Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-25

The session was resumed at $40
The committee of revision of Statute.
was given precedence over the pardon
hearings. Hon. Forrest E. Goodwin
f. Goodwin, chairman of the commit
tee, made a report on the work dont
and the bill of expense presented. He
stated that two years ago Hon. Joh'
M. Morrill, of Auburn, was appointed
to report on revision and consolidation
of the Statutes. He reported to tn
last Legislature and the report was re
ferred to the committee. The wor'
during the session was chiefly leg.sl.
tive. 12 bills being drawn and 65 or {
passed, The real work began when tn
session was over No one had any ide
of what the work was or how to do it
Not much could be learned from tn,
committee of 20 years ago, but the sys
TENS of other states were studied ani
method much resembling that o.
Massachusetts was worked out TIL
whole committee was divided into fou
and the work divided into four parts
The work of each subcommittee TO,
each day was typewriter and MALE
to every other, SO that each knew wha
the other was doing. Each took up thu
others results before beginning work
Every two weeks the committee in full
met and considered all that had bee
done, so THAT the whole was uniform
and approved by the committee in full
Mr.. Morrills report contained ia
pages. being in two volumes. Ever.
line had to be gone over carefully, an(
obo
made. No one not on the committee
had any idea of the amount of worf
involved, there was not a page which
did not need at least one change, an6
some took whole days, involving consti
tutional and legal questions. Messrs
Farnham and Abbott of the committee
had closed their offices from January
and April to September and the other
members had devoted practically theiI
whole time and attention to the work
Naturally, this had cost them a good
deal Mr.. Goodwin felt that he had
been damaged not less than $500.
Mr.. Goodwin then gave some compar-
ative figures showing the expense of
such work in other states. The lase
revision in Massachusetts cost s242. 900
in Connecticut, s6S000. The revision
in Maine. 20 years ago. cost s3S. 900. COW
cred - years and consolidated 9S5 pub
lie laws. Its revision covered the pc
Rod from 1S20-1S71. The cost of this re-
vision would be $4S,S50. and covered
Just about twice as much work, 1919
laws consolidated. period of 20 years
gone over, and a revision extending
from 1S20-1SS3, The members of the for
mer committee employed outside help
to the extent of over $4,000, while the
present had employed practically none
The committee had done their work
with no fixed remuneration in view,
their prime object being to do their
work thoroughly and we'll. They had
done it well. their system was uniform
and the public laws of Maine when
next issued would bear comparison with
any. Tine committee had not consulted
tho Council because the Council could
knew little about the work. but Gov.
Hill had stated. as business man
would. that the first object was to have
the work as we'll done as possible. As
to remuneration, the figures put
in were honest and fair in the
sight of the committee. and
they were willing to leave them to the
judgment of the Governor and Council.
The places on the committee had been
unsought, were not to be desired and
had cost the holders endless labor as
well as much expense. A member of
them had paid out large sums of money
in car fares and hotel expenses. besides
giving up their own private business
The work they had to do was of kind
demanding their utmost ability and