Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-02-03

TO the 30. kenne0ec, somerset, W aldo ana
Hancock, and to the ith. Penobscot, Piscata-
quIs, Aroostook and Washington. The re-
port was accepted and the bill laid on the
table to be printed, and on motion of Mr..
Heath Wednesday next at IL o'clock was as
signed for its consideration.
On motion of Mr.. Horr of lewiston bill an
act to provide for the registration of practi-
tioners of medicine and surgery was taken
from the table and referred to the Committee
on Legal Affairs.
Bill an act to incorporate the Aroostook
Improvement Co. was read the third time
and laid on the table on motion of Mr.. Will
son of Paris.
READ AND ASSIGNED.
An act to incorporate the Merchants Ma
rine RAILWAY Co. an act additional to chap.
81 of the public laws of 1881 relating to the
taxation of railroad companies.
PASSED To BE ESGRossED.
An act TO incorporate the Rangeley Tele-
graph and Telephone Co.; an act to incor-
porate the Mechanic Falls and Poland Rail
road Co; an act to incorporate the Portland
Trust Co.; an act TO incorporate the Portland
Soldiers and Sailors Monument Association :;
an act to enable cities, towns cemetery cor
poratons and trust companies to receive title
the repair of the same; an act TO amend sec.
l, chap. l26 of the revised statutes in relation
to mortgaged property an act to amend chap.
40 of the private acts of 1862.
The House resumed consideration of the
resolve proposing a prohibitory amendment
to the constitution, under debate when II ad-
journed yesterday.
Mr. Talbot of East Machias said the con-
stitution provides that the legislature may
propose amendments to it when two-thirds of
both branches shall deem it necessary. and in
his remarks he would confine himself to this
single issue of the necessity. 1t was
incumbent upon those asking for the amend
ment to convince two-thirds of the House
at least that it was necessary. The argu-
ment brought forward to show this necessity
was the terrible evils from the use of intoXi-
eating drinks. Was this amendment neces-
sary for that reason? Would any gentleman
propose an amendment to the Constitution on
the question of murder, burglary. or any
other of the crimes known TO our law? They
would not, because unnecessary. He had
heard no argument here that showed a neces
sitv for the proposed amendment He did not
deem it necessary, because it had been estab
lished by the highest court of the United
States and of this State, unanimously, that
the regulation and control of the question of
Intoxicating drinks is a police regulation, and
that the legislature has sovereign power over
ii, and NAV inflict penalties to any degree;
and this without anything in regard to it in
the Constitution. The legislature already
possessed this power; and was it afraid
to assume it? There alrt ady existed law.
if they dared to enforce it. that would stop
the evil complained of in less than three
months. But there were those in favor of hav-
ing the law engrafted upon the constitution
because thev were not in favor of its enforce
ment. He did not include in this remark its
honest advocates.
Mr.. Thatcher of Bangor desired to state
briefly his reason for voting for the resolve.
The republican party had made this question
one of the planks in its platform at Portland.
1t had agreed to submit this question to the
people. and it was done as an inducement to
the temperance people of the State to sus-
tain that party at the polls in the coming
election. At that election the people had
chosen large majority of republicans. two
thirds of the House. Had it not been for
that platform many now present would not
have been elected. 1t was now in the pow er
of the republicans to carry out this promise
which the party had given to the, people, and
he felt that he would be recreant to his iuty if
he failed to vote for the resolve. 1t was
not necessary that any member should com
nit himself in favor of the amendment. He
had very strong doubts as to its expediency,
and he reserved the right to vote upon it as he
pleased at the polls. But he believed the
republican party was bound to carry out the
terms of its platform and submit this question
to the people.
Mr.. Ives of Castine supported the resolu-
ton. He had no Judgment to reserve, but
Il ..lar oil fttll flv nf tt,o
posed amendment. Some did not sympathze
with the enforcement of the liquor law be-
cause they liked liquor; others did not on
account of political reasons. This influenced
him in his vote. His idea that it would
take the question out of politics in great
measure, so that men, when questions of
temperance legislation came up. would cease
to be agitated and to scan them with a view
to see their political bearing upon their party
He controverted the statement that there is
as much liquor consumed in the State TO-DAY
as thirty years ago.
Mr.. Piper of Kenduskeag was sorry that the
question of political parties had been raised
in tie discussion. He was thankful that he
came here without any pledges to hamper him
1t was not a question of eXpedlency of party
but whether there necessity for it. The
Constitution, according to his views, should
not Dt Wllii- anu ne ulu not DtlleNe
in loading it down with criminal law. No
necessity existed for it. No one hal proposed
or asked for repeal of the present law. He
hoped every member would vote his indepen-
dent convictions regardless of party whip and
party platform.
Mr.. Talbot replied to the gentleman from
Bangor Mr.. Thatcher.
Mr.. Rogers of Bath said that yesterday he
had offered an amendment which he thought
would be clearly understood by the people
when the resolution went before them, and if
it had been adopted he would have voted for
the resolve. But he should now vote a-a;ns
it. He criticised the measure and said that
week ago yesterday, Mr.. Dow, had admitted
to him that the true Interpretation Of it was
that all apothecaries could be licensed to sell
all kinds Of Intoxicating liquors. He con-
tended that the resolve was contradictory in
its phraseology and denounced it as fraud
upon the people.
Mr.. Eldridge of Dexter, said the party to
which he belonged stood committed to a prom
ise to submit this question to the people and
the obligation was upon republican represen
tatiYes to make good that promise to-day.
: Mr. Hall of Rockland, said al the last ses
sion of the legislature he had voted against
the proposed submission to the people. It.
had come in without the voice of the people,
behind it. He had no Argument to make now
as to the,proprIetv of its incorporation into the
constitution but he did recognize the