Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-21
The Sneaker laid the following before the


HOase: o
wrxrHRoP, Jan. 10. 1880
10 6s Hon Geo. E. Weeks. SpeaSer o. "e
House Of Representatives.:
Sts: / have waited only for the full ana
regular organization of legal legislature 10
ask. - nov do for an investigation OF the
charge Of bribery brought against me ps
Thomas B. Swan and Moses Hartman rep
resen,stives Of the legislature have al
ready denied as loudly as ! could the enfife
charge brouRh, by said Swan and Hartman;
but want 70 meet both of them before
committee empowered to administer Legal
oath and to punish for false swearing.
Respectfully your obedient ser'an
WALLACE r. WHITE
Mr. HrrcHIxsoy Of Lewiston presen'ec the
following.
Ordered. That the communication of Wal
lace r. White be referred 10 select commit
tee Of seven With instructions 10 make inres.
,i,.,ion Of the facts therein referred TO. and
that said committee have power TO SEND TOT
per.sns and papers and to administer oaths-
Mr. HrrcHlSsoN Of Lewiston;
Mr.. Speaker: In presenting that order We
are met in this case With broad charge OF
bribery 4 specific charge. We are aware OF
the fac, that rumors have been abroad all
over the state. general charges Of bribery
without any facts TO support them Ana III
this case il seems 10 NE that We shouiu ~
once institute proceedings TO investigate tue
matter fully and 10 ascertain the facts IN t'ie
case and report upon them so that the peoP,e
Of Maine NAV know what those facts are III
parties have been guilty Of bribery they
should suffer the consequence. And there
fore l hope. Mr.. Speaker. that this orde'
shall have 4 passage
The order was passed. Subsequently, ON
motion Of Mr. HrrcHiSsoS, the order was
amended by making the committee n'e ih-
s,ead Of seven. The speaker appointed rs the
committee called for BY the above order
Mes.r.. Hutchinson Of Lewiston. Hale OF
Ellsworth. Wentworth Of kittery. Hartman
of Readfield. and MiiIiken of Burnham.
Mr.. Hale of Ellsworth, offered the follow ing
Joint resolution:
whereas, The seth Legislature Of the
State Of Maine as elected bv the people OF
the state at its last annual election has met
and has legally organized with full quorum
in each house under the opinion OF the Jus
,ices of the Supreme Judicial Court. and has
duly and legally proceeded to elect COVER
nor and executive council and other state
officers. all of whom have been duly qualified
and have entered upon their respective duties
in the customary places of the state house
where the business of the state is transacted
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Senate and House OF
Representatives will forthwith proceedto leg
islative business touching the varied interests
of the people Of Maine. their finances, theil
courts, their public schools. the fisheries, the
adaptabili,v Of the laws to the new constitu
tional amendments. the fixing of a just ano
fair basis for the coming valuation Of all the
a., hat tovn fi m a
fall Justly and fairly upon the people, ant
such other subjects as NAV naturally and nj
tinglv come before the legislature. And We
desire and hereby give notice to all the peo-
pie Of the State that anv bodies or collection
Of men outside Of the legislature here and
now duly and legally assembled and organ
lied as before mentioned. who NAV meet IT
anv place. claiming to act as the Legislature
of the State of Maine are wholly without righ
or authority SO to act. and are proceeding IL
violation of the constitution and the laws o
the State.
Mr. HALE:-I offer this resolution Mr.
Speaker. because it seems to me fitting. A.
We are duly organized and ready to proceed
to business. that some action indicating that
should be taken to go out to the people of the
State and the country. that it NAV be for once
and forever settled. that the business Of the
State. so far as that is affected by legislation
sto be done here and in the other hall, that
Of the Senate that it may be known that tho
House-and can only speak for it "a my
object in offering the order-propsses to pro
coed to business by the roll fixed on the
dav of the organization until the House shal
change that roll. That roll. Mr.. Speaker
embraces the names Of some sixty gentlemen
don't remember the exact number
H., LArn 10,
are gentlemen who are legally elected to the
House Of Representatives. They have.
presumably. for some good reason
in their mind. absentcd themselves thus
far. But the State knows and the coun
try knows that their seats here. though va
cant. are ready to receive them whenever they
NAV deem il Iustiiable, wise or advisable Il
come in. There has been no attempt to in
'erfere with them. But the business of tn,
State. Mr.. Speaker. should not wait on tn,
pleasure Of any gentleman. whether here oil
declining to come here. That is a matter
that must go on. January is now on its las
half. and the practice Of late wears has beer
to adjourn the legislature early in March
and so it will not do for us TO delay business
much, if any longer. OF course the respon
sibility If not being here and not attendin,
to the interests Of their various constituent
Cles upon the SUBJECTS which l have named
in the resolution-and they are subjects tina
will come up-must rest with these gentle
men. Their constituents have lmportan
rights here and ought to be represented: bu
We cannot oblige them to be represented
All We can do is to give this notice that w
propose to proceed to business and then " her
they appear here and with us enter upon the
duties affecting their constituency. the peopI,
Who sent them here, then the House will b,
ready to proceed and act With them
In asking the passage of this resolution
will not call the previous question at presen
IL any one desires to debate it. shall AZ,
that the yeas and nays be taken upon it. anc
state frankly nv object: wish to demon
strate BY the yeas and nays this morning III,
presence Of such . number OF legal represen
tatives. (and senators in the other branch
A. shows that it is imposs ible that a quorum q
the legally elected senator's and members ca,
be present any where else Gentlemen will
at once see the force Of that point Not thai
it is necessary to establish the legality Of gu,
organization. but to show the iniauitv Of an,
other attempted or so-called organization
So hope when the yeas and navs are calIe,
gentlemen will be found in their places. And
am snre that all who are in town will h,
fonnd here voting so that We shall demon
s'rate that there is no possibility of a lega
quorum anv where else
The yeas and NAYS were then taken. result
ing in the affirmative As follows:
VIA