The Portland daily press., 1883-02-01
AUGUSTA.
The End of the Session Still
Far Off.
HEARING ON THE PROPOSED RESTO.
RATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY.
Judge Goddard and Judge Whitehouse
Make the Principal Arguments.


Wild-eyed members are looking around
with club for the man who predicted short
session. The Legislature is now in its fifth
week, and the date of adjournment is still neb-
ulous and far in the future. In a great State
| like Mai vast amount of BUSINESS must of
necessity accumulate in TWO years, and the
present Legislature has several special duties
to perform, such as agreeing upon an ap por-
tionment, examining Judge Goddard's revis-
ion OF the statutes, amending the divorce laws
and enacting constitutional prohibitory
amendment. The committees are working
like beavers, but their dockets are crowded
| with entries There have been few debates in
| either branch, and as a consequence there is
only sprinkling of spectators in the gallery
Oratory is what draws crowd in this coun-
| try. However there are several questions
coming up which will afford an opportunity
| for eloquence.
| REVISION OF THE sTATUTRs
The committee on revision of the statutes
meet Wednesday and Friday afternoons in the
judiciary room. Two comparing clerks are
| now employed, and the force will have to be
Increased. The committee are going over the
| report very carefully and critically, and not
even misplaced mark of punctuation escapes
their rigid scrutiny. Every one of Judge
Goddards numerous suggestions is considered
and discussed, and many of them are acted
upon. The progress of the committee cannot
be very rapid, and forty pages is considered
good afternoons work. If, as is recommend
ed, the laws enacted this winter be incorpor-
ated into the forthcoming edition of the stat
utes it may become necess ary for the Lsgisla-
ture to ,
TAKE RECESS OF FEW WEEKS
until the committee can submit their report.
Most of the members of the committee on re-
vision of the statutes are on other important
committees, and can devote but modicum of
their time TO this work. After the judiciary
and legal affairs committees clear up the as
signments on their dockets their members can
assist in the task of examining and perfecting
the revision. But it will then take fortnight
of hard, uninterrupted labor before the COM
tee can make their final report. In the mean
time there will be little or nothing for the Leg
islature TO do, and recess can be taken until
the statutes are ready for submission and ac-
ceptance. A quorum of both branches can
then pass upon the work in short order, and
adjourn sine die.
RESTORATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY.
Every seat in the Hall of Representatives
and in the galleries was occupied this after
noon at the hearing before the judiciary com
mittee on the question of restoring the death
penalty. Notwithstanding the inclement
weather, many ladies were in the audience.
The interest continued uuabated throughout
and at times there were demonstrations ef ap-
xuia aiahru nba
ever, by the chairman of the committee as in
compatible with the importance and character
of the occasion. The speakers who were listened
to most intently and who made the greatest
impression were Judge w. P. Whiteheuse OF
Augusta and Judge G.. w. Goddard OF Port
land. Ex-Gov. Anson P. Morrill, and Rev G.
W. Quinby, D. D., of Augusta opposed the re-
establishment of the gallows in Maine, while
Rev. Nathaniel Butler, D. D., and Col j. W.
Porter OF Burlington appeared in the affirms-
tive.
In his eloquent and convincing address
Judge Whitehouse said that the burden rested
on those who asked for the restoration of the
death penalty to prove its necessity, In 1876
capital punishment was abolished in this
State. Since then there have been "a capital
crimes committed. Twenty-Five indictments
have been found for murder aud two for arson.
There has not been single acquittal since the
death penalty was done away with What is
the record of eight years preceding? In those
years there were thirty-three capital trials,
sixteen persons were convicted of murder, nine
of manslaughter, and eight acquitted. Since
1876 there have been twenty-three murders in
Maine. In the eight years Immediately preced-
ing twenty-eight persons were killed. Judge
Whitehonse then argued that efficiency of
punishment depends not on its severity but on
its certainty and celebrity. He presented an
array of statistics OF the number of murders
committed in States where the death penalty
is abolished, contrasting them with States
where it is retained. He said there was no
popular camor for the enactment of laws pun
ishing murder with death, and asked that the
present statute be retained.
Judge Goddard, who followed, stated that
we really had the death penalty in this State
from 1920 to 1887 and in the year 1875. In
1887 the death penalty was Intentionally 80
complicated as to make it a dead letter. From
1920 to 1887, with an average population Of
100000, we had but TWO murders During the
last thirty years there has been an appalling
increase of capital crime. While our popula-
tion has increased only 105 per cent, high
crimes have increased 378 per cent and there
ere 202 more convicts in the State prison than
there were in 1851. more shocking exhibit
has not been made in any community since the
| days of the Roman empire. Passing from sta
tistics Judge Goddard replied to the ACCUSE
| tion that the advocates of capital punishment
were actuated by spirit of vindictiveness
| and revenge. If the death penalty be not re-
| stored we must take off the life sentence in
burglary and highway robbery. We are now
| putting premium on murder. He advocat-
| ed capital punishment as more liable to deter
men from crime and protect society better than
imprisonment for life.
| During Judge Goddards remarks there
were several animated verbal contests between
him and gentlemen on the other side of the
| question, which were keenly reished by the
large audience.
The hearing occupied all the afternoon
showing the great interest which prevails.
The committee will probably report bill
but certain members will not feel bound to
support it. Senator Lebroke of Piscatas uis,
chairman of the judiciary committee it is
said. will oppose the bill in the Senate. and Mr.
| Powers of the same committee is bitterly op-
posed to capital punishment.
[By Associated Press.]
THE INSANE HOSPITAL
The committee on Insane Hospital heard
DR.. Gerrish of Portland, Mrs. DR. Quimby Of
Augusta and others on the petitions for the