Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-16

Pardon Granted Ho'mss Of Belfast
Other Business at the Meeting fhurs-
day.

the other nominations were cor 6rmed, viii
the exception Of that Of VIM. Pitcher o
Bangor as special constable. which BY
unanimous vote of the Council was tabled
The majority Of the Committee on Wal
rants reported in favor Of drawing war
ran, in the sum of $1,000 for the Railroa,
Commissioners. in accordance, ~ all th,
committee, save one, believed with the las
Of 1889, chap. 3lS, sec. l. Below 10 tn,
law referred to, the last sentence Of whicl
the msj ,rity of the committee believe. pro
vides the manner in which the commission
ers shall make 4 statement of their expense
instead of having their accounts audited b.
the Council. The Attorney General hold
the same view Of the meaning Of this Law
| The Law reads:
THE board may expend sum not ex
ceeding two thous aud dollars annually IL
procuring necessary books, maps, station
cry and statistics ard in defrA, ing expense,
incidental and necessary to the discharge
or its duties ard procuring the assi,tApc.
of a mechanical expert in the examination
Of iron bridges 4 statement of such sI
penses shall accompany ats asaual report
STATE OF MAINE.
CouNcIL CHAMBsR.
AUGUSTA, May l5 1890.
The committee on war; ants to whom vas
referred the application of the X X. tom
missioners under date of March 25th, 1890,
for warrant for $1,000, being the full sum
named in chap. 3l3, sec. ll3, laws of 1889,
tor the purchase Of books, maps, etc, for
the use of said commissioners, and procur
ing the assistance of mechanical txperts in
the examination of iron bridges 10 unable
TO agree.
The undersigned member Of said commit
tee, dissenting from the views and conclu
,iots of the majority respectfully submits u
minority report.
The act does not, in my Judgment, con-
temp ate or authorize the placing of that
appropriation in the hsi d. of the Commits
$ soners. to be expended or not, as scc,den
or circumstances may determine. There
is no good reason why that appropriation
should not be drawn from the State Treas
ury in the usual way viz upon bills
properly audite ! by the Council If the
commissioners have contracted bills for
any of the purposes named in said section,
let all such bilts be sent to the Council
with the approval of the II X. Commis-
sioners, and if allowed by the Governor
and Council. repaid by warrant drawn on
the State Treasurer, in favor of the party
furnishing the articles or rendering ser
vices. That is the usual and proper way
IN which ali ella ms against the State are Ad-
justed except in special cases, where the
Legislature otherwise dire is. In the
opinion of the minority of the Committee,
there is nothing IN the act referred to. that
would justify or warrant the Council in
applying df ffrIent rule, in the case Of the
X. X. Commissioners, from that applied
to other State officials, in the expenditure
Of appropriations p aced to their credit by
ths Legislature, on the books or the $ ate
Treasurer.
The Executive Council is and has always
been TIE auditing board for all claims and
bills against the State. To grant the ap
plicatiol of the Commissioners would be
virtually to abandon all supervision by the
Couocil. over the expenditures OF the pub-
lie funds. The undersigned advises against
granting the sprica,ion.
Respectfully submitted.
5. c. HATcH.
The majority report WAS adopted, the vote
sta ding 6 to /.
J S. Hartman. Esq, and ex-County
Attorney X + Dunton of Belfast appeared
before the Governor and Council, sueing
for the psrdjn Of one Nathaniel W. Holme,
of that city now in jail, sentenced under
an old Indictment for rumselling. Mr..
Harrim IN was the principal spe eaker and he
presented petitions bearing the names of
the leading citizens of Belfast. asking the
pardon of Holmes. Letters from Dr. Small
and DIR. Brooks of that city, in which il
was stated that Holmes was feeble from Ill
health and old age and would suffer much
injury from imprisonment. were presented.
A letter from Rev. Geo. + Tufts of the
Baptist church in Belfast. in which a plea
tor pardon was made. was also read. The
petitions for pardon were strongly endorsed
by the names If the best citizens in that
community.
Tne story of the matter has been printed
before. A, far back as the April term,
1887, Holmes had three indictments against
him for liquor selling. H. was imprisoned
on one of these and his friends contributed
to pay his fine on the other. The third was
held over him on condit on that he sold no
more liquor. His friends contend that he
has sold no liqnor since that time, that he
is old and in poor health and does not de-
serve the imprisonment he is undergoing.
The prosecuting attorney, County Attor.
ney Roun Is of Waldo county, responded tc
. considerable length. He said he did MOI
oppose the pardon if it was found tha
Holmes was in danger from Imprisonment
of receivi permanent injury to his health
He did not, however, believe such to be tn,
| case and he wished to have his action ant
| tina. of the Judge under TODD in their true
| light He believed Holmes had violated
his agreement not to sell and thought h,
could do no less according to his oath O.
Office than to prosecute him on the old in
dctment.
He also presented an old petition in be
half of Holmes on another occasion
signed by many of the prominent people o
the city and in connec ion noted the fac
that 6 years later in 1886, three indictment
have been found against this same man TO
| liquor selling. Furthermore, he didn't be
| liava far hat hat IInl, b..
sold rum since his agreement to keep ou
of the business. If the rum traffic in tn,
city Of Belfast was to be broken up /
can't be do'e by such respectable petition
as these" said the speaker. referring :
those presented by Holmes counsel. Il
executive session the council voted par
dln to Holmes On condition of good behay
i1r.
| The case Of q man named Badger o
Unity, in jill for liquor selling was Il 9
brought up and County Attorney Kennel
said he had no exceptions to take agains
grating pardon as he believed that tn
ID man to be i'll and thatthere were nit
eating circumstances connected with th
case.
During the aftern 1on nothing save REF
ular business came up. There will be
hearing on the Badger case At the mel
meeting Of the council. The mseting ID
journed to June 1871. at 10 A. ".
No One To Blame