Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-04
STATE HOUSE.
Engrossed Bills Have Been
Printed Since 1867.
Before That Year They Were Written
BY Quill and Pen.
Col Dill, inspector General Of Rifle
Practice, Makes Report.

u
recting the secretary of State to have
the acts and resolves passed by each
Legislature engrossed in writing and
from that time down to the session OF
1867 this rule was scrupulously fol.
lowed year after year. The bound
volumes of engrossed bills of the va
rious Legislatures from 1922 to 1866, in
elusive. the same written in plain
legible handwriting, may now be seen
at the office of the secretary of State
and are models of exact and painstak-
ing penmanship. But the work was
not wholly satisfactory. for when the
closing hours of the session would
draw near and the bills would pile up
in front of the engrossing clerk the
delays in getting the work done would
become exasperating and most annoy
ing.
For a long time the idea prevailed in
the Office Of the secretary of State
that the engrOssing could be done by
printing in just as satisfactory and in
a far more expeditions manner. II
was not. however, until 1866 that the
Legislature would give its sanction to
the use of type instead of the quill or,
in later years. the pen. The following
resolve was passed by the Legislature
of 1866 and was approved by Governor
Chamberlain on Feb 10 of that year:
Resolved. That from and after the
present session of the Legislature, all
acts and resolves passed to be en-
crossed in both branches Of the Legis-
lature. in lieu of being engrossed by
writing as directed in a resolve APP
proved Jan. II, 1922, shall be en-
crossed by printing in fair and con-
spicuOus type. upon suitable paper
leaving margins of sufficient width to
bind the same into volumes of uniform
size and appearance with those here:
tofore engrOssed. bound and deposited
in the office of the secretary Of
State. and with blank lines or spaces
in each bill so passed and printed, fol
original signatures in writing and
dates of passage and approval of the
president of the Senate, speaker Of the
House of Representatives and Cover
nCr of the State.
Resolved. That the engr0ssing as
herein directed. shall continue to be
done under the authority and super
vision of the secretary Of State. who
shall. prior to the next session of the
Legislature. cause all the facilities
for carrying these resolves into effect
to be seasOnably prepared. and shall
after the adjournment of each session
cause the acts and resolves passed a,
such session to be separately bound
and deposited in his Office in the man.
ner herein directed.
This resolve was reported from the
judiciary committee by Representative
James F. Miller of the committee, and
1t passed through the various stages of
legislation without let or hindrance.
At that session Hon. VIM. Writ Virgin
of Cumberland. was president of the
Senate and Hon. James M. Stone of
Kennebunk, was speaker of the House.
Judge II. II. Burbank. now judge of the
SacO police court was at the same ses-
sion chairman of the committee on en-
crossed bills, and certified that this re-
solve was duly and properly engrossed.
Then when the Legislature of 1867 be-
gan its work of grinding out bills they
were printed from type and have been
ever since. The type used for the acts
is what is known as double small
pica and that for the resolves in Eng
ilSh, u SfnaIlcT SiZSu type. Hc idec VI
these types is plain and conspicuous as
the resolve provides it shall be.
For several years the engrossing OF
bills has been in charge of A. ID. Rus
sell of the secretary of States office.
Mr.. Russell is now getting his ar
engagements made for handling the
work the coming winter. He will be
domiciled in a room over the passage
way that leads from the secretarys Of
fee to the corridor near the council
chamber. 1t is a secluded nook ana
there he can read his proofs and mark
the errors without fear of disturbance
by legislators or others. The work OF
reading the proofs Of engrossed bills IS
a ticklish job. and not everybody Is
able to perform the service in the able
and painstaking manner Mr.. Russell u.s.
and therefore he must be in a place
where he will be free from the obtru-
sion of inquisitive visitors or curious
onlookers.
Col. Elliott G. Dill. inspector general
- ;oo ,>cactico has submitted his an