Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-27

The coming revision Of the public
statutes of Maine as authorized by the
Legislature. with John A. Morrill,.
! Esq, of Auburn. as commissioner in
| charge Of the work. recalls the pre-
vious rcvisions. The first was in 1887.
l. wears after Maine became a State.
and the work was in the hands
of a commission consisting of PrentiSS
Mellcn and Samuel T.. Smith of Port
land, Philip Eastman of Saco. and
Ebenezer Everett. Mr.. Mellen. upon
whom most of the labor fell, was the
chief justice of the Maine supreme
court, and at the time he entered upon
the work of the revision of the laws
| of Maine had been succeeded in that
office by Nathan Weston of Augusta.
The first edition of the first revised
statutes was printed at Hallowell by
Glazier, Masters & Smith in 1S4l. and
| in 1S41. a second edition was printed by
the same firm in volume of 9l2 pages.
The second edition was issued under
the editorship of H. X. Baker of Halo
well. by authority of an act of the
| Legislature. Mr.. Baker was for many
years judge Of the probate court for
Kennebec county and is now living at
Hallowell at the advanced age of SO
years. The second revision was pre-
pared by John r. Hill Joseph Baker
of Augusta. James Bell of Skowhegan,
Ether Shepley of Portland. Noah
Smith. Jr.. of Calais. Warren H. Vim
| ton of Gray and Louis o. Cowan of
| Bddeford This revision was author
| lied by act of April Il. 1851 The only
/: - ~ .r;1
| mission of 1857 is Hon. Warren H.
Vinton of Gray The contract for
| printing the work was awarded to
Wheeler & Lynde of Bangor. but the
press work was done at the Hallowell
office of Masters. Smith & Co. 1t
| forms a volume of 9S4 pages. BY re-
solve of the Legislature passed Jan. %.
| 1871. which became operative on Feb.
!. of the same year. the third revision
of the laws was authorized. The COM
| mission for this revision, consisted of
Joseph Baker of Augusta Ephraim
Flint, Jr., of Dover, and Edwin w.
WedgewOOd. Mr.. Flint was secretary
| of State, 1S64-6S. The volume contain
| ing this revision was published by
Bailey & Noyes. Portland from thc
press of F. G. Rich & Co.. and en-
braced 1856 pages. The fourth re-
vision of our statutes was initiated by
"A resolve approved by Gov. Harris Nj.
Flaisted. March s, 1881. the entire
authority for the work having been
placed in the hands of Charles w
Goddard of Portland. The first report
of Mr.. Goddard. presented to the
legislature Jan. 3, 1883, was accepted,
| but by a resolve approved by Gov
Frederick Robbie. March 15 1883. he was
| further directed to incorporate the
| Legislation of that year into the new
| code. under the supervision of a legis-
| lative commission consisting of the
following gentlemen: Hon. r. II. Went
worth and Hon. William NJ Rust. of
| the Senate, and Weston Thompson, A.
! NJ. Spear. j. f.. Moore, II. NJ. Bearce
G. A. Emery, John +. Donovan. O. G.
Hall and II NJ. Heath. of the House.
and to report finally at an adjourned
| session to be held August 30. 1883.
That duty having been performed, the
| fourth revision of the general and
public laws of the State of Maine was
| enacted on that day, to take effect
| Jan. l. 1884. BY direction of the
| Legislative commission, this volume
contained as an introduction most
| learned and exhaustive monograph on
Sources of Land Titles in Maine"
| from the pen of Mr.. Goddard, which
embraced 10 pages. full of the most
| important historical information
| The volume was printed by
William NJ. Marks, for Loring.
Short & Harmon, Portland. and
| embraced 1864 pages The his
| toric periods of the revisions have
| been: First. II years after Maine be-
came a State: second. i'm II FEARS
after: third, in 13 years after: fourth
/ in II years after 1t has been Is years
i since the last revision.