The Portland daily press., 1880-01-12
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
Senate.
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Especial Despatch to the Press.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 10.
The only thing of interest in the Senate to-
dav was spirited contest between the fusion
Ieaders-Patten of Penobscot and Ellis OF
Waldo-and Locke of Cumberland. 1t began
on a motion to adjourn which, by the way,
seems always to be in order just at this time.
Mr. Locke presented an order that when the
Senate adjourn, it be till Al p. m. Monday,
while the fusionists wanted 1t to be the regular
hour, giving as their reasons that the commit
tee on elections would soon be able TO report
and they might do SO Monday morning, conse-
ouently the Senate should be at hand. Mr..
Locke then withdrew his motion, saying he
had come here to stay three monthS ana was
prepared to camp on their track; 1t would cost
him more to go home than to stay, consequent
" he did not care straw. This ready &C
Guiescence was surprise to them OF course,
and the order as amended was carried.
This little encounter created some interest
and drew quite q number OF members ana
other spectators of the House Into the Senate.
but the tussle was renewed upon the appoint
ment of a committee of three ON the part OF
the Senate to act with like committee from
the House upon the state valuation, presented
by Ellis of Waldo.
Mr. Locke rose to his feet, saying he agreed
with the honorable Senator that promptnesS
is desirable in the formation of such commit
tee but at present the Senators are aware
there are grave doubts as to the legality of the
present House and until those doubts are re-
moved no business can be transacted. Such a
committee, if appointed now, would not be
recognized by, and the work it performed
would not stand one minute in, the Courts.
Therefore he trusted no further action would
be taken in SO important matter as this.
Mr.. Ellis acknowledged there were doubts
as to the legality of the House, but no one pre-
tended to question the legality of this body as
now constituted, and he saw no reason why it
should not take action in this or any other
matter instead of sitting still and doing moth
ing. m ~,
compelled me to make a statement that L
otherwise should not have done; it is thlS:.l
do not concede the legality of this body; do
not concede that majority OF Senators elected
voted, in the organization OF the Senate, for
the President; and believe that the honora-
BILE Senator occupying the PRESIDENTS CHAIR
will not want to do anything illegal. there
fore urge that action on this order be post
| poned.
Mr.. Ellis-I am glad for one to hear this
statement from the Senator. 1 have heard
hints thrown out as to the legality of this body
| and want to know the facts as to its legality,
and now is as good time as any to settle this
| question. I urge the passage OF this order.
Mr. Emery of York moved to lay 1t on the
table till all contested seat cases were disposed
Of this is very important committee; and
| that its proceedings may be legal 1t should be
| legally made up.
Mr.. Locke said he nOped no RepuDHCan
would vote on this measure.
| Mr. Ellis-I want to know whether this is
| legal body. l want to know if body OF
men brought here by certificates from the
| Governor and Council to act as Senators is not
legal body. If the Republicans failed to take
| any part in these proceedings the fault is their
| own. / came here to act for myself and l ex-
| pect to do SO.
Mr.. Patten of Penobscot said this was the
first ntimation he had had of the illegality Of
the Senate and he thought now as good a
| time as any to settle that question.
Mr. Locke-I only wish this measure not to
| be acted upon until our legality is fully es-
tablished and definitely decided. am not in
favor of pursuing a course which, if fully
| carried out, will bankrupt our state IN live
| years. / represent county which pays one
seventh of the state tax, and before | vote on
| this or any other important measure l want to
be assured | am acting legally. We have got
| to appoint this committee, but what is the
good of doing so at this time, or until we have
| legal House.
Mr.. Ellis-I insist on the passage of my or
der. The gentleman from Cumberland has
| thrown out hints that we are not legal body
and want that point decided now.
Mr.. Barker of Aroostook did not wish to be
intimidated; he should vote for its passage; he
believed he was legally elected. Mr.. Locke
$50 do t. and he did not want reports to &C
out that this was not legal body.
The motion to lay upon the table was de-
teated by II TO q, ana tne original ofuef re-
ceived a passage.
| After little time spent in discussing the
! propriety of granting officers of the Senate
season passes, that body adjourned.
House.
| In the House this morning the same pro-
| gramme is being carried out. After reading
the journal of yesterday general feeling of in
dolence seemed to pervade members. This
| feeling, however, was a little checked when
| the page scattered his usual copies of Republi-
| can papers, and curious expressions spread
| over their countenances on perusing the solid
| doctrines dealt out therein. One thing we for
| got to mention, the fact that no religious SER
vices were heard as is the usual custom on
| opening. This departure from the rules was
| painfully noticeable and caused no little COM
ment Whether or no the chaplain has
weakened" is yet undecided. AS said before
| after the journal was read an interval of about
thirty minutes was passed in silence broken
only twice by the speaker-once 60 present a
| demonstration from Mr.. Gibbs against the
| admission of A. G. Bradstreet; also that Che
| should contest his seat, and the second to adj
| journ. This last announcement was received
with much pleasure apparently as many OF the
mem bers were anxious to return home ON the
| noon train