Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-15

1nsimidasieu q eleseisos are noes pcsvalsns
than the gentlemen Who preceded him would
have them believe. Up in his section shsy
have what il called ..free hack" and he had
known Of poll taxes being paid to procure
votes Mr.. Fox explained that the
provisions regulating the mark Nc Of the
ballots are veIy clear, and claimed that this
bill vas designed for the laudable purpose Of
killing ont the PhaYisees Of the country.
Mr. Chadboufne of Biddefori spoke in
favor of the bill He sail that il there vas
a man in the House Who c ,uld eonscientiously
say that bribery and intimidation q elections
does not exist he might vote against the bill.
This measure had stood the test since
1856 and hal worked most e6ectually. A
70 intimidation, he laid the charge at the
door Of no political party, and it vas with
regret that he was forced to confess that
bribery and intimidation are practiced in the
State by both parties. This bill would put
down corruption, he believed, and would
raise the standard of our State elections.
Il is charged that rings are in existence all
over the state. There 10 danger in having .
few control 30 larg, an interest. and the
effect of the proposed bill would be to in-
increase the size Of the ring by bringing
all good citizens into il. and letting all good
citizens as unit control the political affairs I
our country. He showed that the objections
of not understanding the method of balloting
would be easily overcome BY the instructions
which are required by the provisions of the
bill to De piaczrded, and the specimen bal
los to be printed on timed paper.
Mr.. PAttangall of Pembroke was opposed
to the bill. Oae very Objectionable feature
-
Was not lawyer enough to understand 1t. The
people Of Maine do not demand such a Law,
AMI unnecessary legislation is always bad
legislation. The existing laws 10 regard to
elections are just AID aieq late. A severe
penalty is imposed both on the trlber and him
VINO Is briDeI. Mr.. Pat,angall IN sn,ioned
many of Names distinguished Governors
and asked if these were the product of bril-
berry. How many times have our represen-
tarives who have been sent to Washington by
The people, had their elections contestet9 A
strong obj ction to the enactment of such .
law was the amount of time that would be
consumed in elections.
Mr.. Robbie said that as far as the town he
represent.d was concerned, he didn't know
of a single case of bribery or intimidation,
but he thought that there was = remedy for
iiiis huu ~ oeNuh
red. Public sentiment should be aroused,
and the Law that we have upon our statute
book. that the pers0 wh1 brides and is
bribed shall be called before . court, should
be enforced. Let US, said he, 20 up to tne
polls and cast our votes just Is our consci-
ence and intelligence dictate, and not legis-
la,e for the poor, miserable fellows who want
to sell their voter.
a.. I'll; hat al =.
like throwing pebbles into the sea to witness
the commotion of the waters. This bill
should not be tried as mere experiment, but
in any great char &c of our laws there should
be some more definite certainty proposed
When they should reflect that this law is on
,he statute book of Massachusetts, as an I'M
tried law, he thought it would be well to
wait and see how the proposed law should
work.
Mr.. Madigan spoke Of the criticism which
had been passei upon him As q member of
the Legal Committee in signing the majority
report, but he did what he considered for
the best interests Of the State. He thought
that the sent ment Of the people, irrespective
Of PARTY, when they came to reflect
upon this measure, was that their right of suf-
frage should be protected. He moved that
panying bill be referred to the next legisla-
ture.
Mr.. Wiswell of Ellsworth said that when
the matter was first called to
his tention he believed that
the motion which the gentleman from
Houlton had just made would be as we'll az
anything, but he thought thai the fact that it
was referred to the next legislature would
srtv , h.,
the House would settle this question before
they adjourned.
Mr.. Hovey of Pi,ts6eld, seconded Mr.
Madigan's motion to refer the matter to the
next legislature. Mr.. Hovey had received
two petitions from his town. one in favor of
AM the other against the measure. Those
against the measure thought that much ex-
pense would be involved in the enforcement
of the law, and that the results were uncer-
tain. If, after sufficient trial in other States
it proves that it accompanies the purposes
claimed by its friends, they should then favor
such law. Mr.. HOvey said that after list
eniug to the different speeches. he had come
to the conclusion that Plttsdell was the best
place in the State Of Maine.
In that place. at least, intimida-
ton at the polls it imperceptible
and the voters register their free and untram
meled vote. He thought that there were
other States in the Union in which corrup-
ton was practised to much larger extent
than in the State of Maine. He believed
that they shouldn't act hastily in the matter
He believed that this was the greatest ques-
tor that had been submitted to this legsla-
ture and while he didn't oppose the measure,
he didn't understand its intricacies and hoped
that the matter would be referred to the
next legislature.
Mr.. Wiswell rose to point of order that
the motion tc refer to the next legislature
was not then in order. The chair Judged the
point well taken.
Mr.. Manley moved the previous question.
Ga motion of Mr.. Looney the yeas aud
nays were ordered, AMI the question was ~.
on Mr.. Looney's motion to substitute the
minority report for the majority report,
Yea-Alien Allen of Mercer Allen of w.rme.
ton Berry, Durham, Chadbouruc, Clason. Cote,
Curt. of Paris, Curtis of Perkins, Dane Edg..
comb Fiske, Fox, Frees, Gordon. GoweIi. Green,
t'eheld, ooney, Michaui, lendleton, Piuinmer
Poor, Purington Iayor, rhurl'w Hilton, Whittier
of Lee, Whti"n Of Por'and-5
Nay-Ad ans Of Belgrade. Adams of Limeri H.
sehorn. Barte-. Bird, Bither, Brooks, Butieigh
cam sfs"n, chaplai"s hnpman, losson, { lou
I,
Foster, frank, French, Clifford Glover Goodwin
Grindle of Mt. Desert, Grindel of I,llowe |. Ham
iron Harper, Hawkins, Head, Hichborn, Hill Of
Augusta, II II of Mars Hin, HinckIey, notebook.
iovey, Iugnli-, Jordan of yntham, Jordan Of
Webster, JOY. kne. land, Lamb, Lin,ell Lombard.
Nctab-, Asdigan Manley. Mard n, MARSHALL. Max
in Merrill, Nj che |, More, Morrill, Morse Nurch
Nash, N.alley, Ne~comb MOVIE Osgood, Palmer,
lark'r, rattangal Peaks Perkins, Fottle. Race.
H. cord, Robe, Robinson, Ross. shaw sheahan
Smith, Sprague. spoford, siearns. sweet1er, Tai.
hot, thomas. Turner, Tyler, viekery, Wakefield,
Warren of Castin Warren of Deer lie, Weed
We,tworth. Wh-el--, Wilbur. Winter. Wing, Wis.
well. Woo' sum-l0f.
At-ent-Andrews, Bennett, Clark of Bangor.
Clark Of saco, Crosby. Fosg, McIntyre Mal,.tf
Moultoa Of Par.onsiield, Moultpn Of Wales, New.
ton, U'Brien-l2
Mr.. Madigan moved to amend
by striking out the words lou xht
not to pass" and inserting in place
thereof, referred to the next Legislature. -
The motion vas voted down. 1t was then
voted to accept the majority report.
On motion of Mr.. Warren of Castine,
Adjourned.