The Portland daily press., 1895-01-31


The Retiring Clam Secures Attention
Again-The Kittery Toll Bridge to be
Made Free.
Especial to the PRESS.)
Augusta. January 30.-It rained forty days
and forty nights during he Flood, but heI e
in Augusta it would seem that it is to rain
bills, petitions and resolves forever. Among
today's torrent was the bill to amend the
law in relation TO the Portland Municipal
court, which was introduced by Mr.. LARA
bee. The bill is as follows:
STATE OF MAINE. ro
In the year of our LORD one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-fiv
Ar act to amend chapter 204 of the Public
Laws of 1856, in relation to the jurisdiction
| of the Municipal court of the City of Port
| land.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in Legislature assembled as
follows:
Section 1.--Section 2 of chapter 204 of the
Public Laws of 1856, as amended by chapter
of the Public Laws of 1887. is hereby
amended by striking out said section and
inserting the following:
Section 2.-Said court shall have exclusive
jurisdiction of all civil actions in which the
de bit or damages demanded do not exceed
twenty dollars, and both parties, or the de-
PENDANT CT person summoned in good faith
as trustee, reside in the city of Portland,
and of ali cases of forcible entry and &C.
tainer, where the property demand is in
said city; and of all criminal offences and
misdemea nors committed in said city as are
cognizable by municipal or police courts or
trial justices. or are within the additional
jurisdiction and authority conferred upon
this court. In actions against two or more
defendants or trustees, residing in differen
counties, where one defendant or trustee,
resides in tn is county. concurrent jurisdic-
tion with other trial justices or municipal
or police courts, in the, county where either
Of the defendants reside, as is provided in
section l6, chapter 81, and section of
chapter Sc, of the Revised Statutes of this
state, and concurrent with other trial
justices or municipal or police cour is in the
county OF Cumberland. over all matters and
things, civil and criminal within their inris-
diction, where exclusive jurisdiction is not
otherwise conferred by law, and concurrent
Jurisdiction with the Superior court in the
county of Cumberland. in all personal
actions, OF in actions of replevin, when a
defendant or person summoned in good
faith as trustee. resides in the county of
Cumberland, where the debt, damages or
goods demanded, exclusive of costs exceed
twenty dollars and do not exceed fifty dol
lars. This jurisdiction shall not include
actions in which the title to real estate ac-
cording to pleadings FLED by either party, is
in RypanfiOn g is nrOVilPl in
chapter 81 of the Revised Statutes, sections
6 and T. and excepting as is provided in
chapter SO of the Revised Statutes.
Section All the provisions of the
statutes of this state relative to the attach
ment of cal estate and personal property
and the levying of executions, shall be APP
plicable to actions in this court. and execu-
lions on judgements rendered therein. Said
court is hereby authorized TO administer
oaths, render judgments, issue executions,
certify copies of its records, punish for con-
tepmt and compel attendance as in the SUI
perior court of this county.
Section 2.-Section three of said chapter
204 is hereby amended by striking out said
section three ana Inserting the following
section: gs8 sLa&aaeas
Section 3.-The judge or recorder shall not
| act as counsel or attorney in any case.
cause, matter or thing which depends upon
OF relates to any cause cognizable by said
court.
Section 4.-Section four of said chapter
204, as amended by chapter 16a. Public Laws
of 1888, and chapter Is. Public Laws of 1887.
and chapter 1853, Public Laws of 1889. is
hereby amended by striking out the word
thirty" in the third line and inserting the
word "ffty;'' SO that said section as
amended shall read as follows:
Section 4.-The said court may take cog
nizance Of simple larcenies, where the
property alleged to be stolen shall not ex-
coed in value. fifty dollars and of offences
described in sections six. and seven and
nine of chapter one hundred.an twenty of
the Revised Statutes, and in sections one
and four of chapter one hundred and
twenty-six of the Revised Statutes, where
the value of the property dues not exceed
fifty dollars, of offences described in section
four of chapter one hundred and thirty-two
of the Revised Statutes, whore they are not
of high and aggravated nature, and on
conviction. may punish by fine not exceeding
twenty dollars, or by imprisonment in the
county Jail not exceeding six months: and
all violations of the tramp law, and of
offences described in section four of chapter
one hundred and forty-one of the Rev Used
Statutes and on conviction, may punish by
imprisonment in the county or city house
of correction, not exceeding six months.
And have exclusive jurisdiction of all
offences against the bylaws of the city:
and in proseou ton on such bylaws, they
need not be recited in the complaint, nor in
allegations therein be more particular than
in prosec utions on a public statute.
Section 4.-Section l6 of said chapter 204
is hereby amended by striking out said
section and inserting the following section
Section is When the Judge is occasional
ly absent from the room or Office in which
the court is held, the recorder shall have
the power to hear complaints in all criminal
matters, draw complaints and issue war
rants for the apprehension of persons
charged with any criminal offence or breach
of the peace: to hear accusations in
bastardy and issue warrants thereon. and
all warrants so issued by the recorder shall
have the same authority as if issued by the
Judge. Said recorder shall make, sign and
oil fir1aI1 al of