Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-02

II
not the slightest doubt that this number,
1900, would cover the needs of the state.
Mr.. Savagescalled attention to the fact
that this number provided only for the
next Legislature, and not for others.
Mr.. Higgins of York pointed out that
the State had got along from 1870 TO
1910. with annual sessions before they
had a revision, from 1910 to 1857, With
annual sessions, from 1857 to 1871, with
annual sessions, and from 1871 to 1888,
with annual sessions, without revision
Since 1888 the Legislature has had only
biennial sessions, and it was matter OF
astonishment TO him that senators should
try to force the State into revision OF the
Statutes two years from now. He thought
that the. adoption of this supplement
would enable them to go on till 1900 with
out revision, and that it would be true
economy to pass this resolve.
Hr. Hume said that those were not his
ideas Of economy. He believed that the
distribution Of these supplements among
the members of the Legislature was en-
tirely unnecessary, and that this was an
other case of publishers unloading onto
the State, as was the case with the he
yiscd Statutes two years ago He pro
tested against this recklessness in the ex-
penditure Of public money, and said that
the State could get along with the small
or number proposed by the amendment.
MIR. Higgins said that there was a true
and II false economy, and that the Senate
must discriminate between the two. Con
tinuinr he said: We have heard from the
senator from Washington, and have lis
tened to the same stock speech which our
friend has favored us with so often pc
fore, but il does not apply to everything,
| know something in regard to these
matters, and | will say here
that it is proposed hereafter that every
book which is distributed from the state
library shall be marked distinctly "Ihc
property OF the State, delivered in trust
to such town or plantation; not TO be
sold or exchanged. We intend to make
every town officer send in II return Of all
the property of the State held by his town,
and any town which fails 80 send in such
a return shall not be allowed to partici-
pate in future distributions from the
library.
| believe that by the adoption of this
supplement we are putting ahead for
many years the revision of the Statutes,
and think this resolve is in the interest
of true economy.
Mr. Hume stated that he was not OBJ
jecting to the publication, but only to the
number carried by the resolve; he only
wanted the resolve cut down to Il reason
able number.
Mr. Higgins said that he thought every
member of the Legislature should have a
COPY of the Statutes before him, and a
copy of this supplement, in order that he
might know what the laws were which
were being amended. He objected to the
unloading of several thousand dollars
worth Of Maine Reports on the State but
he thought this supplement was useful
and necessary
Mr. Marston of Somerset, explained
that his amendment did provide for the
next two Legislatures, and he then went
on to say: II have one more word to say
in regard to the resolve which the judici-
airy committee turned down so quickly.
That was a resolve that some of the ablcst
legal lights in the State thought
would take the place of Freeman s
Supplement- all right, and some of them
told me that they would rather have the
index proposed by that resolve than this
supplement. The index would cost
t'AN
amount provided by this resolve that is
before us this morning. If the judiciary
committee were doing this as a matter OF
economy, and wanted to stave off re
vision, would ask them if they read tho
resolve presented by me carefully enough
to find that it not only provided for the
| indexing of the acts and resolves back tt
1883, but also for each succeeding year up
| 4. - how xNric hnI r.
economic there was chance to do it.
| But they reported against that resolve
! for an index. If they had even given a
partial report on it we could have had II
before us, and could have chosen between
! the two.
Mr.. Higgins stated that the committee
did read the resolve in question, and duly
dclibcratcd upon it, and voted unani-
mously against it.
Mr.. Shaw of Aroostook said that hC
thought if the resolve was to pass at all ii
should pass in it's present form, but that
he wished to go on record rs opposing its
passage He did not believe it was nee
ccssary, and it was not i'll the interests OF
economy. He said in the first place that
even when it is published it is not th'
law Of the land, it had no Legislative
| sanction; and i'll the second place nc ne
lcvcd it would save the State nothing, ii
being but nakcshift ut best. He &c
knowlcdged that the book would be use
ful to him in his profession. but when the
next revision was made the book would
become absolutely worthless, and that
this connecting link which was to cost
$500 was simply makeshift and of Nc
value to the State ut all
Mr. Hovey of Somerset said that the
small towns and plantations had just as
much right to receive these State publica-
tions as had the larger places. He believed
they thought more of them and took bet
ter care of them in the smaller places thar
in the large cities and towns, and that
these books were more carefully read ano
more appreciated by the small towns ant
plantations.
Mr. Nickerson of Lincoln asked whether
i il n less number than 1860 were purchased
the cost per volume would be increased
Mr. Savage said that he did not know
but thought it might be so.
On the vote being taken, amendment
B was rejected by vote of to Il.
The resolve was then read second time
On the question of whether it should pas:
to he engrossed, eight voted in the ailirma