The Portland daily press., 1880-02-18
THE LEGISLATURE.
Senate.

1ast driving upon certain roads in towns and
cities. Provides for speed of not over ten
miles an hour, and provides fine of So nor
more than $40. Gives trial, justices original
and concurrent jurisdiction with the Supreme
judicial Court and Superior Courts of Kenne-
bee and Cumberland counties to fine and pun
ish
A bill was reported from the judiciary COM
mittee to provide for danger signals on rail-
roads in certain cases. and at their instance
referred to the railroad committee
Legislation inexpedient was reported on pc
tition of e. G. Harlow and others for appro-
pration for bridge across the Androscoggin
river at Dixfield This is matter that came
down from the old Legislature.
The President appointed Mr.. Ellis Of Waldo
i'll place OF Mr.. Lamson of same county, on
committee on legal affairs.
Orders of inquiry were adopted looking to a
change in the law of 1877 relating to savings
banks, so as to enable the courts to make pro
rata dividend to depositors to amend the law
relating to Migrants and tramps.
House.
Speaker Weeks resumed the duties of the
chair.
Mr. Swan (fusion) of Minot rose to CUES
ton OF privilege. He said that he held in his
hand copy of the Kennebec Journal, in
which it was stated that he had violated the
criminal laws of this State and ought to be ex-
PEELED from his seat, and that he had refused
to vote on question pending the other day,
referring to bribery investigation. He gave
his reasons why he had not voted. In regard
to the charges in the Kennebec Journal he
read the statute relating to bribery. He could
have taken advantage of the law at any time
and shielded himself behind it, but he did not
see tit to do it. The question was, did he
Swan, accept the money for the purpose that
White gave it to him for? He did not, nor
was he liable to any prosecution. He White,
paid this money to him, Swan, to defeat the
organization of the House in pursuance of the
constitution and laws of the State. He, Swan
received the money that the organization
might take place and to defeat the plots and
conspiracy of the Republicans. The money
was paid him for the accomplishment of GER
tain purpose and he took it to overthrow that
purpose. He was not liable in any manner or
in any way to the law. He called upon the
own names to make complaint, or stop their
dirty mill of Islander. Had he done anything
wrong? No, he had only defeated q cons, If
acy. The question arises shall bribery be up
held or condemned? If it is not condemnedlt
will be destructive to a Republican form of
government. He babe defiance to any prose-
cutlon that might be brought against him.
Mr. Strout of Portland said the inception of
this matter and the means by which the al
legged bride was made possible had come
through the connivance of the gentleman from
Minot, if he was to be believed. A man ill.,
volved in such questionable transaction
should not indulge in such talk as he makes
and attempt to forestall the Judgment Of the
COMMITTEES. Let us learn where the money he
claims was paid him came from and what was
done with 1t. Then we can form Judgment
of who is the guilty party.
Mr.. Strout called attention of Swan to two
decisions in the Massachusetts courts in rea,
ton to bribery, and commended them to him.
He, Strout, was not sure that if the matter
came before the court, or was brousht to the
Judgment OF the people, the gentleman from
Minot may be called upon to explain whether
he is an accomplish in crime; whether or not
the check he has deposited, one-half has not
been deposited to the credit of the town of
MlnOt OF which he is treas .rer, and the other
half, or S5O0-he has taken and put into his
own pocket.
BILLS AND PETITIONS PRESENTED.
Bill to authorize collectors of taxes to sue in
their own name. Referred;
Petition from members of the Aroostook bar
for the restoration of the salary and number of
Judges of the S. j. Court
Bill relating to life insurance.
Bill relating to railroads
Remonstrance against change in law relating
to protection of shore fisheries.
Bill to amend the city charter of the city of
Augusta.
Bill to amend chap. ia of R. S. relating to
new trials for capital offense.
Petition from A. r. Drinkwater and others
Tor charter to build narrow gauge railroad
from Bucksport to Ellsworth, with extensions
to Bluehill, Sullivan and Bar Harbor
A bill was reported relating to the Insane
Hospital providing for seven trustees, one of
whom shall be woman. Printed under the
rule.
bill was reported to set off the homestead
of Caleb Fuller from the town of Woodstock
and annex 1t to the town Of Paris Read once
and tabled.
Bill to incorporate Waterville Telegraph
Company was read twice and assigned for to-
morrow.
referred to the committee on Finance:
STATE OF MAINE,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
Augusta, Feb. II, 1880.
To the President of the Senate and Speaker of
the House Of Representatives.:
In the message which had the honor to
submit to the Legislature on the 5th instant,
brief reference was made to the great expense
brought upon the state by the recent political
complications.
At that time there was no means of making
any estimate of such expense. Since then the
bills OF the police force and of the force under
the sheriff of the county of Kennebec, engaged
at the Capitol, have been presented to the Gov
ernor and Council, and the bills of the mill
tary have been forwarded to the Office of the
Adjutant General, amounting in the aggregate
to something less than $4,000. The greater
part of this expense, both of the military and
police, occurred before the present admins
tration came into power. The employment Of
the force at the Capitol was first authorized
either by my predecessor directly or by Gen.
Chamberlain, who had special power delegat-
cd to him by Gov Garcelon to protec the
property and institutions of the state. Since
the 18th of January the employment of all
force has been authorized by the present Exc
cutive.
The men employed did good service for the
state in time of need, and justice to them de-
mands that prompt action on the part of the
legislature be taken to make the necessary ap-
preparations for the payment of this expense.
DANIEL f. DAVIS.
The committee on leave of absence reported
that since the organization of the House the
following members had not been present; F.
III. Whitman, Harrison; J. E. Hutchins Low.
ell; NJ. w. Knight, Naples; j. o. Robinson,
Thomaston; j. c. Talbot, East Machas.
Orders Of inquiry were adopted in regard to
reduction Of mileage; relating to binding and
indexing of papers in the land Office; relating
to changing the laws so as as to allow soldiers
who are public pensioners to vote in towns
where reside.
Legislation inexpedient was reported on Or
der relating to sale of Folly Island.
Mr.. Gushee called up his order that the brib-
cry committee be ordered to investigate the
Clark and Cushman cases.
Mr.. Hale moved Its indefinite postpone
ment and called for the previous question
which was ordered,
Perry of Camden (fusion) read speech to
show that Clark and Cushman had right to
seats and should be investigated. He hoped
that gentlemen would not shield themselves
behind code Of morals to shut out their tes-
timony.
Young of Brunswick rose to point of order.
The gentleman from Camden was speaking on
the main question instead of the previous
ouestiOn