Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-02
READ AND ASSIGNED.

An act additional TO Chapter $50 of
the Private and Special Laws of 1897,
relating to the United Gas and Electric
Company.
An act to amend Chapter 15i Of the
Private and Special Laws of 1925. re
lating TO the charter of the Wiscassct
Water Company.
An act to amend an act to authorize
the city of Portland to appoint commits
sioners of cemeteries and public
grounds.
An act to legalize the doinGs of the
meeting of school district No. 10 in
the town of Stonington.
An act to amend Section - Of Chap
ter lis Of the Revised Statutes. relat-
ing to offences against the lives and
persons Of individuals.
An act to authorize the laying out of
a way across tide waters of Piscata-
qua river in I<ittery.
An act amending Chapter 800 of the
Private and Special Laws of 1898, IN
relation to the Rumford Falls Light
and Water Company.
An act permitting ice fishing in
Cochnewagon pond in Monmouth.
An act relating to agents Of domeS-
tic mutual fire insurance companies.
An act TO amend the charter Of Par
sonfield Seminary.
on motion of Mr.. Noble of Ninal-
haven. the rules were suspended. the
bill received it's third reading and was
passed to be enSroSsed.
An act to prohibit ice fishing in Sab
bath Day lake in the town OF Glouces-
ter Cumberland county.
Mr.. CHASE Of Portland: Mr. Speak
er. ! move that this act lie on the ia
Bile for an amendment This. being an
act carrying a penalty should not take
effect when approved.
Mr.. CARLETON of Winthrop: | hope
the gentleman from Portland Will not
insist upon that motion. This act is IN
the usual form of a multitude of such
acts passed by the Legislature. And |
wish to say further that | arose at the
time the gentleman did. to move Il sus-
pension Of the rules that it might be
passed to be engrossed at this time.
Fer this reaSon-there is a special act.
Oh has been upon Sabbath Day lake
III prohibiting ice fishing, which cXpir-
ed Yesterday. and everybody in that
section of the country is intensely IN
terested in that beautiful lake and in
tensely intere sted in having ice fishing
prohibited. Muttudes of letters and
petitions have come to have this act if
possible take effect by the time me
old one expires. | hope the gentleman
will not insist upon his motion, but
that the act may he passed to be en-
crossed under suspension of the
rules.
Mr.. CHASE: ! am just informed for
the first time that there was an act
which expired. yesterday. But it seems
to me that this does not change the
principle of passing law carrying a
nenalty which shall take effect imme-
diately. It is almost an unheard of
thing in legislation and is entirely
wrong in my Judgment, and for this
reason, which every member must see
Mt n glance To be sure, every man is
supposed to know the law. but that is
a violent presumption as to fact, for in
fact a great many people do not know
the law. Now TO pass law carrying
with it a penalty involves this danger
some man. not knowing as matter of
fact. that Re is violating the law, may
unWittingly and unknowingly and I'M
Intentionally lay himself open to a
criminal prosecution and thereafter
wards be citizen with criminal rec
ord. This principle has always been
recognized in legislation Of this kind.
Now. while the circumstances of this
case may make it less likely that any
one should fall into such an error. at
the same time it is entirely possible
for If TO occur Now. gentlemen Of the