Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-02

NJ Slbh hp' tsSs
On motion of Mr. Wiswell of Ellsworth,
the two reports of the Judiciary Committee
ON bill an act to amend article 6, section 80
Of chapter 50 of the Revised Statutes relat-
ing to trus ee process, were taken ffom the
Ia lie.
Report "A" submits the bill. The
present statute reads: NO per
s,n shall be adjudged trustee
by re Ison Of any amount due from him to
tue principal defendant as wages for his
pers NAL 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 twenty dollars
of the amount due to him as
wages for his personal labor and
this is not exempt in any
suit for necessaries furnished him or his
family moreover, wages of minor children
and of women, are not, IN any case, subject
to trustee process on account of any debt
of parent or husband The bill strikes out
the words " and this is not exempt in any
SUIT for necessaries furnished him or his
family" and a Ids section 2. This act shall
not apply to any suit brought upon coz
tract made before the approval thereof"
Report b" is that the bill ought not to pass
Each report is signed by five members of
the judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Wiswell explained that at the present
time a persons wages. to the extent of 500
and for the last month, is exempt from at
tachment by trustee process except for
recessarics He believed that these words
m. de the exemption entirely imperative,
and i've of the committee. in compliance
with the policy of the State to allow certain
l. ind. TO IN ha mtar a
tschment, believed that it would be better
aud wiser aud more just to say that labor.
ing man could have his wages for the last
month only. and to the extent of twenty
dollars. absolutely exempted from attach
ment by the trustee process so that he could
use that twenty dollars for the support of
his family and in paying his current expenses
or debts. This bill simply strikes out
the words, and this is not exempt etc,
and adds this section This act shall not
apply to any suit brought upon contract
made before the approval thereof"
Mr.. wiswell moved that report "A" be
acce pied.
MIR. Barker of Bangor didn't believe that
the Iaboriug men of the State asked for the
adjustment of the exemption for uecessa-
ries clause, neither did he believe il was in
their interest to have itabolshed He hoped
the report would not he accepted.
Mr. Talbot of East Machias, was IN favor
of adopting the report. He thought it was
| in the interest of the laboring man.
! MIR. Stearns of Caribou, said it is now and
always has been the settled policy of our
laws to let all classes of people have some
exemption from attachment. so that the far
mer, for instance, often has exempted prop
erty to the amount OF $500 or $1,000. The
| property of the poor laborer is in his per-
sonal toll. 1t is reasonable request that
the laboriHg man makes, that one month
| product of that tell shall be exempted from
the operation of the laws for the collection
of debts He was in favor of the adoption
of report "A"
Mr. Cloutier supported the views of the
gentleman from Bangor. He was in favor
of the poor working man whom he did not
think would be bene tited but rather injured
by the proposed law. He drew an illustra-
ton of the poor man who wishes to get
trusted for barrel of floor, but could not
without the credit that is furnished by the
present law. He hoped that the bill would
not pass.
Mr.. Cote Of Biddeford. spoke against the
bill. His opinion was that the majority of
the honest people do not demand such law.
lutIs uiiHut ut u iOt OF sediaNaSs WHO
would ike this law, but it was against that
class that the honest trader and laboring man
shouli be protected. Mr.. Cote protested
against encouraging rsscality by passing this
bill and said they might as well open the
prison doors and let all the convicls out AS to
take this action.
MIR. Chadbourn of Biddefori spoke in
favor of the bill. showing that it had always
been the policy of this State as manifested
on the statute books to exempt from attach
meut whatever was necessary for a MAI to
carry on his business to limited extent.
The present Law had initiated against the in
terests of the poor laboring men. He mem
toned cases within his personal knowledge
where the wages of children working in the
factories had been trusted again and again.
MIR. Sprague of Dexter was opposed to
this exemption. The present statute con-
fers benefits in this direction to a sufficient
extent. He hoped that the bill would not
pass.
MIR. Pattangall of Pembroke agreed that
the present trustee process is a good one.
The man who comes from abroad and goes
to work in = manufacturing establishment
has no good surety, but this trustee process