The Portland daily press., 1880-02-11
THE LEGISLATURE.
Senate.

AUGUSTA, Feb. 10.
A remonstrance was presented against the
repeal of the porgie law.
An order of inquiry was passed as to the ex-
pediency of repeating the insolvency act.
1t was ordered that inquiry be made as to
amending the law relating to hawkers and
peddlers.
A bill was presented and referred lncorpor-
a'ing the Ragged Lake Dam Co.
The following bills were passed to be en-
crossed:
Extending the time for completing the Ban-
gor q Piscataquis railroad.
To amend all act to incorporate the hicharo-
son Wharf Co. Of Portland.
A large number of petitions were presented
for holding the February term of the Supreme
Judicial Court at Caribou in Aroostook county.
House.
Under a suspension of the rules several Pc
ttions were presented, among which the most
important were the following:
Asking for authority to certain citizens OF
Houlton to supply that village with pure wa
ter; from citizens of Bristol for a law to re-
munerate persons who develop valuable de-
posits on the lands of others; for amending
charter of the city of Rockland; for amend
ment to the prohibitory law so as to include
cider in the list of intOxicants for further pro-
lection of agricultural societies; for a law pro-
ilhiting the building of fish weirs: that law
relating to mschievous doings may be re-
enacted; that Ward be set off from ROCK
land for restoration of salaries and number OF
Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court: for
law prohibiting the catching of fish in certain
lakes in Aroostook county; for incorporation
of Eastern Slate Company; a remonstrance
was presented against changing the boundary
lines of the city of Portland.
The House passed in concurrence the SEN
ate amendments to the Ocean street horse
railroad bill, and then pending its passage to
be engrossed. it was tabled on motion of Mr.
Smart of Deering.
Mr.. Swan (fusion) OF Minot offered the fol-
lowing:
Ordered That the opinion of the Supreme
Judicial Court, which is published in the 6Sth
Maine Report on pages 5S7 and 5SS be pub
lished with the three recent opinions which
have been ordered published by this House.
Mr.. Swan remarked that he did not present
the order as partisan. He wished to have
This opinion published as he proposed because
It is contradictory to the recent opinions and
shows that the opinions Of the court changes
from time to time. He desired to have it pub
lished to show that the opinions of the court
cannot be depended upon.
Mr. Hale of Ellsworth remarked that there
was no occasion for any gentleman feeling sem
tive in this matter, or for any gentleman to
go back to opinions found on the shelves Of
lawyers and in the libraries Of gentlemen. 1t
may not be known to the gentleman from
Minot that the opinions of the Judges of the
Supreme Court are record known from year
to year, and are embodied in the volumes of
fx..-
in his nervousness may appear here from day
to day whistling to keep his courage up but
no puny hand of his can arrest the Judgment
of the Supreme Court. Nothing can prevent
the enunciation of the great opinions as being
law. They embody and place on record the
laws that rally around the ballot and which
determine the rights Of the people. He had
become tired Of hearing this constant snarling
about these opinions No Republican had
mode himself offensive in this particular The
gentleman from Minot will have enough to at
tend to before we get through. (Applause)
He had better let the court alone. Mr.. Hale
moved the indefinite postponement of the
order.
Mr.. Perry Qusion) OF Camden could see no
good reason why the opinion should not be
published. He could see no good reason why
members should be so touched, as if their toes
had been trodden upon. What advantage 10 it
to the common people that these opinions are
bound up in calf skin and are on the shelves
of lawyers. The common people want light.
The gentleman from Ellsworth seems to be
touched. Is he afraid to have this matter go
before the people? You must be all towards.
Why are you SO afraid? If the Judges see fit
to cut their throats by their opinions the peo-
pie want to know it. Pu bic opinion is strong
er than the pulpit, press or bench
Mr.. Swan Qusion) said Judge Virgins opin-
ion was righteous one founded the con.
sttuton and the laws. 1t ought to be pub
lishod with the other opinions Why this OPP
position? 1t is because there are some who do
not dare to have it published with the other
opinions to go before the people of the slate.
Mr.. Young Of Brunswick thought that gen.
tle,nan labored under misapprehenson and
liertook to explain by saying there was no
objection to having the opinion of Judge Vir-
gin published
Plaisted fusion) of Lincoln, interrupting-
Do you consider the opinions of the Supreme
Court decision?
Young-I have been accustomed SO to con-
slider them, otherwise l should not be here.
applause by the Republicans.)
Mr.. Young then resumed. He believed that
majority of this House stood ready to print
the opinion of Judge Virgin. All this fun
mary, all this loud talk ought to be dispensed
with He was tired of it, and yet his courage
did not ooze out by this Chinese noise of gongs.
Let us talk less and attend to business.
Plaisted said he was not lawyer he was
one of the plain people, and therefore must be
excused if he spoke plainly. He would speak
as free American citizen. You may succeed
through the Supreme Court in choking public
opinion and in sitting it, but still it existed,
and will come to the front sooner or later. The
people will settle it. He did not intend to dis
cuss the legality of the organization of this leg
isature.
The Speaker-The Chair will not permit
any reflections to be made on this House.
Plaisted continued: He stood by the gentle
men from Minot to hurl back the attacks
made on him. He had been here through all
the trying scenes that had occurred. No man
could accuse him (Plaisted) of whistling to
keep his courage up. He had no right to do
it. As an honest man he would say that bull
doing and disrespect to the people had come
from the other side OF the House. No honest
man can say that we have INDUCED in sneers
and whistlings. The records show that there
has beeen occasion for US to reply in singing
language. These are only opinions liable to
be changed at any time. They are not to be
printed for the benefit of lawyers, but for the
benefit of the people, and Judge Virgins
opinion should 60 with them
Perry said he would not vote to pay one cent
from the treasury of the peoples money to pay
for the printing of Judge Virgins opinion if
it was printed separately He knew the Re-
publicans had to follow their leaders who
were under the whip. and that is the reason
he wanted Virgins opinion published with the