Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-22

Augusta, chief clerk of the depart
| ment, and tho Misses Josephine Mar
shall Of Farmingdale and Doris Bush
Of Augusta, are all young ladies OF
much more than ordinary ability, and
their ready adaptability to their work
went long way toward relieving the
tension of what at it's best is very
trying ordeal. 1t is doubtful If the
sense Of general relief experienced
by these co-workers, when the final
means Of the Swan song of the eX-
piring S1st legislature died away in
the corridors of the State Capitol.
was surpassed by the members Of
any other, State department, except
perhaps the executive.
The designation "engrossing de-
partment" is a misnomer, for strictly
speaking, the engrossing clerk hasn't
really engrossed an act Of the leSis-
lature since 1866. To engross, Web
ster tells us, means "to copy or write
in a large hand" Early resolves OF
the legislature passed in 1921 and
1922 contemplated this very thing,
and in the early days Of Names
statehood, way up and including 1866.
the clerk of the department actually
did copy in a large lcgible hand
every act and resolve which came to
the stage of final enactment.
In the archives Of the Department
Of State are bound copies Of every
bill which has been engrossed since
1921, and which has been enacted
into law. each individual act signed
by the speaker of the house, the
president of the senate and the gov
ernor.
In another file carefully preserved
III ;pd n tho ORIGINAL
papers, with their accompanying re-
ports, from which these copies were
engrossed. The penmanship of some
of these engrossed copies is work
Of art, and the writing on copies
made over 100 years ago is just as
legible as the day in which 1t was
made.
In 1866 the legislature discarded
this cumbersome method of engross-
ing, and beginning with the session
of 1867 every one of these "anactors
has been reduced to ;'cold type ana
printed before being presented LOT
final passage. The resolve which
made such a radical change in TINS
method is denominated Chapter SIX
of the Resolves of 1866, and 1T has
never been amended in any form.
In every volume of the public laws,
issued in recent years, are reference
tables showing what sections OF the
revised. statutes have been affected
by the public laws enacted since the
last revision and also showing what
acts of the session held since the last
revision of the statutes have been
affected by subsequent sections.
| After final adjournment OF e2ch
regular session of the legislature, the
secretary of state shall cause tables
to be prepared showing what general
statutes have been affected by sub
seouent legislation. in such manner
as to furnish ready reference TO All
changes in such statutes. Inc tanicS
so. prepared shall be printed Ill the
official edition of the laws hereafter
published by the State. -,
This work generally continues wen
into August and then the engrossinG
department sheds its skin. turns us
sign over and automatically becomes
| an "E,lcction Bureau, and assumes
charge of the machinery having TO
do with the preparation and dlstrl-
button of the ballots for the special
State election. :.
First and last this department. IN
its various personalities is one OF lhe
busiest and most eXactinS of any de-
! n,rtment under the dome and yet 10
one adapted to this work 1t mas Il
certain fascination.