Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-24

then let us resolve ourselves into a mock
session. or caucus. or convention, and take a
day for field fight here. Why should the
legislature travel outsi IT, of its Constitutional
duties. and take up these foreign matters:
Mr.. LOCKE of Portland. did not think il
would be cOntroyerted that the legislature
has a perfect right and that it is in order for
the State of Maine, through its representa-
tives. to pass resolutions expressing their
opinion upon any question now pending be
fore Congress
Mr. WILSON said the Constitution provides
that the legislature shall have full power to
make an establish all reasonable laws and
regulations for the defence and benefit of
the people Of this State, etc. There is no
provision by which il can do anything fur
Their lie contended that it was the duty of
the Speaker, when any matter was offered
foreign to the intent of the Constitution.
to rule that matter out of order. Then the
question would come upon suspending the
rules, which he did not deny the House had
Il right to do in the present ease.
Mr. kIMBALL of Bath, vcnturcd to say that
never in the history of our legislatures had
resolutions affecting the interests and pros
perlty of tie State met with such Il reception
to defeat them. There were no politics in
them.
Mr.. WILSON eApl lined that he simply used
the word politics to illustrate.
Mr.. PICkAHD of Bangor, understood this
was an attack upon our able Senator. Mr..
Blaine. He was not going to stand here an
see anybody attack him.
The Speaker said that with the principle
contendcd for by the gentleman from Thorn
aston Wilson is very reasonable, that long
practice of the legislatures of Massachusetts,
and Maine had sanctioned the reception of
resolutions of a similar nature where they
bear upon the interests of the State. This
long custom had been followed. and tie Chair
did not consider il his duty at present to sus-
tain the point of order against the long usage
and practice of these legislatures.
The resolutions were then received. and
Mr.. WILSON of Thomaston, moved to table
and print.
Mr.. PICKARD of Bangor, moved to amend
by attaching a preamble and resolves con
corning the currency, which were ruled out
of order. Mr.. MotLroN of Scarboro having
raised the point that they were not german
to the quest
Mr.. HARRINGTON of Fryeburg, moved to
amend So that any treaty which discriminates
against native bora citizens of this country
and brings in such a competition that leads to
the depreciation of our own citizens and
eventually to driving them from some of the
best situations We have in this country, shall
not be considered As treaty for the interests
of this country to maintain and hence all such
treaties should he abrogatcd.
Mr.. kiMB,LL had no objection to II resolu-
ton being introduced To that effect. but OPP
posed il a. an amendment To his measure
The motion to table and print was then car
ried
Mr.. PERRY OF Camden. presented the
following. which was laid on the table To be
printed on his motion:
Resolve in relation To bank issues and util-
ization of coin in the United States treasury.
Resolved, That the Legislature of Maine,
the Senate concurrlng. instruct our Senators
and request our Representatives in Congress
I to use their influence and votes to procure
the passage of the necessary laws to carry
into effect the following principles
First, The abolition of all bank issues and
the unlimited coinage of gold and silver.
Second, The utilization of the coin in the
Treasury in payment Of the interest-b airing
debt.
Mr.. WALLACE of Belfast, prest ntcd the
following:
Resolved. That whereas, it has been pub
licly charged that Sprague, Owen 4 Nash
have charged and received from the State
for printing large amounts in excess of the
prices specified in their several contracts
with the State the Governor and Council are
hereby empowered and requested to invcsti-
gate said charges and if found to be true, to
take such measures rs may be necessary to
recover back any moneys wrongfullv taken
from the treasury.
Mr.. SrAuLpING of Richmond did not
think there would be any objection on the
part of anybody to the investigation proposed.
But if there was to be one ii should be one
that will satisfy all With this idea in view
he desired at the proper time TO offer an
amendment that the investigation shall be
made by commission to be appointed by the
Governor by the advice and consent of the
Council, consisting of three efficient men.
one of whom might be learned in the law and
other two practical book printers. That
would be an investigation that would satisfy
everybody. TO give him time to prepare
such an amendment the resolve was laid on
the table on his notion
Mr.. ANDREWS of Cornish, presented the
petition of l.094 petitioners of the counties
of kenncbec and Androscoggin. and bill for
amendment of law, so that ten hours shall be
a full days work, but not to apply to agrcul-
tural employment or repair of machinery of
corporations, and he asked to have the rules
suspended and the sub ect referred to the
Committee of the Whole.
A suspension of the rules being opposed,
the yeas and nays were ordered and taken,
resulting in the affirmative, AS follows:
/ YEAS - Messrs, Andrews, Atwood beverage,
Boynton, Bragdon, Brown, Burbank, Chase, Ches.
! ley, Cobb, Cunningham, Curran, Dana Dckev
Ellrdge. Harrington, Fennelly, Fox, Frank, Gil
man, Colder. Goulding, Guptil Haley, Hall of Al
fred, Hall of liermon Hanson, Hatch Higgins of
/ IIampden. Higgins of Thorndke. Hodgkns, Horne
Irish, Jones of Lagrange, Kennedy. Lane, Laughton
/ Lewis of Ripley Lewis of Sherman Libby
Lord. Moore of Machiasport, Morrill, of Vienna
Mouton of Scarborough, Murch of Casco. Murch OF
Ellsworth, Nash, Perkins. Perry of Camden, Pick
ard, Pickett, Pierce, Rigby Richie Robbins,
Russ, Seward, Shapeigh, simpson, Smart, Smith OF
Iiodgdon, Smith of Mapleton, Staples, Stinson
STYLES. True, Wadsworth. Wallace of Belfast, Wal
lace of Millbridge, Weeks, Weymouth, woodcock
~.
/ NAYs-Messrs. Barron. Beal Briggs, Burr, Crag.
in, Dingley, Dodge, Eaton, Farrell Garcelon, Hall OF
Newcastle Hammond, Hankerson, Hersey, Hills
Iinckley, Homer, Howe, Hunt, Hurd, mgraham
Jones of Lewiston. kimball, Lamson, Lawrence
Locke, Martin, Merrill, Meserve Moore of DAYTON
Morrill, of Windham. Mouton of Sanford, Newton
Oakes, Perry of Poland. Pinkham, Poor, Rice
Richards Robinson, Sargent, SAWYER Smith of Au.
burn, Spaulding, Stanley, Steward, Talbot, Thomas
of Yarmouth. Trueworthy, Nickery, .Willoughby
Wilson, Wincapaw, Wing, foung-55.
SO the rules We're suspended, and the petit
ton and bill referred to the Committee of the
Whole. The bill was ordered to be printed
on motiou of Mr. YoI-S, of RrunswicL