Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-11
MAINE LEQINLATURE.
Senate.

CuEEcuCc.
The petition of j. H. Fletcher ct ais. for a
law to protect the herring and their spawning
beds in Machias bay came from the House
referred to the Committee on Fisheries and
Game, under a suspension of the order relat-
ing to the reception of private legislation.
On motion of Mr.. Kimball the Senate non.
concurred and refused to suspend the rule for
the reception of the petition.
Bill an act to amend tn charter of the city
of Augusta came from the House passed to
be engrossed, and on motion of Mr.. Weeks
the rule was suspended and the bill was
passed to be engrossed in concurrence.
communication was received from the
Secretary of State, in response to an order
of the Senate dated Jan 30th. transmitting a
copy of the record of the disposition of the
military appropriations for 1888 and 1884
which was laid on the table and ordered to be
printed. on motion of Mr.. Marble.
The following bills came from the House,
and were laid on the table to be printed:
An act to authorize the town of Dresden
to rebuild the lower bridge, so-called, on
Eastern river; an act authorizing the Haynes
& Dewitt Ice Co. to build piers and wharves
an act to amend sec. 2 chap. 203 of the pri-
vate and special laws of 1888, entitled an act
to incorporate the Portland Trust Co.
Bill an act to provide for the organization
of mutual relief associations. came up on its
passage to be engrossed, and Mr.. Cutler
moved to amend by substituting therefor
another bill, which was laid on the table and
ordered to be printed, on motion of the same
gentleman.
Resolve authorizing the county of Piscata-
quis to procure money on loan. came up on
its passage to be engrossed.
Mr.. Young did not care to restate his OBJ
jections to the resolve, but would simply say
that it seemed to him a good deal of
responsibility for the legislature to saddle the
county of Piscataquis with debt without
any provision for an expression of opinion
of the people of that county. He asked for
the views of the chairman of the Committee
which recommended such legislation.
Mr.. Tapley understood the resolve was out
of the ordinary course; but there had been
such evidence presented as to the imperative
necessity of loan, and of the disposition of
the vo ers of the county not to provide for
it, that the measure had been reported by the
Committee for the consideration of the legis-
lature. 1t had been shown that their
Court House is unfit for use, and that two
efforts, at least, to get vote of the county
for a loan to rebuild, were without avail.
The county commissioners and MANY citizens
gardess of the opposition.
Mr.. Lebroke said the senator had stated
the case correctly except in one particular.
That gentleman was in error as to the exis-
tence of opposition from the voters of Pscata.
quis. There was no opposition that he Mr..
Lebroke was aware of.
Mr.. Young did not object because it was
Piscataquis county, but because he was op.
posed to this kind of legislation. He did no,
know whether or not the inhabitants of that
county desired this debt, and without disre
spect he might say, he didn't care. His point
was simply that they should be allowed tc
vote on i: This was not solitary case |,
was to be followed by at least one Other
bill of similar nature. He thought the ten.
dency of this kind of legislation bad. |,
upset the whole theory of government which
is based on popular vote.
| Mr.. Stubs said this matter seemed to an
| ticipate the action of the Senate in regard to
similar resolution concerning Franklin coun
| ty, and for this reason he desired to say word
| The court house in his county was an ole
affair, and he thought his constituents were
substantially unanimous that better one i,
required. They have some eight or ten thou
sand dollars in the treasury, besides a lot, bu,
they desire to raise $1,000 more than the
1000 which the law now allows County
| Commissioners to raise. The first considera
ton why this legislation was required without
submission to the people was the same as thai
urged in favor of the resolve under discus.
sion, to avoid any question of the validity OF
the loan through iniormalities of town meet
| ings The next consideration was to gair
time. He understood that if the necessary
legislation was obtained Franklin would com
mence work on her court house immediately
after their March term of court. He argued
that it was perfectly consistent and proper fol
the legislature to enlarge the power which
| County Commissioners now have in such case.
as presented by the counties Piscataquis ant
Franklin.
| Mr. Young replied to the last Speaker, ant
inquired whether he believed majority OF
that county would be in favor of the legisa
ture saddling upon them a debt of any
amount.
Mr. Stubs replied that he believed very
large majority of the voters OF the county to
be in favor of a new court house, and he did
not know but that they were nearly unani
nous on the question.
| Mr.. Young: Then it would be very simple
to allow them to vote on it.
! Mr.. Stubbs replied that at a convention OF
all the selectmen of the towns in the county
two years ago, there was a unanimous vote in
favor. He again required to the reasons for
not submitting tine matter to the people.
Mr.. Young thought if they could succeed
in legally electing the commissioners who
were to negotiate the loan, that they could
manage to get legal vote on the loan itself
Mr. Stubs Certainly. But in regard to
all these matters will suggest that there is
such thing as being more critical than prac-
teal. think we ought to be practical.
| Mr.. Lebroke referred to the fact that many
bills affecting the rights of third parties had
gone through the Senate unchallenged but
the moment a proposition came from the
county of Piscataquis it had been arrested in
its progress and laid on the table, with the
solitary exception of the bill relating to a
cemetery, this morning. and he had expected
that to be attacked. He acknowledged the
wisdom of this Legislature, but he was not
arrogant enough to say that it is any more
intelligent than the legislature of 1869 which
passed a similar resolve applying to Penob-
scot county, authorizing the raising of $50, 900
with which to build Jail. This matter was
thoroughly understood by his constituents
Due notice had been given by publication, in
additioroto which the Judiciary Committee
had ordered special notice. The Piscataquis
delegation in the other branch were united in