Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-07
New Legislation

One bill of the numerous new ones
which made their appearance on Tues
day is as revolutionary in action as
anything that has yet been seen at this
session-the Cole bill for the abolition
of all the municipal and police courts
in Maine and their replacement with
inferior courts, with a uniformity of
terms jurisdiction and terms of office.
1t attracted q large amount of atten-
ton the moment it appeared and its
provisions were much discussed last
evening. Among other measures in
PRODUCED in the House were the fol-
lowing:
BY Barnes of Notwithstanding
the taxation of deposits in national
banks, with forfeitures and eXemp-
tons provided.
BY Brewster of Notwithstanding
the custody of children at the time of
the decree of divorce.
BY Brewster of Notwithstanding
the registration of voters in changing
their voting places.
IN THE SENATE.
! BY Ames of Washington-An Act to
accept the benefit of an act of Con-
gress to provide for the promotion of
vocational education.
BY Googin of Androscoggin-To
amend the Revised Statutes regarding
the testing of commodities offered for
sale.
Promotion Of Vocational Education.
| Ames of Washington-An Act to ac-
cept the benefits of an act passed by
the Senate and House of Representa-
/ Of ho TTritoI States Of America
in Congress assembled to provide for
the promotion of vocational education
The board shall consist of eight mem
bers of whom the State superintendent
of public schools shall serve as chair
man and the other two members shall
be appointed by the governor with the
advice and consent of the council for
terms of the three years. The mem
bers of the board shall serve without
compensation.
TESTING of Commodities for Sale.
Googin of Androscoggin-An Act to
amend the Revised Statutes relating to
testing commodities offered for sale.
The act provides that a sealer or MS
duly appointed deputy may examine
commodities so offered for sale and
test them for correct weight, measure
or count and bring complaint for Vlo-
lation. The sealer or his deputy shall
! have access without formal warrant TO
any stand, place, building or premises
for the purpose of making the proper
tests.
J Cole of Eliot-An act to abolish the
municipal and police courts of the
| State and to establish inferior courts
in their place with uniformity OF
! terms. jurisdiction and terms of office.
Section l Of the act repeats all acts,
acts additional. and amendments there
to, creating the several municipal and
police courts of this State, and abolish
cs all of said courts except that their
location, names and territorial Jurls-
diction shall remain as now specified in
said acts.
| Section Q defines the phrase inferior
courts" as used in the bill to mean the
municipal or police courts herein es-
| tablished: and the phrase territorial
! Jurisdiction" to mean the city, or :nu-
nicipal district composed Of one or
more towns in which any municipal or
police court may be situated.
Section esta blishes inferior courts
in the cities and municipal districts of
Maine.
The courts thus established are To-
Gated in the same cities and the same
municipalities in which they were stu
ated under the laws repealed and are
invested with the same territorial jur-
isdictior which they had under said
laws and shall hold their several terms
of court for civil actions on the same
days and at the same places as spec
flied in said laws. except that: Writs in
all said inferior courts in civil actions
shall be made Teturnable on the first
and third Tuesdays of each month at
9 o'clock in the forenoon. and in munic-
ipal districts where courts are held at
different places and on different days
writs shall he entered on said first and
third Tuesdays at the court house
where said courts are holden on these
Tuesdays: but shall be in order for
trial at the term Of court next holden
in said municipal district regardless Of
the place Of entry.
The act further provides that said
courts shall be courts Of records and
have a seal and shall consist Of one
judge each who at the time Of his ap-
pointment shall be duly qualified res
ident and member Of the bar in the
city or municipal district in which his
court is located and shall so reside dur
ing his continuance in Office. He shall
be ex ofiicio a justice Of the peace for
the State and shall exercise concurrent
authority and jurisdiction with trial
justices throughout the county.
The Governor shall appoint record