Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-11

with other states, relative to insur-
ance policies.
The following bills, petitions, etc,
were presented and referred:
Legal Affairs.
BY Mr.. Burleigh of Aroostook, An
Act to change the time of holding the
sessions of the county commissioners
of Aroostook county.
Interior Waters.
BY Mr.. Pierce of Aroostook, Petition
of Louis Cormier for charter of mill
at Grand Isle.
Ways and Bridges.
BY Mr.. Trtcomb of York: Bill, An
Act to improve the condition of roads.
Reports of Committees.
Mr. Wing for the Committee on
judiciary, on Bill, An Act to amend
Section of Chapter 1872 of the Public
Laws of 1895 in relation to State tax
sales. reported same be referred to the
next Legislature. Report accepted.
The Committee on Mines and Mining,
on Resolve providing for Il Topographic
cal and geological survey for the
years 1903-1904, and for extending it's
work in hydrograrhy, reported ought
to pass. Report accepted Under
Rule is referred to the Committee on
Appropriations and Financial Affairs.
Mr.. Burns for the Committee on
Judiciary. on Bill, An Act to establish
law uniform with other states rela-
tive to insurance policies, reported
same ought not to pass.
Mr.. CLARK of Hancock: Mr..
President l move that the bill be sub
stituted for the report. | presume
that the gentlemen who will try to sus-
tain this report are as willing to take
this matter up at the present time as
at any time.
This bill was introduced in the first
part of the session, which abolished
the right tc arbitrate insurance losses
upon our statute books. Since 1895 it
has been what is known as the stand-
ard form of insurance. l have framed
bill which is before the Committee on
Mercantile Affairs and Insurance,
which gives the right of trial by jury.
That bill has been heard by that com
mittee. and they have voted unani-
mously that it ought not to pass; and
have now made the motion that the bill
be substituted for the report. Since
our State has been Il state, set off
from Massachusetts. we have always
been entitled to right of trial by jury,
in every case; and in no single in
stance has that right ever been taken
away from us. until 1895, until the bill
of 1895 was reported by the Committee
on Mercantile Affairs and Insurance.
Two years ago this session of the
Legislature an order was introduced
the Governor of this State
to appoint three commissioners Who
should be designated as commissioners
on uniformity of laws. Thirty-five |
other states in the Union took similar |
action. 1t is well known fact that |
the laws in a great many states are so |
different that it was thought |
wise to see if in certain laws all states |
would not agree. for example: In the |
State of Maine the statute does not |
provide capital punishment for muir |
der, while right across the line of the |
State. perhaps murder may be COM
rntted and within ten feet of the one in |
Maine. and the culDrit in that case is |
hanged Then again, a man in the |
State of Maine may lose his house by |
and when he comes to
adjust the amount of his loss, he Is de- |
MED the right of trial by jury, While |
his neighbor ten feet away in New /
Hampshire is given that right. Hence /
the necessity of having all laws uni
form throughout the Union. The Gov
arnor of this State appointed as mem.
hers of that commission Hon Charles II
Libby of Portland, Hon. Frank Hig-
gins of Limerick, Hon. Hannibal Ham II
in of Ellsworth, all of these gentle Il
men having previously been members I,
If This august body: and two of them II
is president The finger of suspicion H
mas never been pointed at the honesty, II
or professional standing OF II
any of these gentlemen. Our COM
nissioners met the commissioners of II
he other thirty-five states, and with
nut exception, the commissioners from Il
hirty-five states decided that the
standard foErn Of insurance policy,
which is in vogue in our State. was I'M
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