Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-17

the words: directed to inquire into the eX
ediency of providing by law for the employ
ment of an experienced draughtsman skilled
in the law. whose duty it shall be to examine
all bills and resolves before their passage tt
be ergrossed." The order then received q
passage.
On motion of Mr.. Heath of Augusta. the
petition of Geo. B. Page ct ais. was taken
from the table, and on his motion the House
nor-roncurred in the action of the Senate in
its reference II the Judiciary Committee and
referred it to the Committee on Ipterier
Waters
On motion of Mr. Thatcher of Bangor.
Ordered, That the clerk of the House cause
lists of the order OF the business of the House
to be printed for distribution among the
members.
On motion of Mr.. Heath of Augusta,
Ordered. That the Committee on tire Judi
ciarv inquire into the expediency of so amend-
ing the present laws relative TO arrest fer
debt. that no arrest shall be made. either on
| writ or execution. except in cases of fraud.
Ga motion of Mr.. Robinson of Readied.
Ordered That for the purpose of equaliz-
ing the burdens of TAXATION now bearing so
heavily on the agricultural community, the
Committee the Judiciary he instructed to
inquire into the expediencv of imposing a
| license fee on all new business corporations
| aud an annual tax on al business corpora
| tions receiving their franchise from the State
On motion of Mr.. Hale of Portland,
! Ordered. That the Judiciary Committee
he directed to inquire into the expediency of
providing by law that the proprietors of all
hotels and public houses and other large es-
| adjustments in this State, of more than
three stories in height be required to provide
suitable fire escapes from each and every
room above the second story.
| On motion of +. T. Holbrook of Vance
boro,
Ordered. That the Committee on State
| Lands and State Roads inquire into the expe-
diencv of reporting a resolve. appropriating
suth ,ient sum of money To repair the roads
in the Indian Township. in the county of
| Washington, and that said repairs be made
under the supervision of the county commits
sioners of said county.
On motion of Mr.. Stone Of Jay,
| Ordered. That the Committee on Educa-
tiun be instructed to inquire what legislation
may be necessary to facilitate an earlier
preparation and issue of the Annual Report
of the Sup't of Common Schools.
| On motion of Mr. Haskell of New Glouces-
| ter.
Ordered. That the Committee on Educa-
| ton be instructed to inquire into the eXpedi-
powers and duties of experimenting school
committees. by adding thereto a section to
empower experimenting school committees
! and supervisors to provide destitute children
| with suitable clothing to enable them to at
| tend school.
| On motion of Mr.. Barrows of Vassalboru.
Ordered, That the Committee on Educa-
| tion be directed to inquire what further legis-
| latinn. if any, is necessary to secure more
uniform and effective examination of teach
ors for our public schools.
On motion of Mr.. Donovan of Biddeford,
Ordered. That the Committee on Educa-
ton be directed to enquire what further leg
| i>lation if anv, is necessary to encourage the
abolition of the school district system through
ont the State.
On motion of Mr.. Gilmore of Dedham,
Ordered, That the Committee on Educa-
ton be directed to inquire into the expedien-
cy of attending chap. 1872 of the public laws
| of 1881, entitled ''an act to amend chap. 50 of
the special laws of 1878, entitled act to
provide schools for the training of teachers in
Madawaska territory, as amended by chap.
| 100 of the special laws of 1879 so that the
gross sum appropriated to said purpose shall
be Sl30O-Ss00 from the State tax and $500
from the school funds.
On motion Mr.. Granville l.. Tracy of OK
ford
Ordered, That the Committee on Educa-
tion be directed to inquire what legislation.
| if anv, is necessary to secure more effective
supervision of schools.
On motion OF Mr. Ives Of Csstine,
Ordered, That the Committee on Educa-
ton be directed to inquire what legislation
NAV be necessary to provide for the contnu-
ance of teachers meetings or conventions in
| various parts of the State during 1888 and
1854.
On motion of Mr.. Talbot of East Machias
the House took up bill act to cause the
number of the inhabitants of the State to be
| ascertained exclusive of foreigners not
naturalized and Indians not taxed; specially
assigned for to-day.
Mr.. Talbot explained the provisions of the
bill He said the important duty of an
| apportionment Of representatives for the next
decade devolved upon this legislature. The
means of performing this duty were laid
| down in the Constitution The entire
responsibility was with the members of the
| legislature, acting under their oa.hs, and
not upon the bosses or leaders who
had only their ambitious purposes to
| look after. The Constitution provides that
"The legislature. which shall be first con-
vened undtr this constitution. shall on or
before the 18th day of August, in the year of
our Lord. one thousand eight hundred and
twenty -one, and the legislature, within every
subsequent period of al most ten years, and
at least five. cause the number Of the nhab-
| ltants of the State to be ascertained. exclu-
| sive of foreigners not naturalized, and In
dians not taxed. The number of representa-
tives shall. at the several periods of making
such enumeration, be fixed and apportioned
| among the several counties
| The bill provided for the first steps in
carving out this provision in the constitu-
ton of requiring census of the inhabitants
| of the State, exclusive of .rrigners not nat
uralized and Indians not taxed. to be taken
| by the assessors of the several cities, towns
! and plantations, and returned to the Office
Of the Secretary of State on or before the
10Th OF February. Provisions were also
made for compensation of the officers per-
forming this duty. and for a penalty for
disregard of the mandate to perform the ser
vice He cited Massachusetts as furnishing
precedents for this manner of ascertaining
the number of inhabitants OF the State on
which to base an apportionment
He was not at ali strenuous about the bill
in its present shape; but he thought he
had hit upon method which would
be the most expeditions and the least expen-
sive Ii anv gentleman would point out any
other way by which the legislature could