Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-13

Nr. HruL of Corinth presented the follow
ing:
Ordered. Tha, the Judiciary Committee he
Instructed 10 inquire into the cxpcaiiencs "i
amending the laws relating to poor debtors
80 that any who is entitled To take the oa.h A.
nv law provided, shall be entitled to nave
said oath administered without cost TO saia
debtor unless said debtor discloses properly
not By law exempt
Mr.. Hill explained that the object oil me
o-J,.r Was that the honest debtor should have
the benefit Of the oath without expense anu
a, the same time that the man who has prop
er,v covered IN will be in condition IN have
/, reached by the law for imprisonment Tor
deb, which he was in favor of retaining Tor
this purpose
The order received a passage.
REPORTS.
Mr.. PAgcuEn. from the Committee Oh
WAYS and Bridges. reported legislation mex.
pedient on order relating to chap 40, sec.
OF the public laws of 1877, and chap loo
sec. 3 of the Laws of 1879.
Mr. MsxoY. from the COMMITTEE on lie,
form School. reported onght 10 pass On piil
an act in relation TO the Reform School
Printed under rule.
Mr.. Sw.x. from the Committee on Legal
on the Judiciary, on order relating to provid
ing by statute for uniformity of ballots, IN
size and appearance. to be used at elections
Mr.. HrTCHIxsoS. from the Judiciary Com
mittce. reported in a new draft and ought tt
mass on bill an act to amend acts relating 70
the municipal court of the city of Lewiston
Read AMI assigned.
Mr.. RoLr. from the Committee on Indian
Affairs presented resolves in favor Of Louis
Mitchell and Lola Coly, representatives OF
the Pas,amaquoddy and Penobscot tribe OF
Indians. which were passed 10 be engrossed,
under suspension of the rules
Mr.. VERRmL from the committee on Legal
Affairs, reported ought TO pass on bill an act
10 establish municipal court in the town oi
Waterville. which was land on the table on
motion of Mr. SMITH of Buxton, to be printed.
Mr.. McKu.Ick from the Judiciary Com
mittce, made report on an order relating to
the expediency Of providing by law for more
speedy hearing and trial of cases when the
rights of persons to hold public Office are in
volved. Laid on the table to be printed on
motion of Mr.. STRoUr of Portland.
On motion of Mr.. SMART of Deering. bill!
IN act to incorporate the Ocean street Rail
road Co. was taken from the table and passed
to be engrossed.
following:
Ordered. that the committee on attempted
bribery of members of this House be instruct
cd TO include in their investigation the cases
of James W. Clark of Nobleboro, and Alfred
Cushman of Sherman. Also that when said
committee commence meeting they shall then
proceed to hold daily and evening sessions
upon three DAYS of each week. viz. Mondays.
FRIDAYS and Saturdays. until all cases have
been thoroughly andeonpletely Investigated,
and the facts relating thereto laid before this
House Also that the committee be instrHct-
ed to proceed with the examination of wit
nesses in the so-called Wallace r. White case
without further delay.
Mr.. WENTWORTH of Kittcrv Il move 10
Law tina. on the table.
Mr.. PtAIsrEp--I desire. before the order is
put upon its passage. to say that the investi-
CATION Of the two cases alluded to, of Clark OF
Noblcboro, and Cushman of Sherman, has
been objected to, or rather it has been sug-
gested by some that our committee does not
have jurisdiction of them according to the
instruction of the House under which we act,
and on the ground thattho two gentlemen are
not members. And I admit that they are
right technically. But it is fact that at the
time it is alleged an attempt was made to
members of this body and think gentle
men will bear me ont in this they never
would have been approached, if they were
approached, except they had been considered
members of this House. And therefore i,
seems to me that while an investigation in
connection with them NAV be objected to on
technical grounds, under our present instruc
tions. ! believe it is the desire of this House
to have those eases investigated. as they are
part and parcel of the charges made hero
against certain men. believe the House
regardless Of party lines, intended to have
them investigated with the other cases. and
can say furthermore, that so far as | know
those are the only two cases which will come
before US. So it cannot be said that bv pass
ing this order we throw open the door wide &c
an investigation of charges that nigh. arise
hereafter and occupy a long time.
In regard to the case of Wallace r. White
desire to say that the work of the commit
tee has been delayed for & long time. and al
most entirely on account of the State OF
that genileman's health. The committee was
appointed Jan. goth. 1t is now Feb. 18th
lacking only eight DAYS of a month since it.
appointment. and not a particle of testimon,
has been taken, nor single step taken towards
an investigation. farther than to call for a
meeting next Friday, and summons of Ger.
tain witnesses whose testimony relates Who'll.
ly to Mr.. White. believe. II has been al
legged that Mr., White has had the measles.
have no reasons to doubt that know of: a,
least. prefer to believe he is sick, and shall
so believe until | am obliged BY proof TO be.
lievc to the contrary. We have been DELAYED
from time to time with the expectation. from
representations by his friends. that he woull
appear before the committee shortly to con.
front his accusers. believe he should be nj
lowed all reasonable time in which to be
present. But after waiting for his recovery
from the measles we learn he has a severe AZ
tack of lung fever, and that he is liable to long
siege of sickness. Consequently the work o,
the committee may be postponed indefinitely
Now don't believe that this is the desire Of
the House. While believe in giving Mr.
White every reasonable opportunity to an.
pear. and in treating him with all fairness
and justice. do believe that this House de-.
sires this investigation to go on even th,ugh
Wallace II. White should cease TO exis,
should be removed by death, or even if he
should be afflicted with long term of sick.
ness. We are not responsible for his phvsi.
cal condition. If he RECEIVERS he will have an
opportunity to meet these charges. and if he
fails to recover his friends will have an on
portunitr. and do now, to refute the accusa.
tons. And for one desire that the commit
tee shall proceed with the work at once and
continue until thoroughly completed. when
We shall arrive at the truth believe i, il
due to the people of the State and to this
House