The Portland daily press., 1878-01-03
Fifty-SeVenth Legislature.
SENATE.
Especial to the Press.1

The Senate met at 10 O. M, and was called to |
order by S. W. Lane, Esq, Secretary.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Upiohn of |
Augusta.
A communication was received from the |
Secretary of State transmitting the official roll |
of members elect. The roll was called and |
twenty-nine members were found to be present.
A message was sent to the Governor and |
Council informing them that quorum was
present and ready to be qualified. The Gov
ernor soon appeared attended by the Council
and administered the oath to the members.
On motion of Senator Bailey of Cumberland
the Senate proceeded to ballot for President
with the following result: Warren Fl. Vinton
had %, VIM. G. Davis had s.
Upon taking the chair Mr.. Vinton made the
following address:
Senator's: 1 recognize at once in the place
which your Partially assigns me, one of honor,
one OF responsibility, one of labor. For the
honor conferred l thank you. The RESPONSE
bility dare not assume, the labor | dare not
undertake, only as feel assured of that kindly
cooperation on your part and on the part of
each of you, of which the unanimity with
which you call me would seem to be at once
token and a pledge.
Standing as we now do, around this Senate
rial board, about to enter upon the discharge of
our important duties, it may not be amiss to
spend moment in defining with accuracy the
place we occupy. 1t is question none too
often asked, How comes it that the Legisla-
ture is double? Why is it that before any bill
can become law, can be in condition even to
ask the executive approval it must pass with
all due formality another body? Why is this?
Why would not one suffice? Where is the wis
dom of two? The wisdom of this arrangement
is found in It's history, which is this:
rnA- 1919 IL
pIerogative was the right to be represented at
all. This representation made the legislature
one head The king as further concession
called around him body of men as counsel
lors, with whom he advised, and who, in turn,
were supposed to advise him. But it was soon
found that this body of men thus called by the
king. were in the interest of the king, and did
the bidding of the king AS result the people
came to demand some voice in the selection of
this body, and so in time it, in some form, be-
came elective and hence another legislative
body, the higher branch, called in different
countries by various names, but in the United
States and in each and all Of the several states
the Senate.
Now it will be at once perceived that the
Senate standing thus midway between the i'm
| mediate representatives Of the people on the
one hand and the executive on the other, is
from its very character and situation, to use a
word very excellent in itself, though much
| abused in our time the conservative body; SO
the people in any unguarded moment attempt
any rash excited or imprndent action, it may
| be checked and corrected here. On the other
hand should the executive attempt any en-
| oroaohment upon the rights of the people they
| may be held and corrected here
| While the two branches of the legislature are
| thus separate. and each wholly independent in
/ its action, still they must act in harmony or
| they cannot act at sill. / have myself known
some word, let fall in the excitement of debate,
| against some word or deed in the other branch.
| to be construed into sn act of hostility and so
| embitter the whole session and seriously impair
| its efficiency and disturb and mar its action.
No rule of parliamentary law, is or can be
better settled than this, that no word or deed
/ is in order which in any manner reflects upon
| any word or deed of the other branch. 1 need
not say, standing in the presence of Senators of
| large experience and much proficiency in par
liamentary law, that no occasion will arise here
l for the application of this rule The legisla-
ture thus constituted and thus acting, takes its
| place under the constitution as coordinate
| branch of the state government, and here again
| on broader scale with its cognates there must
| be harmony of action, each department, to be
l sure, acting independently; but should there be
any encroachment one upon the other, the state
is thereby sure to suffer loss and it is only when
/ the legislature acts within its constitutional
| sphere and the judiciary within its sphere and
/ the executive within its sphere that the laws
1 are wisely enacted, fairly interpreted and we'll
and properly executed
The character of a people, the wisdom of
people, the progress of people, the liabilities
of people, all are founded in the laws which
they enact Let it therefore during the present
I session be one aim to enact such laws as shall
make conspicuous and render illust1ious these
| traits of the people represented by us.
A vote was taken for Secretary which result
ed in the election of S. W. Lane, Esq, without
opposition. Chas. W. Tilden was elected Assis-
| tant Secretary. BENZ. E. Stevens was chosen
Messenger, and G. 81. Lovejoy, Assistant. T.
Chadbourne was elected folder
A message was sent to the Governor and
House of Representatives informing them of
the organization of the Senate.
The vote for Governor was transmitted by
tho Secretary of State and referred to a special
committee.
The Senate voted to hold one session day,
commencing at 10 M, until otherwise ordered.
An order inviting the clergymen of Augusta,
Hallowell and Gardiner to officiate as chap
lains was passed.
The House was called to order by Oramandel
Smith, Clerk of the last House.
Prayer by Rev. G. FL. Penny of Augusta
The official roll of members was called and
145 answered to their names
A quorum being present the Governor and
Council attended upon the House and admins
tered the oath to the members in the usual
manner.
On motion of Mr.. Bowers of Saco the House
balloted for Speaker with the following result:
Whole number Of votes al
Henry Lord of Bangor, had 81
John M. Adams of Deering, had 80
Mr.. Adams of Deerng conducted the Speak.
err elect to the chair. On taking the chair Mr..
Lord spoke as follows:
Grateful for the honor you have conferred
upon me in electing me your presiding officer,
and sincerely thanking you for the same, [ as
sumo the duties of the position realizing that
with the responsibility attending it my success
will depend largely upon your sympathy, for
bearauce and cooperation, all of which trust
/ shall receive. And, gentlemen, giving ex-
preston to the wish that the session now before
us may be pleasant to all and our labors here be
productive OF such legislation only as shall be
for the best interests of our respective sections
and the state at large, L am ready to proceed
with the business of the hour.