The Portland daily press., 1889-01-12
THE FIRST CONFLICT OF THE SESSION.
Adjournment Provides the First Bone
of Legislative Contention.
Registration Boards to Regulate
Election Matters.
Senator Rand's Bill Repeating thu
state Prison Labor Law.
[speclal TO the Press.l

|. AUGUSTA. Jan. 1.-THE first conflict OF
opinion for the session came this forenoon
over the old and threadbare question of ad.
journment The city members like long
vacation every week, and the country mem.
bers don't, for Augusta is dismal place fol-
them during adjournment. and the board bill
that runs up eats out of their final $50 Of
recompense
Mr.. Hovey of Pittsfeld presented this
forenoon an order for adjournment until
Tuesday, but Uncle Otis Kaler of Scarboro
who complained at the first of the session
that his ieyes were dim, but who manages
nevertheless to see about everything that is
going on, was on his feet in minute. The
adjournment ought not to be longer than to
Monday afternoon, and he wanted the order
so amended. 1t was done, no one daring to
cross the country members, and it went to
the Senate. The aristocrats of that body
usually favor long adjournments, but this
time they didn't seem to want to adjourn
at all, and word to that effect was sent back
to the House.
Then Representative Engel, who has
Teutonic blood in his veins and believes that
the House is just as good body as the Sen
ate, called on the representatives to stand
their ground and call for conference.
So the Speaker appointed conference
committee, composed of Mr.. Engel, Mr..
Hovey and Mr. Kaler. The Senate sent
Messrs. Heath, Libby and Simpson. Both
sides bluffed little, and finally determined
on Monday at II o'clock. They might have
agreed to Up. m. Monday, but the electors
for President and Vice President meet in
Augusta Monday, and they want to use the
Senate chamber that afternoon.
So the legislature assemblies again on Mon
day at IL a. m.
Ambitious WaterviIIe.
Senator Haines. of Waterville, introduced
in the Senate this forenoon bill and petit
tion from the ambitious young city in the
northern part of the Kennebec valley. Wa
terville wants one session of the Kennebec
Superior Court, and she offers to provide,
without expense to the county. court room
and all necessary accommodation If the leg
islature shall pass bill with this section
"The term of the Superior Court which is
and for the county of Kennebec, shall, after
the first day of February in the present year
be holden in the city of Waterville, in said
county; and all writs, processes of any kind,
and all proceedings, shall after that time be
made returnable accordingly: and all writs,
processes and proceedings commencing prior
to that time, and which would otherwise be
returnaDle to said February term of said
court at Augusta, shall be entered and have
day at said court in Waterville." Another
section provide guarantee that this shall not
be done unless the Waterville people come
up toitheir agreement about the court house.
The leading lawyers at WaterviIle sign
this petition, and also the members of the
Somerset Bar in Fairfield and Skowhegan.
w. Z. Philbrook, Esq, of Waterville, who
was here today, gave some very good Tea-
sons why this change is desired. Augusta is
nearly as badly crowded by the courts as by
the legislature. The Kennebec Superior
Court has five terms, beginning in September,
the Supreme Court sits in October and
March, That makes a crowd of cases in the
court house at all seasons; and especially
great Is the inconvenience in the years when
legislative session fills every nook and
corner where lawyer or witness may
wish to board Then there would be saw
ing of expense in small suits from the north
ern part of the county. Mr. Philbrook says
there is no doubt that Waterville will pro-
vide good accommodations. He also thinks
that Augusta Will not object as the bill con-
templates the session of one of the terms,
that of February, in Waterville
The indications now are that Augusta will
lnterpose no objections. 1t cannot be in
ferred from this, however, that she would be
equally ready to let the State Capital go.
A Registration Bill.
The legal affairs committee will have be-
fore it considerable relating to suffrage. A
bill that came into the Senate this forenoon
and was referred to it, would establish in
each city in this State and in all towns hay
ing 5000 or more inhabitants, or 1000 or
more registered voters, board of registra-
tion which shall have the exclusive power
and authority to hear evidence and determ-
inc the qualifications of voters therein, and
the exclusive power to correct the lists of
voters therein during the last six days next
preceding any national, State or municipal
election, and shall perform all the duties and
have the exclusive powers now exercised by
selectmen OF such towns and municipal of
ncers OF such cities, except that the latter of
ncers shall prepare and post the list of voter
as usual.
The board should consist of three men,
beIs, one of whom should be learned in the
law and shall be commissioned by the Gov
ernor for term of four years. The other
two would be commissioned for two years,
and belong to the great political parties,
each being nominated by his own party,
the person appointed by the Governor pre-
siding but voting only in case of tie. 9th
of the board. Mr. Haines, of Waterville,
presents this bill.
A Short, but important Bill.
Senator Rand of Oxford. presented short
but comprehensive bill in the Senate this