Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-23

VI. nj isfi led n N ~
measure and he had been surprised Mt
the report of the Judiciary committee
Ue had learned that the opposiiiop ~ II arose
from the fact that II is a custom of great an.
,;opitv He said il was n custom founded
mon the ignorance of ancient times II was
originated when pcople were unable TO writ.
A. that time signatures were affixed by a siy-
net in a ring. The diffusion of educatios has
oby the necessity of any such thing. The
custom of scala comes tn rs from tho com-
mon law of ENGLAND which has been adon,ed
bv the United States. Nearly all of the
soutbcrn and western states have abolished
its use. substituting a scroll with the pen.
He cited an instance in which n town in his
vicinity had lost through its collector on ac-
coupt of the inyalidity of n bond. made so nv
the absence of n seal
Mr. RsowS of Bangor. agreed with the last
sneaker. Ii had been his impression that the
custom should he abolished. lie had been
accustomed to do business in the West for the
last 30 wears: and it had been abolished there
entirely. He instanced case when the alb
sence of n seal in claim of title. cost man
$500 where il ought not To have cost him any-
hing.
MIR. LOCKE of Portland. voted in committee
for the report. and he thought he did it adj
visedly. When man signs his name to a pa,
pcr and there is a seal on it. he understands
that il means real estate. Ms n rule. The seal
calls tn mind what he is signing. and makes
him more careful before afiixiny his sigma
ture. Ii was something that would cause the
poor man tn stop and inquire. sis this all
ripbt?" The legislature cannot afford 10
break down these barriers which are for the
protection of the iliterate in the conveyance
of their households and homesteads
Mr.. GILMAN replied.
Mr.. DICKEY of Fort Kent. had lived for the
last thirty wears among an illterate people
and he knew of no bound that would prevent
fraud among that class of people in the mat
ter of deeds except the seal.
Mr.. WEEKS of Augusta. suggested that tn,
scknow lcdgment and witnessing of deed,
o"e"' W "r s"nn''e"' :" e"'i "''e"'i'" W '"'
NJ Wor,rox of Scarboro, said tho com.
man law from which wo have This cu.tom
il ,nc;ont and is founded unon common
sense. If the matter of the seal was to be
abolished, then why retain the iittie nourish
with the pen. IL was simply TO Keep up the
old form. If we abolish the seal in this
State we must have substitute ior II either
substitute the scroll. or, as IN those states
where seals and scrolls are both abolished.
classify the different writings under separate
heads OF simple and special contracts.
with the position taken IN favor OF the NIL;
Inc only argument maze III iaVor OF the sea
was that the poor ana ignorant man wo"id NOT
know what nc was signing or placing ms marx
10 without u. mat AS an argument reii 10
the ground. because ne renewed thar IN nine
cases out OF ten the seal Is placed upon the
trhara WV
~ H., .h;, ,,,,
,,;, l.; ~; ,,yo o,I 90 h ~, an .
P e...'. ~ VI, o'e ~ w P"' VI"
written instrument amer the SIGNATURE
| The House voted to reconsider, by a vOt,
of "a IN os
IN melon os n, wusox of Tbo,pos,on
the report was recommtted to the Judiciar,
committee. with instructions TO report a bill
Ran .xD Assrcxrp
Resolve in favor OF James Moore and
David Moore of No H. Range / planta
,;"n
uoh'
PASSED TO ne ESGROssrp
Resolve IN favor OF citizens OF Cvr planta
: ton: resolve in favor of Roxanna Brown: re
Nv i" i"'oi VI 's''ue' o' y,
heht; resolve ahehnatory Oh chaP' - Oh th'
resolves of 1879, entitled, "resolve grantin.
, two lots of land 10 Vim. Brown of Eapl.
.SS.. .o.: VI ' -, ,',;,;." st,
plantation, under certain conditions resolve
nlan,a,on an act "a nreyent tho taking 9
, | ca - .t. rCr
nsn IN Hipiey Pohu' III the to"hs III ahaa'
and Pittsfield an act to prevent fishing II
the waters and tributaries of Great and Lont
: | -, :; A. -. 80 D,,,..la 81 D. -
pohus' III 'he 'o"hs vi Dei9raue anu nv"
an act to prevent the taking OF fsh in Cam
bridge pond in the town of Cambridge
D., ,I;-,
h"Jou'ne"'
PETITIONS BILLS &c Presented AND RE-
,u,,,
| "'
Ry Mfr. HALVES Of vassAhOrn'-Rul An act to In
corporate the trustees Of the Oak Grove Seminary
referred to the Judiciary Committee.
BY Mr.. LOCKE OF POrtand-Bill an act to amen'
Is. chap. Is Of the revived statutes relating Il
damages on highways; referred to the Judiciar,
Committee.
\ Bv Mr. DODGE OF Bristol-Petition Of George +
Morse and 81 others for repeal Of porgie law Of ISIS
referred to the Committee on Fisherie..
BY Mr.. HASKKRsON Of Characterization Of W
W Walker for pension; referred to the Committee
ton Pensions.
Bv Mr.. STAPLES of Elliot-Remonstrance Of Jane
Hobbs and 4s others against petition Of Boston
Maine Railroad Co., now pending; referred TO tn
Committee on Railroads.
Bv Mr.. KIMBAIL of Bath-Petition Of John A
French and so Others for change In the close time 70
brook trout also bin amend chap. IS ~ 70
public laws of 1873, relating to fisheries and propa
CATION of fish referred to the Committee on Fisher
les.
| nv Nr ~ PATTI of Han