The Portland daily press., 1880-01-08

their names and also failed to State whether
there was quorum in attendance.
Mr. Dickey of Fort Kent then got up and
moved that the usual committee be appointed
to wait on the Governor and inform him that
a quorum of Representatives-elect was pres
ent and was ready to take the oaths of office
AS Mr.. Dickey's motion was about to be put
by the assistant clerk, Mr.. Hale of Ellsworth
sprung to his feet and called the attention of
the House to the fact that the clerk had failed
to give the number of those who had voted
and had not stated whether there was a quo
rum present. No reference either had been
made to vacancies after the roll was called.
He quoted from the statutes to sustain his po-
sition. He wanted to know if the clerk would
give the number present. The clerk in reply
said that the whole number who had answered
to their names was one hundred and thirty
i've. Mr. Hale then remarked that this show
ed that 16 members had not responded to their
names. He then called attention to the fact
that there were certain cities and towns
which stood without representation in this
body, among which was the city of Portland,
which represented one-seventh of the wealth
of the state. These cities and towns had been
disfranchised and he had their protests against
it. No reason had been given for it. The roll
had now departed from the hands of the clerk
and was before the members for adjustment
1t was their property and it was for them to
take such measures to correct such errors and
omissions as are necessary so that the roll may
be righted. The roll is with us and under our
control. 1t is for us to correct it and to take
such action as is necessary
While Mr.. Hale was talking Mr.. Perry OF
Camden made point of order that we were
not legal body and debate was out of order.
Mr.. Hale said that the Chair had recognized
him and he was entitled to the floor.
The clerk ruled that Mr. Perry's point of or
der was well taken.
Mr.. Hale asked the clerk if he declined to
hear him.
The clerk said he did
Mr.. Hale appealed from the decision and
said that if the clerk declined to hear him he
would invoke the Constitution of Maine This
remark brou ght burst of applause, which led
the clerk to say that if it was repeated he
should have the galleries cleared. He ruled
that the debate was not in order.
Mr. Hale asked if the clerk declined to ad-
NIT the appeal and called for the yeas and
nays. All the Republican members stood up.
Mr.. Hale again asked: Docs the clerk overrule-
my appeal?
The clerk answered that he did and said
that the question was on the motion of Mr..
Dickey for a committee to wait on the Gov
ernor.
Dickey called for the yeas and nays. Pend
Al I,Jn 70 o1i
called for thu yeas and nays, which motion the
Clerk said was not in order. This occasioned
laughter The Clerk refused to entertain
Hale's motion and stated that the yeas and
nays had been ordered on Dickeys motion.
Hale said that he raised the point of order
that the roll was partially defective because it
declared no vacancies. The point was not
sustained.
The Clerk then proceeded to call the yeas
and nays on Dickeys motion When Swans
name was called there was clapping Of hands,
accompanied by Kisses from the Republicans.
Sprouts, Voters and Shows names were not
responded to when called and this occasioned
applause by the Republicans mingled with
Kisses by the Democrats. No Republican
responded to their names in the calling of the
roll, and when the call was completed the
Clerk declared that it was q vote. Hale said
the number of those called had not been given.
Does the Clerk decline to give it? The clerk
paid no attention to Hale's question but pro
ceeded to announce the committee to wait on
the Governor.
Butler of North Vassalboro declared that
this was an outrage. Mr.. Hale amid
applause said the Clerk doesn't dare to declare
the vote. He has not yet announced whether
there is quorum present. He contended that
this was an illegal body. AT this point slight
confusion prevailed. Mr.. Hale moved an
adjournment as only 70 members had voted
and there was no quorum present.
Mr.. Perry of Camden attempted to get the
floor but was declared by the Clerk to be out
of order
Mr.. Hale-''Does the Clerk decline to put
my motion ?''
The Clerk declined and again there was a
scene of confusion. Mr.. Hale then mounted
his desk and raising his voice said that as the
Clerk had declined putting his motion he
would put it himself, which he did d,whereupon
there was waving of hats and flourishing OF
hands with other demonstrations of approval.
Mr. Weeks of Augusta then jumped on desk
and expressed the hope that every Republican
would depart and go hence from this house at
once. There followed another scene of con-
fusion as the Republicans rose in their seats
and prepared to leave; during which the
Clerk attempted to call attention to the report
of the committee amid cries of "House ad-
journed, adjourned"
Mr. Wentworth of Kittery stood up on
desk and advised every Republican to leave.
Mr.. Staples of Parsonsfeld said, "Let all con-
stitutional loving men and lovers of law and
order remain. A fnobocracy can't move US"
Order being restored in a few minutes, Gov.
Garcelon and Council came in when they
were greeted with slight storm of Kisses,
which occasoned Staples to say, "Let serpents
hiss
The Governor then directed the members to
stand up and take the oath of office. AS soon
as they were on their feet Hale addressed the
Governor and said there was no quorum pres
ent He protested against the swearing in OF
members and asked for reading of the names
of those who had subscribed the oath. The
Governor then administered the oath and as
members responded to their names there We're
Kisses. No Republican responded to his name.
The fusionists then subscribed their names to
the necessary document and when this was
done Gov Garcelon announced that rs mem
bers had signed their names. He called at
teDtion 20 vacancies and expressed the hope
that members would be governed in their de-
liberations by the constitution and laws OF the
State,
The Governor then withdrew amid three
cheers accompanied by Kisses. A motion was
then made for committee to receive, sort and
count votes for Speaker. Hale asked the clerk
to read the names Of those who had subscribed
the oath, and wanted to know if he declined.
The clerk paid no attention to the request but
announced the committee on Speaker, which
included Hale, whose name occasioned merri-
ment.
The vote for Speaker resulted in the unani-
NOUS choice of John c. Talbot of East Ma
chas, the number of votes thrown being ~.
Mr.. Hale made point Of order that no
quorum was present. The Clerk refused to
recognize him. A member moved that Mr.
Talbot be escorted to the chair. Mr. Hale de-