Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-24

The meeting of the State Agricultural Society,
in this city, yesterday, resulted in the reorgsn-
iZation of this Society, and the adoption of q
new code of bylaws. The meeting was quite
fully attended and the discussion very animated,
but friendly in tone. The legal points against
holding the meeting, and that the previous trans
actions of the society were perfectly legal, were
presented in very strong manner by Mr.. Libby,
county attorney of Cumberland, and others; and
while they had great weight in the minds of
many, it was thought best, on the whole, in the
language Of one of the members, to ''rub out and
begin over again" Gen. Brown. the new Presi-
dent, will infuse new life and intelligence into the
society, and he will be seconded by a most able
board of Trustees. With harmony Of action. we
see no good reason why the Society cannot now
soon relieve itself from embarrassing debt, and
enter career of usefulness and prosperity
Maine State Agricultural Society.
Under the warrant issued by Justice of the
Peace, meeting of the Maine State Agricultural
Society held in this city yesterday afternoon
ct half-past one O'Clock.
The meeting was called to order BY Dr. j. w.
North, of Augusta, who read the warrant under
which the meeting was called.
The chairman called for the election of clerk
On the suggestion of Mr.. Homsn of Augusta,
Hon. j. W. North was called to preside as tempo
rary chairman.
W. w. Harris of Portland, was chosen tempo
rary clerk.
On motion of Nj. Homsu, Messrs. Hpman,
Hamilton snd WATSON were chosen a committee to
ascertain who present are members.
c. F. Libby, Esq, Of Portland, wanted to know
the occasion for calling The meeting. lie thought
in taking measu es to do so, gentlemen had acted
under a N apprehension of both the law and the
facts. He wanted to know why we are called to-
getber.
Mr.. Holman said that the meeting had been
called at the instance of previous meeting held
in January. 1t then found that on acc 1unt of
not following the corporate act and other irregu-
larities, the society had lapsed and it had been
thought best to :eorganize.
Mr.. North, the chairman, read the report ofthe
committee to look into the gal status OF the So
ciey.
Mr.. Libby of Portland claimed that the meet
ing called under a mistake both of law and
fact.
The report of the committee at the meet.
ing held January 81 last was based the
assumption that the act Of 1870 chap l06, was
still in 10 ce. and rqued 1.-THE ii ne and place of
the annual IN eting TO be designated ny the trus.
tees, whereas the act was amended by the same
legislature tlS70, chap. 1907 by striking out that
provision. This amendment had been overlooked
by the committee and their conclu ion was there
fore wrong. The meeting of Jan. 81 acted on
the state ments of the committee, assuming them
to be correct, bu, even in that the remedy
adopted was Illegal, as the statute (chsp. 49, sec.
81 only provide for calling a meeting applica-
ton to justice Of the peace, when a meeting
cannot otherwise be legally called" This society
was not IN that category. Here was corporation
IN active existence, holding annual fair, with
full beard of officers in the exercise of their corpo-
rate powers, and the records read here show that
the meeting at Portland. in August last, at which
the present officers Of the society elected,
was legally held in accordance with the bylaws
in force at that time. The whole difficulty had
grown out OF an imperfect investigation Of the
statutes by the committee and erroneous conclu-
sions based on the facts. The corporation had
been treated defunct and an attempt made
to bury il, Notwithstanding the vigorous pro-
tests of what has proved to be 3 very lively corpse
Before there can be an election there must be
vacancy. This meeting has no power to elect
officers for the Society, any more than any mass
meeting, and its attempts to do ill merely call
into existence dual board which will lead to
further contest and divisions, and thereby the use
fitness of the Society will he impaired. If any
reforms are needed. let them be worked out
through the legal organization of the Society.
A meeting of the Society can be called this spring
(ApriD under the bylaws, and the whole matter
maturely onsidered
Mr.. North did not agree with the gentleman in
his legal points, nor altogether in the facts of the
statements made. The records show that illegal
proceedings had been had, or else an entire mis-
conception and erroneous construction of the law.
In regard to the last election of officers, during
the State FAIR at Portland, there were grave
doubts as to the legality of the act. We are con
fronted by two sets Of bylaws, contradictory to
each other, and both contradictory to the original
charter. There was confusion, and what was to
be done We had better get on to the right track
and have new organization provided by the
revised statutes,
Hall c. Burleigh of Fairfield. said il had been
understood that the meeting at Portland last fall
was illegal, and he had not yet been convinced to
the contrary.
a. 1 IL.