Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-01
COMMITTEE HEARING
Legal Affairs.

George 7. Wescott, Esq of Portland, ap
peared for the bill allowing an increase If
The capital stock of the Pejepscot Water
Company, and change in source from
which the water is obtained. 1t was report.
ed that the measure ought to pass.
The petition of the inhabitants of the
plantation of Lexing on that they be allowed
q take care of their own pauper, was also
fsvorably reported
Gen. J. b. Donovan of Portlai d. appeared
IN favor of granting charter to the Aga
mentcus Water Company. The matter was
laid on the table and the proposed charter
will probably be somewhat changed.
The Looney ballot reform bill was next
taken up.
Rev Henry Blanchard of the Congress
street lniversalist church, Portland, spoke
in behalf of the workingmen of the cour try
HON he said the bill would especially ben
eft. The present system of voting puts
them under the domination of INSCRIPTIONS
employers, and machine politicians. from
which the bill would free them. He also
spoke for the independent class of voters,
aud made an able argument upholding the
participation in politics of our ministers and
professors.
MIR. d W. Snow of Portland. read and
criticised an article from the Bangor Wing
of Jan. 5, against the law. He said that the
present statute against bribery and intimida-
ton is practically a dead letter as no one has
ever been convicted under it. He presented
petition for ballot reform signed by 1873 of
the first men in Portland. including all the
bank presidents, two e1-msyors and an e1-
governor of the State. In one town in Cum
bertrand county out of 1926 votes cast forty
were bought by politicians Two gentlemen
refused 10 sign the bill because they wanted
more open ballot, prominent judge be-
cause he WA, afraid that he might be accused
of signing for political ends, and none from
reasons more potent.
Hon. Neal Dow of Portland, rose
and said that the bill would
surely pass. There 10 no State in the Urion
which is not governed by rings of machine
politicians. and none in which we have fair
ballot and an honest count. He spoke of
Cumberland county politician whom he saw
sit down in his office and make out a slate
which was adopted without change at the
next county convention. He recited his ex-
perienoes at Birmingham on an election day
before the adoption of the system, when all
was riotng, and at London since it was
adopted. when all wss quietness. Before,
bribery in England was universal. now it is
unknown. The proposed system was well
known in England before il was adopted in
Australia. There is probably not place in
the country which is worse In this matter of
bribery than Portland, where it is open and
notorious Mr.. Dow enforced his remarks
with many amusing illustrations. Il will
not say" said he. that those who oppose III. /
bill do il because they want to cheat. but if /
there is any other reason don't see what it (
is" The booths are constructed Of pine
boards, are easily movable and inexpensive [
General Dow was asked many questions by .
the committee, which he answered With his
usual readiness.
Representative Chsdbourue Of Biddeford
said he believed the time had arrived when
an effort should be made to check the brib-
cry which today makes our elections little
better than auctions. II We do not adopt
this measure what shall We have in its place
In regard to the objections. that the votes
would be too large for the ballot box and
hat the booths would cost too much. he rec