Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-08
In Convention of Representatives
Elect.

Elect.
! Augusta. Wednesday, Jan. Z. 1879.
This being the day designated by the Con-
stitution for the assembling of the legislature
of Maine those gentlemen holding certificates
| of election issued by the Governor met IN
Representatives Hall and at l0.45 o'clock A.
NJ. were called to order by W. +. Gibbs.
ESQ, assistant clerk for 1879.
| PRAYER was offered by Rev. Mr.~NALEs OF
Biddeford.
The assistant clerk then called the certlned
roll of members elect.
| Mr. DIcKEY of Fl. Kent, moved that a
committee of seven be raised to wait on the
Governor and inform him that quorum Of
the House was assembled and ask his attend
ance for the purpose of administering to them
| the oath of office.
! Mr.. HALE of Ellsworth, arose and said ::
/ Pending that motion rise to question OF
the highest privilege. The statute of the
State. chap ., sec. 2l, which has been re-
ferrcd to as the authority under which the
clerk is acting declares that the certified roll
! of the representatives-elect shall be made out
and given to him according to the report of
the Governor and Council, and that re-
port of the vacancies, il any exist, shall be
made. OF course. proceeding under this.
it must be the intention of the clerk to act
upon the entire statute. / have heard no
report or reference to the vacancies exist
ing Now, as a matter of fact. we should
ali take cognizance of the constitutional pro-
vision that the full membership of this body
is l5l. The clerk has not even announced
the number of persons whose names have
been called and who have answered to the
roll Will the clerk make that announce
ment.
/ The CLERK 1875 responded to their names
/ as the roll was called.
Mr. HALE: Then Mr.. Clerk. that shows
that at the time of the roll call there were alb
sent 16 members. Certain constituencies by
this roll call are left without members. Ger
tain towns and cities stand today at the pres
ent moment without representation in this
body. There is nothing so essential, there is
nothing so fundamental, there is nothing so
vital in the very initiatory steps Of our proceed
ings. important and solemn as they are, Mr..
Clerk. as that we deal Immediately with the
question of the disfranchisement OF the men,
bership. 1t would not be competent or fitting
/ to act as a body until some adjustment is
made of the grave questions arising upon the
reading of the roll. Certain cities and tow ms
do not appear upon the roll and no reason is
given why they do not. The roll has now de-
parted from the Clerk and is now in our pos
session for adjustment. There has been sig
niied desire that if errors or omissions
have been made by the Governor and Coun-
Gil, that whenever the opportunity shall be
presented the wrong shall be righted. Port
land, for instance. with its wealth and popu-
lation, is not to be disfranchised in whole or
in part and the moment we obtain posses
sion of this certified roll, we can correct its
errors. that those who have a right to be here
may take part in organizing.
have in my hand the protests represent
ing the cases of Portland, Bath, Rockland,
Lewiston and Saco. represented in the Con-
floor by those members whom the roll omits
entirely.
Mr.. PERRY Of Camden, raised the point of
order that the House not having been organ
lied nothing il might do, until an organiza-
ton. would be legal
The Clerk ruled the point well taken.
Mr.. HALE claimed that the Clerk had rec
ognized him and he had not yielded the floor.
The Clerk used his gavel vigorously and
declined to listen further to Mr.. Hale.
Mr.. HALE: Let us see whether the Clerk
now takes the responsibility of declining to
hear me upon question of order.
I The CLERK: The clerk assumes that re-
sponsibility.
Mr.. HALE; Then take an appeal, and I
invoke as my protection the Constitution of
the State of Maine. Tremendous applause
The Clerk refused to put the question OF
the appeal. He said he was not prepared to
listen to debate. as he regarded the pres.
ent organization as purely temporary for the
purpose of effecting permanent organization.
We do not claim that the members are men,
bers until they have taken the oath of Office. -
Mr.. HALE: What jurisdiction has the
clerk what Is he going to proceed upon if
we are not here as members elect? What
kind of a mob or body is he going to organ
ize if the rules which should govern us are to
be isnored' take an appeal from the de-
| cislon of the chair and call for the yeas and
NAYS.
The Clerk refused to put the questions ond
on the question Of raising a committee to
wait upon the Governor the yeas and nays
were ordered on motion of Mr.. HuE
Pending this motion Mr.. HALE moved 10 adj
Journ. This last motion the clerk ruled ON,
OF order. Laughter
The Clerk then proceeded to call the yeas
and nays on the question Of raising the COM
mittee, % only responding, and those voting
in the affirmative.
The Clerk announced that the motion to
ralse the committee was carried.
Mr. HALE: Don't let nv friend be too
eager Let him proceed with some regard 10
1 forms. "
/ The CLERK: The Chair will rule this mat.
ter entirely out of order and appoint 4 com
miftee to wait upon the Governor.
MT. HALE: ask for the reading of the
roll that we may determine whether there ha.
been quorum voting. Imake the point that
there is no quorum voting. The CLERK doe.
not dare to go on without deciding that point
and settling whether there is a quorum here
or not Your enactments are not worth trash
you nechne fe settle that question The
roll viii declare il and the clerk doc. ~.
dare to have that roll read
1t being stated that - only voted. Mr..
HAL. moved to adjourn. but the Clerk re.
.1seo 70 entertain the motion ''under the cir
cumstances" ~ he said.
applause t'e.'
The Clerk ruled the gentleman cut Of ar
der. VI VI
The rePablicsns then rose in . bodv and