Oxford Democrat

State Legislature.

Wednesday, March 3.

Senate in favor of the But Name Conference Seminary, read twice and assigned for Tuesday.

Mr. Iasson called up the resolve in relation to settlement of public lands (German emigration resolve,) which was passed to be engrossed.

Resolve for the preservation of certain useful birds passed to be engrossed.

Mr. Stinchfield presented the petition of Asa Smith and others, for the State to adopt measures to secure the sale and settlement of the public lands. Referred.

Mr. Jones called up the bill in relation to the Reform School, and pending the question of its passage to be engrossed, the Senate adjourned.

Thursday. Mr. Boody, from the Committee on Education, to which was referred various petitions for aid to the Medical School of Maine, reported a resolve in favor of that institution. Report accepted, resolve read and Wednesday next assigned.

Mr. Buxton, from the Judiciary Committee, reported legislation inexpedient on order relating to amendments to chapter 44 of the Revised Statutes. Accepted.

On motion of Mr. Deane of Portland, Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary, be, and hereby are, instructed to inquire into the expediency and necessity of codifying and publishing the private and special laws of the State from 1821 to and including the present Legislature.

Thursday, March 4.

Bill to re-organize the Reform School came up in order. [The bill among other things prohibits pupils under 11 years of age, and imposes a part of the expense of supporting the inmates upon the cities and towns furnishing them. Mr. Hoyt addressed the Senate in support of the bill. There was a general public sentiment that the expenses of this institution bear too heavily upon the treasury of the State. The belief at the time of its establishment seems to have been that it would be to a great extent self-supporting. It entered that the expenses of this institution should be cut down in some way. The people of the State do not see the beneficial results of this institution, nor the necessity of the enormous expense of the establishment. The County of Franklin had never had but six pupils in that institution. So of Oxford and other Counties. These Counties not perceiving the benefits of the institution so clearly as some other counties, who were more fully represented. Mr. Connor moved to strike out "convicts" and insert "boys."

Mr. Goddard advocated the amendment, considering the object of the institution. The word boys would answer the purpose just as well. "The word convict means more than a person convicted-the noun means more than the verb by association. He was in favor of a milder word.

Mr. Twitchell said the phrase was used in the bill establishing the institution. He was opposed to sugaring over phrases. He held that there should be some idea of punishment attached to this institution. Mr. T. suggested that provision should be made for granting diplomas on graduating.

Mr. Goddard said if they graduated good boys they should have a diploma. Mr. G. spoke at considerable length in favor of the amendment.

After further debate in which Messrs. Burbank, Twitchell and Chapman participated, the amendment to strike out "convicts" and insert "boys" was carried—12 to 12—the chair decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Hamlin called up the bill to establish the office of Auditor of Accounts, and the same was read a second time, and passed. The bill fixes the salary at $1000.

House. The report of the Judiciary Committee on County Commissioners came from the Senate, that branch referring the accompanying bill to a committee of one from each county. The House concurred and appointed Messrs. Holt of Turner, Pattee of Fort Fairfield, Sawyer of Baldwin, Chick of Madrid, Moor of Ellsworth, Weeks of Vassalboro', Cunningham of Edgecomb, Bean of Brownfield, Porter of Lowell, Sitting of Parkman, Quint of Bowdoinham, Hale of Norridgewock, Wing of Searsmont, Rackliff of Wesley, Tapley of Saco, on the part of the House.

The marriage bill was taken up, the Senate's five day amendment adopted, when the House adjourned.

Friday, March 5.

Bill for the preservation of certain useful birds (passed to be engrossed in the Senate) came back from the House, that body insisting upon its "partridge amendment." The Senate receded and concurred.

Bill to enable school districts to raise money for the support of schools therein, came from the House a passage refused, and the Senate concurred.

Mr. J. Titcomb was elected Major General of the 4th Division.

House—read and assigned. An act to establish the office of Auditor of Accounts passed to be engrossed. Resolve in relation to taxes in Ludbrook's Island; an act to incorporate the town of Fort Fairfield; an act to incorporate the North Woods Steam Mill and Manufacturing Company; an act to incorporate the Woodland Cemetery Company; an act to incorporate the Fayette Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

Mr. Hanson called up the Kansas and Slavery resolves. These resolves were discussed at length, by Mr. Latley of Saco, and then were laid on the table, on motion of Mr. Boody of Brunswick.

On motion of Mr. Arnold, of Skowhegan, Ordered, That the recommendations contained in the report of the Superintendent of Common Schools, be referred to the Committee on Education.

Passed to be enacted. An act to amend chapter 6 of the Revised Statutes, relating to taxes.

On motion of Mr. Johnson, the House took up "An act to amend chapter 82 of the Revised Statutes, relating to specifications in defense."

On motion of Mr. Johnson, the House went into committee of the whole on this subject.

Messrs. Drummond of Waterville, and Pike of Calais, discussed the bill.

The committee then rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again. Report accepted, and the House adjourned.

Saturday, March 6.

Senate. Bill to incorporate the West Gooden Academy, (passed to be engrossed in the Senate) came from the House indefinitely postponed. The Senate insisted on its former vote.

Mr. Sargent, from the Committee on Fisheries, reported a bill regulating the taking of trout from Sebago Pond. Read and assigned.

Mr. Twitchell, from the Committee on Military Pensions, made a final report upon all business referred to them, and asking to be discharged. Report accepted.

Mr. Fletcher, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported legislation inexpedient on an order relating to attachment on mesne process. Report accepted.

Report of Judiciary Committee recommitted in the House with instructions to report a bill transferring the criminal costs from the State to the counties, and amended in the Senate so as to except costs in capital cases, came back from the House, that body insisting on its former vote rejecting the Senate amendment. Mr. Jones moved that the Senate adhere.

The motion to adhere was lost, 12 to 12, the Chair voting in the negative.

On motion of Mr. Chapman, the Senate insisted and agreed to appoint conferees—13 to 11.

House. Mr. French, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported legislation inexpedient on order relating to amendment of sec. 13, chap. 141 of the Revised Statutes.

The bill an act to establish the office of Auditor of Accounts was read and laid on the table on motion of Mr. Baeg.

The House balloted for Major General of 4th Div. Militia with the following result:

Whole number of votes, 102

Wm. H. Titcomb had 98

Benj. F. Buxton had 2

Scattering. 2

Mr. Titcomb was accordingly declared elected.

Mr. Deane called up the act relating to fees and costs in criminal cases, and on his motion, it was ordered to be printed.

Tuesday, March 9.

SENATE.

Mr. Stinchfield presented claim of Treasurer of town of Stoneham for bounty on wild animals. Referred.

The Report of Committee on Senatorial votes was taken up, and passed, as follows:

Yeas, Messrs. Berry, Burbank, Burpee, Chapman, Conner, Deane, Davis, Goddard, Hoyt, Sargent, Scammon, Stinchfield, Twitchell, Wason, West, Woodbury.

Nays, Messrs. Hobart, Jones, Thomas, Wiggins—4.

House. Act in relation to marriages passed to be enacted.

The bill to appoint an auditor, came up and after debate was laid upon the table.

Mr. Boody of Brunswick, presented a series of resolutions on Kansas, which he proposed as a substitute for those before the House.

After a long debate, a motion to adjourn prevailed.