The Portland daily press., 1885-02-07
FROM AUGUSTA.
Yesterdays Work of the Law
makers at the Capitol,
Petition for the Ferry Across Fore
River Tabled.
Other Matters in which Portland
People are Interested.
Remarks Of Speaker Hamlin and Mr..
Hale on the Grant Resolution.
Special to the Press.l

VoP0SA8I " t11o ktesJ
AUGUSTA, Feb. 6.
The venerable Ex. United States Senator
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, was on the floor of
the House, when brief recess was taken to
enable members to pay him their respects.
The bill reported to the Senate, relating to
the weight OF a barrel of potatoes, provides
that it shall be 165 lbs, with forfeiture Of 80
cents for each barrel that is not up to that
standard.
The bill reported to the Senate, authorizing
Piscataquis county to make loan is for the
amount Of $4,000. 1t is for enlarging the
court house of that county.
The bill relating to the exemption of wages
for personal labor from attachment by trustee
process reported to the House amends article
vi, section 30, chapter Sc of the statutes SO
that it will read:
"VL-By reason of any amount due from him to
the principal defendant, as wages for his personal
labor, or that of his wife or minor children, for
time not exceeding one month next preceding the
service of the process. and not exceeding S20-of
the amount due to him as wages for his personal la
lor; moreover, wages of minor children and of won-
en- are not, in any case subject to trustee process
on account of any debt of parent or husband.''
A bill was reported requiring the Portland
Trust Company to have on hand at all times in
lawful money as a reserve not less than 25 per
cent. of the aggregate amount of all deposits,
which are subject to withdrawal on demand;
provided in lieu OF lawful money said 25 per
centum may consist of any class of United
States bonds.
A bill was reported providing for an appro-
priation of 5000 year for the support OF each
pupil sent to the Portland school for the deaf.
Al.
law relating to soldiers which provides that no
soldier who served by enlistment in tho army
or navy OF the United States in the war Of
1861, and in consequence of injury sustained
in the service has or may become dependent
upon any town shall be considered pauper; or
be subject to disfranchisement for that cause,
but the time during which said soldier is SO
dependent shall not be included in the period
of residence necessary to change his residence
Mr.. Dyer of Baldwin, introduced in the
House resolve authorizing the Secretary Of
State to purchase for the use of the State, of
Mcclellan, Mosher & Co., fifty volumes each of
the Maine Reports, volumes 43 and a at price
not exceeding four dollars per volume.
Gen. Mattocks' bill relating to fees of wit
nesses in Probate Court, was reported to the
House. 1t provides that such witnesses shall re
ceive the same fee of $150 each day. as Wit
nesses in the Supreme Judicial or Superior
Courts.
The friends of the agricultural fertilizer bill
are highly glatifed with their success in get
ting it through the Senate. In the House
they are sanguine it will go through. Col.
Heath of the Senate, voted for the passage of
the bill in accordance with instructions re-
ceived by the Kennebec county convention
last fall, although had he followed his own
personal inclinations he would have voted
against it,
In the House today Speaker Hamlin
called to the chair Mr.. Moore of Thomas
on, and taking the floor presented the
following resolutions, with the motion that the
rules be suspended and the resolves be- read
and put on their final passage.
The clerk then read the resolves.
Resolves in relation to restoring Ulysses S.
Grant to his rank of General of the army on
the retired list.
Resolved, That the illustrious services of the
exalted citizen soldier, Ulysses S. Grant, should
be promptly recognized by the people of this
country. and his restoration as general Of the armv
on the retired list as an act of Justice should be
Resolved, That our Senatorsiaad Representatives
in Congress are requested to use their earnest ef-
forts in securing the legislation therefor recon.
mended by the President of the United States
Resolved, That the Secretary of State furnish
copy of these resolves to each member of the Maine
delegation in Congress.
Mr.. Hamlin then said
GEN. HAMLTN's REMARKS.
Mr.. SpeGksr:-No words Of ours can add to the
glory and renown of our General who commanded
the greatest armies and won the most important and
splendid victories the world has ever Witnessed.
do not intend to enter upon an encomium of the
magnificent services rendered by Gen. Grant. For
those services this nation, now reunited, cannot
make an adequate return. AS compared with the
recognition recorded and the lavish gifts showered
upon wellington and Marlboro by the old world
what the United States has done for field mar,
shal pale almost into nothingness.
Passing by all these considerations these resolves
ask for restoration to his former rank of General
of the army the retired list as an act of Justice
Sir, believe impartial history will record the
fact that General Grant gave up his place at the
head OF the army and assumed the presidency, not
from motives of personal ambition, but rather in
obedience to the will of the people. 1t would there
fore be bat an act of justice for Congress- as the rep
resentatyes OF the people, to reinstate him in the
position ae won by his military genius and achieve
ments,-the position which the people desire to see
him occupy, and which We believe accords with his
That many members of Congress who served In
the Confederate army favor the desired legislation
trees the question OF Il criticism on the ground of
sectonasm or animosities arising out of the war of
the rebellion. ~ "
The President of the United States has recentIv
called the attention of Congress and the country to
the subject quote the following from the
message: L may pertinentlv advise the
pending legislation in the Senate and House of Rsp.
resentatlves looking to national recognition of
General Grants eminent services by providing the
means for his restoration to the army on the retired
lst. mat Congress by taking such action will give
expression to the almost universal desire of the eo
pie OF this nation is evident and earnestly urge
the passage of an act similar to Senate bill No
$3.50, which, while not interfering with the consti
tutlOBal DrerOgatiV0 of will ahl
the President in his discretion to nominate General
Grant as general on the retired list.
Mr.. Speaker, move that the vote on these reso.
luton when taken be by rising vote.
Clarence Hale, ESQ.,, Of Portland, spoke as
follows:
Mr.. Speaker:-I second the motion of the gentle.
man from Bangor (Mr. Hamlin) and am glad to add
the resolutions. philosopher and historian of a
great many years ago said that the nation that neg
iects mt honor to its great men, neglects its ewn
honor. do not fear that this motion will neglect
70 pay TO pay tribute even be it late tribute to
the great services of that great do not fear
Justice of the do not fear that Congress- will
fail to do something within the puryiew of that or
der. The most eminent statesman of the British
empire just after our war closed expressed the SEN
timent OF the civilized world when he said that
General Grant was the greatest citizen of America
ana the greatest soldier Of the world Now it is not
Wltnln the spirit and genius of institutions to
pile up titles and landed estates upon eur heroes
and upon their children; but the American nation
'sAAoAu " nafo tnS poOpl0 Inc WOrlQ De-
neve they would forget they cannot afford to have
the civilized world to believe they would neglect for
ever an act OF justice. AS my friend from Bangor
has said. think what other nations have done for
their military heroes; think Of what the British
people did for Wellington think of the enthusiasm
OF the French people for the memory of Henry of
Navarro; think of the slight services rendered by
either OF those men to their country as compared
with the services of Gen. Grant for the people of
the United States
Gentlemen, it is never too late to do Justice This
Is latestrbute but the statute of limitations does
not run against memory and against gratitude. The
american Republic cannot afford at this late hour
10 20 untnoughtful and ungrateful. (Applause)
The resolves were then read twice and pass
cd to be engrossed by standing vote
COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
The committee on interior waters gave q
nearing this afternoon on the petition for a
Terry across Fore river. Judge Nathan
Oleaves appeared for petitioners and Bion
Bradbury for remonstrants Tabled.
The committee have not yet made their re-
port on the bill to prohibit the filling up of
Royal river at Yarmouth with refuse, which
was contested by the Forest Paper Company,
but it is understood that they will report in its
favor.
Judge Goddard appeared before the COM
mittse on the revision of the statutes.
The Judiciary COMMITTEES considered among