Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-11
THE LEGISLATURE,
Lively Debate in the Senate
Yesterday Morning.
w
The House Transacted Little Business
Of Importance.
The Committee Hearings Occurred
Throughout the Afternoon.

There was an interesting debate III
the Senate, yesterday morning, and the
result was a victory for the supporters
of the measure to repeal the compulsory
arbitration clause of the Maine stand
ard insurance policy. Early in the ses-
sion Senator Staples of Knox, present.
ed a bill repeating this clause, and
Senator Clark of Hancock, introduced
one of similar character. The commit
tee on uniformity of legislation, con-
sisting of Hon. Charles F. Libby, Port
land, Hon. H. f. Hamlin, Ellsworth.
and Hon. Frank NJ. Higgins of Linn
erick, submitted a report in which the
recC mmendation was made that TINS
| law be repealed, so as to comply with
the policies in use in 50 other states.
These and various measures were re-
ferred to the committee on mercantile
affairs and insurance, after several at
tempts had been made to refer the
documents to the judiciary committee.
Yesterday, the insurance committee
reported that the bill ought not to pass.
The report was unanimous from the
committee. AS soon as it was present.
ed, Senator Clark of Hancock, arose in
mis- seat and moved that the bill be
substituted for the report. He then
spoke at some length in support of his
Measure, and was followed by Senator
staples of Knox, who argued in favor
IF the substitution. Senator Wing of
Androscoggin, and Senator Stetson of
oenobscot, supported the report of the
ommittee.
Senator Goodwin of Somerset, spoke
| IN favor of the motion to substitute the
| ill for the report. Senators Burns of
| cumberland, and Gardner of Penob-
| scot, believed in the report of the COM
mittee. A yea and nay vote was then
| called for, and resulted in the substitu-
| ton of the bill for the report by vote
of IL to 9, there being absentees and
| President Virgin not voting. The bill
then took it's first reading and today
assigned for it's second reading.
| Outside of the above episode there
was little business outside of the regu-
,ar routine in either branch.
Before the judiciary committee, yes
terday afternoon, County Attorney
| Whitehouse of Cumberland, appeared
| and advocated a number of bills recon-
mended by the association of the coun-
ty attorneys. The first of these pro-
I ides that in cases where bail is given
Ia bondsman may be required to file a
statement of his real estate. This pro-
vision is designed to guard against the
giving of straw bail. The bill also
makes the bondsman responsible for
The respondent during all stages Of the
proceedings against him.
The second bill fixes the fees of bail
/ at n NOT To "
coed 81. Mr. Whitehouse said that in
Cumberland county the commissioners
had established a rate of SO and that
one of them in one case had received
1910 for admitting to bail a number of
men whose offence consisted in look
ing at an alleged gambling game.
The third bill establishes a penalty
for keeping liquors intended for illegal
sale and makes it possible to convict
under this section Of the statute with
out recourse to the search and seizure
process.
| Another of the measures applies 4
penalty to the carrying of liquor in
tended for illegal sale. This is the sec
ton relating to those who travel from
place to place with intent to violate the
law. The statute establishes q penalty
for taking orders and doing certain
other things but the carrying was left
out when it came to the penalties.
Then there is a bill which provides
for the binding over of material wit
nesses ana goes further in that it au-
thorizes the holding not only of those
who have testified at a preliminary
hearing but of others who may be be-
lieved to be possessed of information
of value.
Another provision of the bill wipes
out the clause giving to officers max
ing searches the right to search the
person of the occupant of the premises.
Mr.. Whitehouse read from the bill OF
rights to support his contention that
lthis gave to an officer q latitude which
was q violation of the constitution.
Mr.. Whitehouse also spoke in behalf
of a bill which is wanted by the Port
land police department and which gives
them the right to require statements OF
the pawnbrokers and dealers in second
Ihand goods such as may now be re-
Iuuired of junk dealers. This Is de-
signed to facilitate the recovery OF
lstolen property and would make pos
sible the system in vogue in other
cities.
The committee reported Ought to
pass on the bill in relation to the tax
ling of bail in criminal processes, tho
bill in regard to Presidential electors
the bill in relation to junk dealers, the
bill relating to the Auburn municipal
court, and the appropriation bill TO-
1904: Ought to pass in new draft was
voted on the bill relating to the Bruins
wick municipal court and the bill in re-
lIation to the Portland e. Rumford Fails
Railway Company; fought not to pass
was voted Oh the bill to limit the time
for serving notice of intention to COM
mcnce suit for bodily injuries, on the
bill in relation to gas and electric COM
panies, on Eaton's bill in regard to a
change in the Australian ballot law;
the bill to establish State sanatorlun
was referred to the committee on pub
lie charities and State' beneficiaries
the bill in relation to intoxicating
liquors was referred to the committee
on revision of the Statutes.
The committee on sea and short fish
cries heard several matters. Hill OF
Winterport appeared in favor of bill
+o cbanpe the time allowing the taking