Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-03-10

million dollars debt with which it found lfsesi
bnr,1ened on emerging from the war, preacn-
ers of the preenbsck heresy had come oo~
into his county and asked the people 70 rlse
in their might and throw republicans Hom ,.1
the windows of the voting places. nas ua'
ia calculated to take away or cripple tne eiee
tive franchise of the people.
Mr.. Ellis believed in q sealed ballot anu
that it would have 3 good result ON ootn -.
,;es II nersons are sensitive on this point.
II must be interpreted a. there having oeen
naturalization on that side of the House. he
vas in favor of any measure that would PIo-
tect the purity OF the ballot. Any course ina.
would bring about that result would meet win
his favor. He did not charge that votes were
bought by either party, but We do know tnA'
votes are Influenced, and he would nave 'ne
person go and vote just As he pleased
Senator HAwEs was called 10 the GnAi'
and President Locke took the noor. ana su- ~,
dressed the Senate in opposition u the pil.
He did not see how a person who couid MOI
read and write, could select a ballot II his
vote is to be given him by some one. then II
ia known how he votes and the object OF the
bill would be defeated. Suspicion wouia
also be excited and damage done IN that d.
rection. He examined the law as 1t now
stands. and claimed that the voter Is amply
protected. He exhibited votes thrown In
Boston. containing distinguishing marks.
Our ballot is as near correct as any that can
be devised. Until the people OF this state
shall saw that no one shall be allowed the
privilege of voting until he can read, he
would oppose sealed ballot. He did not
believe tnat in Maine corporations would be
allowed to control the votes Of their em-
ployees We are but slaves if this Is pos
sible; in Maine all men would condemn that
instantly. He saw no interest that would be
protected under the proposed law that Is
not already protected. The ballot Is com.
paratively secret now. He agreed with all
that had been said in regard to the mamie.
nance of the purity of the ballot. lie dld
not believe the people had become so de-
based that we could not have complete pro-
lection under the present laws. The pro-
posed bill cannot reach the great bulk Of the
iaboyine men, As the bill is drafted. he
thought it would be exceedingly dangerous:
| Mr. ELLIS replied, and further remarks
were made by Presideat Locke.
Mr. PArTEN spoke of cases where persons
sitting near the ballot boxes and keeping
tally. had turned over the vote after II had
been deposited in the box, to ascertain how
the person had voted. He had seen men
pledged to vote and compelled to vote in ex-
| actly the direction opposite from what they
| intended.
Mr.. LOCKE further spoke in opposition tc
the bill.
| Mr. HILL was opposed to sealed ballot in
every way, and wanted an open, square vote
and an open, square count. He was willing
to throw his vote SO that every one could see
| it.
Mr.. DURAN spoke of the abuses liable tc
I 4 T.. snb t1,n IN .,ftn M
adequate remedy.
MIR. CooMBs could almost imagine himself
getting inside of that little box. preparing his
ballot as an American freeman. Should he
happen to be an old man. and obliged to take
out his spectacles. adjust them, and wipe
them, and then select his ballot, the two min
utes might be consumed before he could vote
He did not understand that you could take
your place in the sweat-boy more than once
and so the person would be deprived of hi.
vote. He liked the present open method O.
voting. 1t is the style of the American peo
pie.
Mr.. STRICKLAND said the subject took :
wide latitude. allowing a person to give hi
opinion quite freely on almost anything. The
intention of the present law is for a secre
and guarded ballot. He could not agree will
all the provisions of the present bill, but wa.
fully in accord with its spirit and intent
Every man should go into some place ant
deposit his ballot quietly, without being be
seiged by crowd. through which he il
obliged to force his way. He would have sc
much of secrecy that the voter would not bt
annoyed, but be allowed to cast his vote in :
quiet and sensible manner.
Mr.. HARRIS did not see the object Of thu
two men from the principal parties standing
| of hp oft
Mr.. BARRETT concurred with the object ant
spirit of the bill This law is for those who
need its protection-men who are influenced
| BY other judgments than their own.
| Mr.. BREWER gave his experience in voting
in the seventh ward, New York, where, not
witbstanding the precautions that are taken
great frauds are committed at elections.
The vote was then taken on the motion t.
indefinitely postpone, and was carried by thu
following vote:
| YEAs.-Messrs. Berry. Brewer, Bradford, Coombs
Cornish. Dingey. Duran, Flint, Fernald Harris
Hill Hawes, Lamson of Sagadahoc. Smith. Wake
| feld.-15.
NAYs-Messrs. Barker. Barrett, Ellis Parlin
Patten Rankins, Rogers. Strickland. Thompson.-9.
So the bill was indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Mr.. SMITH the majority ant
minority reports of the Committee on Educa
tion, on the free high school bill, were taker
up, ana thursday, at III O'Clock A. NJ. as
signed.
READ AND ASSIGNED.
An act to amend Sec 26 of chap. % of the
Public Laws of 1873. in relation to lime rock
granite and slate; resolve in favor of Oak
field plantation; an act to incorporate the
Steam Heating and power company of the
city of Bangor; an act giving justices of the
peace and quorum jurisdiction thoroughou
the State.
| PASSED TO BE ExGROssED.
An act to amend chap. 81, sec. 4, of the
laws of 1873. relating to the Marshal and
Deputy Marshal of the city of Bath; an ac
in relation to the increase of damages on To-
cation of ways; an act to incorporate the
Pond Sheer Boom company: an act to re-
peal chap. los of the laws of 1872 relating tc
shooting seal at Fort Point in the town o.
Stockton; an act to amend chap III of the
public laws of 1879. relating to suits invol
wing tax titles.
On motion Of Mr.. HILL,
! Adjourned.
HOUSE.
TUESDAY. Mar, g.