Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-03-10
legislative Proceedings.
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same senator, from SAME CoHuiittsti
which was instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency Of amending the constitution OF the
State, so that the certificates of election Of
Representatives to the House shall issue d.
rectIy from the municipal officers of Repre-
scntatives' districts, reported that the same
be referred to the next legislature. Report
accepted.
Mr. BgAproRD said that he trusted the
time was not far distant when "A constitutional
convention would be held in Maine, as he re-
garded such a convention absolutely neces-
sary.
Mr.. BRAproRp from the Committee on the
Judiciary, on bill amending the election laws
so as to allow soldiers to vote in the towns
from which they enlist, reported reference to
the next legislature. Accepted.
On motion of Mr.. LAWSON bill an act to
amend chap. 81. sec. of the laws of 1873,
relating to the Marshal and Deputy Marshal
of the city of Bath, was taken from the table
and passed to be engrossed.
On motion Of Mr.. Thompson bill an act
providing for a sealed ballot was taken from
the table He should like to hear the obicc
tions to the bill, if any are TO be made.
Mr. BRAproRD said that the bill calls for an
entire change in the mode of voting, and the
adoption of new method which has not
come in vogue in any part of the country.
Sec 3 of this bill provides that the Secretary
of State shall furnish envelopes Of uniform
size and color to all the cities, towns and
plantations. This would be at a great rx
pensc 10 the State. There would be danger
in not getting the envelopes of just uni
form size, and in the course of transpor-
tation they may accidentally become
discolored, and thus jcopardze the rights of
the voters. The Secretary of State may by
mistake, or even purposcly, issue envelopes
that would invalidate an election. Suppose
a sufficient number of envelopes are not sent,
and that cities or towns could not obtain
them at Just the size and uniformity of color.
There is no provision in the bill to meet
this. And then but two men are 10 take
their places in the box provided, ,-one for
each party. But suppose there are three par
ties. as has been the case in this State the
past two years2 In this sweat-box the voter
must 90. and can have but two minutes in
which to select his ballot and seal the en-
velope. In town having 500 voters, this
would require ten hours, full working day
| for that special object. Section provides
different polling places; but no ballots are to
/ be received unless they are sealed. Suppose
| the adhesive qualities of the envelope are de-
stroyed and it cannot be sealed? He is there
/ by disfranchised. Go all through the bill,
and you will find it imperfect and full of in
consistencies. The passage of this bill would
interfere with the rights of the elective fran
chise We have always been allowed to take
our ballots and in the face and eyes of the pub
| lie 20 up to the balot-box and deposit them.
Ii is the pride of every young man to throw
an open vote. without any concealment. 1t
/ is the proudest act of his life. Much had
| been said here and there against agents and
managers of large corporations influencing
! the vote of their employees, and forcing the
employees to vote in given directions. but he
would not believe such thing. 70 do so
would lower the employee in his estimation
| He moved that the bill be indefinitely post
poned.
! Mr.. PArrEN said that the gentleman had re-
minded him of lawyer who had no case. hut
would take up the time in talk. He said
there was no provision in the bill for the Sec
rotary of State furnishing votes. Then he
did not apprehend any trouble from the two
party clause. Ii an envelope became unseal-
ed. another could be substituted. There is
good reason, grow ing reason. why we should
have change. that the rich and the
poor could 20 to the polls. and
unintimidatcd. deposit his ballot Alright
| That should be the proudest moment of a
mans life. This bill may not be perfect, but
/ if we can devise way to have persons 20 to
! the polls and vote as they please. it will he
great blessing. This buying votes. .this sys-
tenn of pulling and hauling on election DAYS.
should be stopped. and every American citi-
zen should hail with joy the arrival of that
day.
Mr.. BRApFoRp replied to the points made
| by Mr.. Patten.
Mr.. THOMPSON of Knox, said;
Mr.. PRESIDENT The Unsuitable desire for
Office. the necessity of securing legislation in
the interests of corporations, have more than
kept pace with our growth in greatness and
in morals as people. In former times po-
litical changes were as sudden as tempest
and as sweeping as the prairie fires Then
changes represented ideas, changed senti-
ment, new wants and progressive issues.
Now the ballot too frequently represents the
resources of party rather than the vital
principles of people. and we need new laws
to meet the changed condition of things. as
We find them in our own land to-day, in or
der that the will of the people may be fully,
| freely and fearlessly expressed. am aware
that objection may be raised to the proposed
change, on the ground of experience. andthat
hundred years of trial have proved the wis
dom Of the old ways. This doctrine is as fall.
iacious IN theory, as il is destructive TO good
government and fatal to the welfare and
progress of mankind. -.sOld things are mass.
cd and passing away and all things become
new. Our laws are not like those of the
Medes and Persians that never change.
mad the pleasure recently. of listening to
a iearned discussion on the Constitution of
the United States. in which it was maintained
that changes or amendments in the copsti.
luton ola country indicated changes in the
constitution Of that people. Now l do not
IKE that definition or idea of changes in the
constitution of ones country; because. to me
II seems that changes in the organic Law of
any country may and must be necessary to
meet the changed condition Of things, wheth-