Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-21

of the judge of an inferior court, y
Judge Wing went on. He objected to
the doing away of the work of the trial
justice which the bill contemplated and
and pointed out that in the case Of a
man involved in a criminal matter at
Lincoln he would have to be brought
to Old Town or Millinocket at great
cost for preliminary hearing.
Judge Wing presented messages and
letters in opposition to the bill from
George Bisbee Of Rumford. Hon. Luere
B. Deasy of Bar Harbor, former pres
ident of tho Maine Senate; ex-senator
Charles F. johnson of Waterville and
Carroll NJ Perkins of Waterville. Judge
Wing protested that If judges were to
be removed impeachment was the dig
nified way to do it, there was nothing
dignifled about the word abolish" Ie
also pointed GU: that IA or Is Judges Of
the municipal courts Of the State were
present to oppose the measure.
Harry Manser of Auburn, an ex-
judge of the Auburn municipal court,
also appeared in opposition to the
measure in behalf of the Androscoggin
county bar association. He said that
at the meeting to which Judge Wing
had referred there was not dissenting
vote from the expression Of opposi-
ton to this measure.
Judge Manser pointed out that the
bill made no provision for the main
tenance Of the courts except by i'm
plication. 1t said that the judges and
recorders should receive their salaries,
but did not provide how they should
be obtained. He pointed out that I'M
der the present system the expenses
of the Lewiston and Auburn courts
were met by the cities and that of the
Livermore Falls court by the county.
The general court bill provides that
all the fees go to the county. and that
would certainly be an injustice where
the cities pay the costs of the court.
Here is manifestly a detriment in
stead of a benefit.
Rep. Cole of Eliot of the committee
sharply Intercepted Judge Manser
upon several points "Would have one
court law for Androscoggin and an
other for York;" asked Rep. Cole. I'm
small communities jurisdiction of
s400 which obtains in some courts
would be entirely too large" replied
Judge Manser
Rep. Cole further inquired why a
man in Hallowell should not have as
good a judge in civil and criminal
matters as a man in Lewiston, Port
land or Augusta, and why the same
writ shouldn't be used in the Lewis
ton municipal court as in that of
Eastport
Judge Manser said that there was
seldom any occasion for the use Of
the Lewiston municipal court writs in
PASSPORT or vice versa.
What harm is there in establishing
uniform return day with uniform
writs' and jurisdiction? inquired Rep.
Cole.
THE vital trouble with the whole
thing is that you abolish the courts
for considerations that are not valid"
said Judge Manser vigorously.
"Then your objection is principally
to the abolition of the courts" COM
mented Rep. Cole.
The next speaker for the remon-
strants was Hon. Frank A. Morey Of
Lewiston, former Speaker Of the
Maine House Mr.. Morey objected at
the outset to the provisions of the bill
which would permit the holding OF a
the parties, and suggested that If
there was a case in his county in
which Durham parties were interest
ed counsel and everybody might be
hacked off down to Durham. lie
thought that the uniformity Of the
terms of court would be a detriment
in his county and make it involvement
for the lawyers rather than an advant-
age.
Mr.. Morey said that the Lewiston
municipal court opened on the first
Tuesday, the probate court on the sec
ond Tuesday, the supreme Judicial
court on the third Tuesday. and the
Auburn municipal court on the fourth
Tuesday, uniform return day In
both municipal courts would make no
end of confusion, as the lawyers could
not be in both places at the same time.
How about your superior court for
Androscoggin county," asked Chair
man Davies of the committee.
ut is on the table at present, | be-
lieve" replied Mr.. Morey, amid laugh
ter from the committee.
Replying to Mr.. Morey's objections
to the holding of court at places agreed
upon by the counsel. Rep. Cole of the
committee said that this provision APP
piled to "perambulatory courts such
as those in northern AvooStook, Lin
coin county. and southern York coun-
ty.
Mr.. Morey replied that they had no
such courts in AndroscogGin county.
Ralph T. Parker of RumfOrd said
that he represented the courts OF OK
ford county and that his county was
strongly opposed to the proposed
change. There were two municipal
courts in oxford county, one at Rum
ford with civil jurisdiction Of $500
and in some respects like q superior
court except that it had no jury, while
at Norway there was munlcipal
court with a much smaller jurlsdlc-
ton. He had heard of no demand Tor
a change. The bill had no father. Why
should there be the uniformity OF jul
risdiction for which it calls? He was
utterly opposed to n plan which swept
out of existence the 40 municipal
courts of the State and did ont eStab-
lish any uniformity that was desirable,
but simply multiplied confusion.
Herbert I. Powers, a Fort farneld at
torney, speaking broadly for the bar O.
Aroostook county, said that very few I'm,
derstand the details of the act and all
with whom he had discussed the matter
,,ta .