Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-19

$500 for the Judge and $3.50 for the
recorder, declaring these not consist
ent u the size of the court From
the county treasrrer's table he showed
that the business done by this court
is very small. He declared that a trial
justice could more than handle this
business. AS the matter lays, he
averred the court is unnecessary with
the courts of Gardiner and Augusta.
SO near. As to enlarging, he believed
the inpracticalty showed on the face
Defining the bill introduced relative
10 the Winthrop court as having the
same provisions, he stated that the
county commissioners now feel that
there are too. many municipal courts
in the county.
Questioning Mayor Became, the coun-
ty attorney developed that the mayor
is the only practicing lawyer in Halo
well. and that in the past 10 months
there have been but six civil cases
and - criminal cases.
Superior Court.
The charging of the jurisdiction of
the superior court in the county of
Kennebee is supported by every law
yer interviewed Of the Kennebec
county bar. An impressive delega-
ton was present but only a few spoke
The bill introduced was unanimously
commended at a meeting of the asso-
citation and a committee appointed to
appear in its support at the com
mittee Judge Warren c. Philbrook,
chairman of the committee, was unable
TO be present and Hon. l.. r. Carrie
tpn 10 ctr taA
The object of the bill to be elimination
Of delay now experienced in the court
procedure return of jurisdiction in
murder eases which was taken away
20 years ago He said that Kennebec
attorneys had realized the mistake
and wanted this jurisdiction returned.
The bill also provides for increasing
the salary Of tho judge from s95o0
10 $4,000
Judge Smith of the committee said
that he had helped to 90 il, in re-
gard 10 taking away murder jurisdie-
ton and at that time the members of
the county bar had been as unanimous
against that jurisdiction.
p Mr. Carleton pointed to the long de-
lny between the indictment and the
trial and cited instances. He declared
that ny this act the supreme judicial
court would be relieved of a great
amount of work which would be com
petentiy handled by the superior court
Tins act would place the kennebec
court on virtually the same basis as
the Cumberland court.
Fx-Mayor Charles knight Of Card
ner also spoke in favor of the bill.
Judge Will G. Atkins of Gardiner
appeared in support of the act relat-
ing to transcripts of Kennebec county
superior conrt. The object of the bill
is turning these transcripts over to the
court reporter instead OF to the coun-
~. The transcripts have averaged
$62.3S for several years.
Court Reporter Fred Lee stated that
his salary now amounted to $1,000 as
compared with $500 received by re-
porters in other counties.
Upon the plea of Frank l.. Staples
action upon the bill relating to terms
Of the supreme judicial court Of Saga
rahoc county will be deferred until
another bill with the same object shall
lie introduced, or new draft Of the
present one submitted.
Indifferent opposition was register
ed in regard TO the act relative to
placing electric wires underground.
Two representatives of small com
panies-at Belgrade Lakes and at Var
but offered no
strenuous protest as they stated they
had been reassured that hill so I'M
fair Ia them could not pass.