Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-15
THE EVENING STAR.
The situation in Maine.

THE FUSION LBGISL ATURR GOING SLOW.
The fusion legislature OF Maine yesterday ap-
pointed a committee on elections. which went
Immediately to work, and among other matters
voted to unseat Mr.. Hale and put fusion men,
Der in his place. No report to that effect was
made to the House. however. A report unscat-
ing another republican was made. but recon-
mitted for further investigation, thus indicating
a conservative sentiment. There was no cleo
ton for Governor. as had been expected 1t Is
said there IS a rupture between Scion ?. Chase,
the greenback politician, and Eben +. Fillsbury.
one OF the chief democratic leaders. Chase OPP
poses the Use OF force, VIII abide by the deci-
sion OF the Supreme Court. and says he will
withdraw unless the democrats agree to this
policy.
THE QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE SUPREME
COURT.
The republican legislature submitted to the
supreme Judicial Court series OF questions in
volvipg the issues from which the existing trou-
ole arises. In yesterdays STAR three OF these
questions were printed. There are twenty-four
others, the most important being as follows:
" II the summons issued by the governor and
council is void, and persons holding such sum-
mons take part in the organization OF either
the senate or house OF Representatives. aId
without the votes of such persons there are less
imam sixteen members in the senate and less
than Seventy-SiX members IN the house voting
for and against the officers of the so-called sep
ate or house. have such bodies any legal organ
Zation or officers? Without such legal o"sl
zation in either house or senate or without sin
teen members in the senate ana seveaty-six
members in the house present and voting on a
gwen HedSuTp, Cau any NdIlu law De enact ID,
any legal OFFICER chosen, or any business what
ever be legally done, except to adjourn AMI II
any business, what business? Without legal
organization formed, and legal officers chosen
by Seventy-SiX members present and voting in
the house OF representatives, and sixteen men,
bers present and voting in the senate. cal
either house compel the attendance of absent
members? To make up the legal quorum re-
quired on any vote in either house, can the vote
OF any person be counted who, though sum
moned, does not appear to be elected by the
fhn nCft ftlti ion aud
the decision Of the court? Can the gov
ernor and council legally administer the
qualifying oath TO members-elect of the
house OF representatives when on yea
and nay vote, as shown by the record, only
70 members both sides inclusive, vote on the
motion to require the attendance of the COVER
nor and council for that purpose? Can valid
organization of the house be made under the
revised statutes when, under the facts as stated
in question ten, protest was entered at the
time that no quorum was manifested on the yea
and nay vote, and Notwithstanding that protest
the clerk refused to put the motion to adjourn,
and the governor offered and administered the
oath? Can the governor and council legally adj
minister qualifying oaths TO members-elect of
the senate when only 20 members, both sides
Inclusive, vote on motion to require their pre-
sence for that purpose, and OF that 20 S, though
summoned. did not appear to be elected by
official returns &C land were not in fact elected?
At what date In the year 1850 do the terms OF
Office of the following state officers elected in
January, 1879, expire: The governor, the eyecu-
tive council, the secretary of state, the treaSu-
rer, the attorney general and the adjutant
general? When the terms OF Office of governor
ard council have expired, or their offices are
vacant, and there is neither governor nor coun-
Gil, can the members-elect OF the senate and
house of representatives be legally quail
fled before magistrate appointed and commits
stoned by the governor with the advice OF the
council under didimits prOtestdtonl, by virtue
OF the revised statutes, or by any other provis-
ion of law? When the term OF one governor has
expired by law, and no successor has been
chosen, can the president of the senate become
acting governor If at his election 90 votes only
are cast for and against him, and those 20 votes
are made up as described In question II? Can
legally chosen president of the senate become
acting governor until he has been legally quail
fled as such, in addition to his qualification as
president OF the senate? Here follow eleven
other questions covering a variety Of other
points raised by the action of the fusion legSla-
ture."
In the senate bill was presented and laid on
the table to repeal so much OF section IS, chap
ter 4, of the Revised Statutes relating to returns
of votes from plantations, SO that assessors shall
receive votes and declare them in open meeting,
and form list of voters in open meeting.