak that
came to the leg islsture to ask for charters. 1t
would bring upon the legislature lobby of one
hundred men. The legislature in its wisdom had
removed the matter from itself and vested IT with
competent tribunal, and he was opposed to
versing that action. He referred to the Massa-
chusetts law the subject aud said the law of thi.
state is almost similar TO 1t.
The motion to indefinitely postpone prevailed
Bill an act against pool selling and lotteries
came up on its passage to be engrossed.
Mr. hIMBALL moved to anne nd by striking out
the second section, which Is as follows: "Al
lotteries, schemes devices of chance, of what
ever name or description, at fairs or public gath
erings, whether in the interest OF churches benevo
H.,
liable 10 all the penalties affixed to lotteries in
chap Us, sections s. and of the revised stat
utes. lie SAID the statutes already contain law
enough on the subject if enforced 1t seemed to
HIM very bad taste to associate the christian
lgion with horse tro,s, pool selling and three
card-moute.
Mr.. BEssE took occasion to thank the gentle
man last up for his interest in behalf of the people
OF the church, and STILL he would not take the
casion to say that his interest not with that
class. The church has en1eayOred. in ali sta0pa
OF the world, since the 4ih century, to obtain
equality before the law. On this continent the
church has Lad conflicts TO stand before the law
on an equality with other citizens. 1t has sought
TO make Itself something else than resort for
sinners. She does not wish to be considered so
sacred that she is above the reach of the law
She does not ask for exemption from the law in
| the present case, and he was opposed to the
amendment lie had personal reflections to
make; but the opposition to the bill seemed to
come from outsiders, and not from within the
Church. The Church has nothing within her bor-
ders that she is ashamed Of
Mr.. CHASE CT Bridg,on agreed with the sta &c .
ment that there is already law enough on the
subject, aud II his friend from Chester (Besse }
aud those that might be termed "nsideIs" hadn I
the courage to express 1t, he did not that
bers were called upon to put themselves upon rec
ort IN CHASING churches and benevolent objects
| with lotteries, horse trots aud such matters lie
thought it unjust and uncalled for aud hoped the
| amendment would prevail.
Mr.. LORD of Bangor said there was one object
to be reached by the BILL aud that was % prevent
games of chance. lie believed that if churches
break the law they should be reached, as we'll as
all other parties. 1t came to this would the leg
| stature pass laws 10 prevent every body else ex-
cept tue churches from making money By games
of chance I tie saw no difference IN principles
| whether chance was taken at horse trot or alta
church fair. If religious institutions could not
| sustain themselves unless they gamble, tlcn they
are not the kind of religious installations that
ought to be sustained. lie opposed to the
amendment. To strike out the section was to pre-
vent allusion to churches; in other words, to al
| low churches to 20 on in the future they
had in the past, to get money by games OF chance
through grab bags, guess cakes, and what Is con.
sdered outslde,a raife, means by which the money
of the people is gathered il, and perhaps applied
to good purposes.
Mr.. BROWNE of Bowdonham, saw no difference
| in principle between grab-bags and the sale OF
pools at horse trots. some gentlemen wished ali
| other means of gambling cut of except that
| in church fairs. Nobody must interfere with
them because there was SO much benefit derived
from them. Still, he believed the church ought
to be the judge of its affairs and if they could
not support themselves without il, he willing
for one that they should retain it. But he did not
want il done under false pretences, and suggested
an amendment so as to exempt games of chance
from the law when In the interest of churches and
benevolent societies.
Mr.. BERRY OF Wayne read from the statute to
show that there is sufficient law upon the subject.
He saw no reason for duplicating the law
MIR. PIKE concurred IN the opinion that there
is sufficient law upon the subject unless the pen
ates changed.
Mr.. BEssE said the churches bad some interest
in the matter, and he thought it would be in sea-
son for the legislature or any person to grant such
favor as was proposed by the amendment when
the church asked for it, The church did not de-
sire TO have the section stricken out.
NJ. PILsBURY of Lewiston, opposed the
amendment. The church asks exemption at
the hands of the law. lie thought the 2nd sec.
ton covered something not touched by existing
law.
Mr.. CLARK Of Appleton objected t, the 2od sec
| ton OF the bill the ground that the subject i.
| already covered by statute, and because it con-
veyed the impression that churches specially need
| the section. He thought it uncalled for and
hoped that it would be striker out. He thought
| that the church shoud not have this stigma cast
! upon it after doing so much as it had done and
| was still doing.
Mr.. WOOD understood that the churches ask
no exemption, but he saw no reason why they
should be specified more than other bodies. If all
the public places were to be ma ned there would be
a large number. He hoped the amendment would
| prevail.
The House refused to strike out the section.
| Mr.. BERRY of Wayne, moved To indefinitely
postpone. Lost by vote OF 43 yeas, y nays.
Mr. CHASE moved to amend by striking cut in
the second Sec from the I'd, Sd and 4th lines the
| words fairs or public gatherings wh9ther in the
|
| wise" Lost.
| The bill was then passed to be cngros.ed.
| On motion of Mr. HINCKLEY OF Georgetown
| the House
| Adjourned.
| PETITIONS, BILLS, &c, PRESENTED AND RE
| FERRED.
| Bv Mr.. ROGERS. Petition of j. II. Z. Morrow
| ct ais, of Bowdoinham; OF z. X. Miay ct ais.
in regard to Merrymeeting bridge. Referred to
| the Committee on Ways and Bridges.
| By Mr.. Brown of Bowdoinham. Petition Of
| Wildes .. Hunter and SO others of Topsham, in
regard to Merrymeeting Bridge. Referred to the
| Committee on Ways and Bridges.
BY Mr.. GRANT of Stockton. Resolve in favor
of the town of Stockton. Referred to the Com
| mittee on Library.
BY Mr.. LORD of Bangor. Bill an act to amend
sec. 3d. chap. u of the revised statutes, relating
to the illegal sale of Intoxicating liquors. Pro-
vides for the arrest and and punishment of those
who carry liquor about their personslfor purposes
| Of sale. Referred to the Committee on Temper
arce also bill act to enable the city of Bangor tC
| aid the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad Co. in the
| construction of its railroad from some point ii
Bangor to some point on the line of its present
| road. Referred to the Committee on Railroads
There is no dressing for burns that W i'll com
| pare with Forest Tar Salve." jan3l-tSwlw