Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-05
Legislative Proceedings.
SENATE.
TUESDAY, Feb. 4.

: Papers from the House were disposed of in
| concurrence.
: On motion of Mr.. VINToN of Cumberland,
the Senate voted to recede from its action in
relation to bill an act regarding the use of
seals and to appoint Committee of Confer
ence. And the President named Mcssrs. Vim
ton, Morrison of Franklin and Barker of Pc
nobscot as the committee on the part of the
Senate
On motion of Mr.. MAYHEM of Kenncbec,
Ordered That the Committee on the Judi
ciary be requested to ascertain whether the
Secretary of State has the right under law,
to have the engrossing done by other than the
State printers, and report on the same as
soon as practicable.
On motion of Mr.. PATTES of Penobscot,
Ordered, That the Committee on Civil Ser
vice be requested to take into consideration
the propriety of so reducing the mileage of
members of the Legislature that it may con-
form to sec. I of article of the Constitu-
ton.
Mr.. PATTEN thought that something was
wrong when some members of the Legisla-
ture received just their travelling expenses.
some gratuty of $40, and others a gratuity
of 800.
On motion of Mr.. HARRIS of Washington,
the bill relative to allowing wharf to be
built at IIampdcn was taken from the table.
Mr.. P,TTEN of Pcnobscot stated that he
had no interest in the matter. but as it was de-
sired by certain parties that the bill Law over
till Wednesday he would like to have il done
Mr.. ATwELL of Penobscot. thought the mo-
ton only dilatory one made ut the sugges-
ton of one man. If it was desired to attack
the bill it could he done on its final passage.
On motion of Mr.. PATTEN the bill was ia
bled again
Bill nm act additional to chap. 81 of the
revised statutes, so that auctioneers may be
authorized to sell in any town in the state,
coming before the Senate, pending its engross-
ment, Mr.. BRADFORD of Washington, said
the bill had been carefully considered and
drawn by the committee. Iu settling up es-
tates it is well to allow auctioneers the right
to do business in other counties than their
own. This bill does not conflict with the
present law. nor unjustly take away the bust
ness of local auctioneers.
On motion of Mr.. MORRISON of Franklin.
as he desired to look into the matter the bill
was laid on the table.
On motion of Mr.. HAYES of Cumberland,
the bill relative to incorporating the Andro-
scoggn Telegraph Company. was amended
by adding three other names to the first sec
ton of the act. The bill then passed to be
engrossed.
On motion of Mr.. MAYHEM of Kennebec.
the report of the Committee on Printing and
Binding called for by an order of inquiry as
to who was doing the State printing, ETC., was
taken from the table
Mr.. VINToN of Cumberland, said that it
was perfectly clear to him from what the pa
pers were saying and from other indications
that the question of State printing was TO as
sumo great deal of Importance, and that
some of the features of the matter would be
interesting. Every year the Legislature
makes a contract for the State printing.
That~ork is now done by a firm here, 81 rague,
Owen Nash, and they do all the rinting
except some few matters. The contract,
ratified by the Legislature, is now in force
and the State printing is TO be done by them.
1t turned out that the engrossing. the printing
of the Governors address and other matters,
were done at the Office of the new paper. An
order was introduced into the House raising
the inquiry by what order this was done. The
committee to which the order was referred re-
port that the engrossing is done at the Office
of the new paper, under directions of the Sec
rotary of State, as he claims, by authority
and, that other work was done at the same
office by Misrepresentation, and then us an ex-
cuse for this the report states that the work
has been done 10 or 10 per cent. lower.
Well, to look at the case now. 1t is not right
to break contract even if it is possible by
so doing to get the work done at a less price.
Up to the year 1866 the engrossing was all
done with pen, but since then it has been
done by printing, under the authority and di-
rection of the Secretary of State When the
Legislature comes to contract for the printing
nothing is palmer than that all work of this
kind must be done under the contract. Can
the Secretary of State think that when the
State has entered into a contract, he can &c
outside of that? Is that to be contcnded for
for moment? He was pleased with the zeal OF
the new paper and thought that it was entitled
to credit in its efforts for life. He was pleased
to see them get all the printing they could
But nobody was justified in breaking a con
tract, contract that is written out, and signed
on one side by the committee and on the 9th.
er by the printers. If the printing can be
done less by other parties let them have it
That party should do the work that can do il
cheapest and best. But when the contract is
made it is binding, and is not to be broken sc
long as 1t Is in force.
Mr.. THOMPSON of Knox said that he was
member Of the Committee on Printing, and
that the order of inquiry was given to a sub.
committee, so that he knew nothing about it.
nor did he care to. He did not know the
limits of the term, ''current political year.
AS contained in the contract, and perhaps the
State was not now bound by any contract.
Mr.. VNroS replied that he had not seen
copy of the contract, so that he did not know
the meaning of the term Upon his motion
the report was referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
The hour of IL o'clock having arrived,
Mr. VINToN called for the special assignment
being the bill relative to the payment OF
the fees of referees by counties.
Mr.. BRADroRD of Washington, made a
few remarks against the bill, which he styled
a pernicious one. The present law was suf:
fcient without the enactment of such meas
ure as is proposed. A jury of twelve men
is as safe tribunal as any that can be had
1t is an unsafe measure. for by it innocent
citizens are liable at any time to be dragged
into court, by the inducement being held out
that no expense would follow from such a
course.
Mr.. Conn of Androscoggin favored the
measure, and spoke as follows in favor of it,
{ passage:
The bill before us is, | think, one of merit
, and one that should challenge our careful at
tention and consideration. have for long
time been of the opinion that our statutes
should contain a law of this character. and
: have often raised the inquiry why such a Law