Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-30
,ould well be referred to the citv conn.

p"i"l IS tnis, that If this is q pood
amendment it should apply to all cities
ana towns; if it is bad it should no,
Apply 10 any Of them. This amendment
really means that any city through its
city council may vote to disregard
TINS law; the vote Of the citv conncil
annuls the law as far as the civ ;s
concerned. If the law is bad. repeal if
II 1t Is good, let it apply to the whole
| State.
| me question being on the adoption
OF the amendment, division was had
and the amendment was lost by a vote
OF II In the affirmative to 46 in the
negative.
The bill was then passed to be en-
crossed.
| special assignment: Resolve in IA
vor of Ray P Eaton.
MT. Davies of Yarmouth moved that
the resolve receive it's second reading.
.Mr- MONTGOMERY of Camden: Mr..
Speaker, think that resolve came be-
fore the judiciary committee two years
ago and they reported that it ought not
| to pass.
Mr.. ROUNDS of Portland: Mr..
Speaker, We had hearing on this re-
| solve before the Cumberland county
| delegation and there was no one who
opposed its passage. The delegation
reported that it ought to pass in jus
| tee TO the man. He was elected for
| four years During his term of office
his compensation was changed by act
OF the Legislature, and it was cut down
and now he asks to be reimbursed for
the difference between what he sup
posed he would get when he was elect
ed and what he did receive The fees
he received he turned over to the coun-
ty treasury and he did his work and
paid money from his own pocket for
doing the work and now he would like
to get hack the pay for what he did
and what was justly due him and what
the people who came before us at the
hearing thought he ought to have.
Mr.. PATTANGALL of Watervile:
Mr. Speaker, as understand this mat
ter. up to July 1, 1905, the register of
deeds for Cumberland county was en-
tilted to fees. At that time the law was
changed and after that time he was
entitled to salary fixed by the Legis-
lature. That salary did not come to as
much as the amount which came to
would make his last is months salary
aqual to that which would have been
received if the law had not been
changed. 1t seems to me to be rather
dangerous precedent. We changed the
compensation of lot of officers all
over the State. I never before knew
of a case where an officer came up and
claimed to be entitled to the old sal
ary because he did not like the salary
fixed by law. At the time the change
was made Cumberland county had a
sheriff by the name Of Pierson. They
elected him in the fall when the emol-
umentS of the office were from $l0,Ooo
to 100000 a year according to the way
the sheriff conducted himself; and not
withstanding Mr.. Pierson had been
elected with that rich prospect before
him, in the following year the Cum
berland delegation brought in bill to
give him a salary of $500. I don't know
whether his heirs would have a Just
! claim TO come in here for the differ
enco or not but I would as readily vote
| ia give, it to them as I would vote for
t,is measure. T move that it be lndefl-
taliteiy postponed. ~@s --= wAF
Mr.. MARSHALL: Mr.. Speaker, this
| was the only case that the salary OF an
official in 1905 was reduced in the 1nldoie
of his term The committee provided IN
other cases that the readjustment OF SAL
aries should not take place until the eX-
niration of their then term of office, ana
nv inadyertence this matter IN respect
| IA the register of deeds of Cumberland
| county was overlooked. Once in I'D years
it is necessary to bring mp the index OF
tbe register of deeds to date. That 1ell
| to the lot of Mr. Eaton during the latter
| mart of his term 1t is a large work 70
re-index and bring up to date the 10 years
volumes in that office and it involves
r,ucb clerk hire which the register OF
deeds paid for out of his own pocket
,rb,t amount certainly seems justly due
him. The delegation believed that 1t was
| a lust claim. 1t seems to me the 1ouS'
would be doing an injustice to deny 1t tt
| him.
Mr. MONTGOMERY: Mr.. Speaker. this
| claim of Mr. Eaton was referred 1--WE
wears ago to the judiciary committee aho
there was a very extended hearing. Inc
| o,mittea unanimously reported that II
,1,t NOT in he allowed him. / think
u,ho, q committee has passed upon
ouestion that that should be the ehd ol IL
Mr.. MOULTON of Cumberland: MI
Sneaker. I claim the distinction OF pelht
enc of the delegates from Cumperlahc
county and I am bitterly opposed 10 re-
fupdins him the amount asked for.
Mr.. MARSHALL: 1 would ask the gen
t,eman from Cumberland If he would ot
opnosed TO allowing him the amount act
uallv paid out by him for the work ooi'e
Mr. MOULTON: I think he obta'ne.
all that was due him for the work he o'o
Mr. RIGEI.Ow of Portland Mr. SPEAK
or Raw p. Eaton is veteran Oh the Wv,
war and at the battle of Pittsours lbs
an arm. When he came before the peeps
~ cumberland as candidate Tor regis
tor Of deeds they appreciated his patriot
len, enough to elect him largely pecaus'
If his patriotic services to the country
In tbe middle of his term Of ONCE tne ie'
.vstem was changed to a salary OASIS
A. the hearing it was stated by a mem
her of that committee that it was tne Al
tont of the committee that the act s'ou..
nnt AFFECT any official whose term Oh oi
4