Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-15

Ellsworth, the bill was tabled ard assigned
for Friday of this week.
Bill relating to sale of Intoxicating liquors
was referred to the committee on temper
anee.
Bill relating to kennebec Water Power
Co. was read second time and assigned
for tomorrow morning.
Bill relating to duties of recording Off
GERS. Mr.. Getehell of Winslow moved TO
amend by striking out the word town" in
the first line.
Mr.. Getchell of Winslow This bill is
introduced and its passage urged for the
benefit of class-and evidently to the det-
riment of other classes
One of the effects of its passage will be
to deprive our town clerks of privileges and
rights they have enjoyed for century,
viz: the writing of chattel mortgages; as
signment of wages; the performance of
marriage ceremonies, and the denial to them
of the right to MAKE any instrument that re-
quires to be recorded.
The 500 towns of our State have each a
clerk, selected by ballot as being honest,
careful, painstaking men-men of char
aeter and integrity, in whose hands
the records of all the municipal
| transactions of the towns in the State are
| ronfded, the aggregate exceeding very much
that of our State and counties combined.
The advocates of this bill say, by infer
ence, that these clerks are not to be trusted.
| That in the matter of an assignment of a
fortnight's wages, or the bill of sale of a
$50 horse there is danger of their viOlat-
| ing their oaths and betraying their trusts.
1t is not claimed that these hundreds of
clerks for hundred years have
been infallible; vet we do claim that their
record for integrity will compare favorably
| with.any class of public officers.
| There is another class which will be sub
| jected to unnecessary Inconvenience by the
| passage of this act. There are many of
| our citizens in small towns, who through
sickness, or other misfortune are compelled
to hire small sums of money. For these to
hire without security, means usurious
interest security they get accommo
lation at current rates.
| Now every town cannot support the lux
| ury of law office, but every town has its
clerk, who is generally centrally located
and easily found--and to compel this large
class of borrowers to pass by their own dis
qualified clerks, and to 90 else
where to get these simple and inexpensive
instruments written, will subject them to
unnecessary delay, Inconvenience and ex-
expense.
This matter is wrong in its inception. 1t
is false in its premises. 1t assumes that
these recording officers are untrustworthy.
therefore hope that this amendment will
be adopted.
The amendment was adopted and the bill
passed to be engrossed.
Bill Glidden Water Co.. was tabled on
motion of Mr.. White of Rockland.
Resolve authorizing the Governor and
Council to purchase bust of William Pitt
Fessenden. On motion of Mr.. Parker of
Danforth the resolve was tabled and as
| signed for Tuesday of next week.
Bill relating to hawkers and peddlers was
retabled ON motion of Mr.. Lane of Augusta.
Bill relating to protection of game was
indefinitely postponed on motion of MIR.
Powers of Houlton.
Bill. taxation of express companies, was
amended in the House and the amendment
was non-eoneurred in by the Senate. On
motion of Mr.. Roberts of Norway the
House receded and concurred with the
Senate.
MIR. Higgins of Limerick moved that
WHEN the House adjourps, it adjourn TO meet
at half past nine O'Clock tomorrow. The
motion was agreed to.
BRIDGE OVER PENoBscor AT VIM.
Resolve in favor of building bridge
across Penobscot river between Winn and
Chester.
On motion of MIR Parker of Danforth the
vote was reconsidered whereby the bill WAS
re-assigned.
&The pending question being on the mo-
ton to reconsider the vote whereby the
House rejected the majority report of the
committee, division was called for and the
vote was reconsilered by a vote of 56 to %
Mr. Parker moved that the majority re-
port be now accepted.
Mr. Twitchell of Bath moved that the
majority and minority reports lie on the Ia
bic and be assigned for tomorrow afternoon
Mr.. Parker of Danforth hope the last
motion will not prevail. There is 40 miles
of river there and more, and no bridge. The
people have to depend on ferries entirely.
The towns of Woodville and Chester
have to cross the river at VIM to do their
trading. Those towns are too poor to do
anything towards this bridge. If the State
appropriates 10000, the town of VIM
propose to make mp the balance TO build
this bridge. A manufacturing concern has
arranged to go there, if this bridge is built.
and invest $3.50. 900. Thi. will be lost to
that town unless this appropriation is made.
and hope the majority report will be ac-
cepted, and that the motion of the gentle
man from Bath Mr.. Twitchell) will not
prevail.
Mr.. Twitchell Withdrew his motion, stating
that he was in favor of The majority report.
Mr.. Shaw of Portland The objection
to this bill is that the State is not carefully
protected. / move that the bill be recon-
mitted to the committee that new resolve
may be drafted which shall give assurance
satisfactory to the Governor and Council of
this $4,000 being actually laid out in the
town. before the $40, 1000 is appropriated by
the State. make this as a suggestion that
was made to me by some of the friends of
the bill.
Mr.. Gates of VIM: ! hope this matter
will be fully considered at the present time
believe that il is matter of importance
to the whole State that this appropriation
be made. The expense of building this
bridge across the Penobscot ut Winn has
been estimated, by competent engineers, to
be s22 500. An appropriation of $4,000 |
is asked from the State. 5000 is to be |
raised by private subscription, and the |
larger part of it is already subscribed. The |