Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-13
RILLs SUFFRAGE.

/ H1LL8 SUFFRAGE.
! Ds(olnlled ENoFt 70 Scam IuDieipa
| Rights FOX Ieam.
0eehadea md 1gacAsgsl-Yosk couu-
~ Jsi.-vasioss COMMITTEES Hear
| ings
The cause Of municipal suffrage 70,
women vas heard before the Judiciary yes.
ferdsy afternoon A large number OF
ladies' we're present among them being Mr..
b. =. Hamilton, ssco; Mrs. L. n. Bur.
rlngtoD, Belfast; Miss Louise Tireomb,
Portland; Miss A. r. Quimby, Deeriaa |;
Mrs. Osgood Of Bar Mills; Mrs.. William
Lssviss Jr., Of Portland: Mrs. z. L. Fogs
OF Aususta. Rev. Henry Blanchard d.
D.. conducted the case Of the petitioners.
Mrs. DR.. Jane l.. Hsrsom Of Portland,
treasurer Of the Maine Womsn's Sunrszs
annexation. She thought IL strange that
/ 1865 &~D< HSs - totrG- IL pup
erty qualification we're the test some vons n
wonld vote Women wish 10 vote because
they are interested in the questions Of the
day, especially in the schools. The pres
ens system 10 Inconsistent, and unjsst. All
improvements are Innovations.
Mr.. Blanchard said that be represented
the Maine Womsns Suifr.ge association
snd very large number Of petitioners be-
L qldS1 n inpu1p nnr.kap zbf. in fsv1r 80
| the measure but are not upon the petition.
There are seven Of the last class TO one
OF the Hfst.
The names Of sx Gov. Robe. Congress
man DinQley and other noted men sad
women are upon the petition. IL 10 said
that majority Of the women Of Maine do
no not want the ballot. Perhaps not, bu.
. large and respectable minority do want ii.
We ask only for the woman suffrage ia
municipal elections. Religion, educa,ion
and law are the three forces Of society
Law 10 the average opinion Of the commun-
isy. For the making Of laws We need the
| vote Of women, which viii raise the
average. Only in this way can religion and
| education be made operative. Gladstone
has made woman suffrage one OF
the I seven principles Of the Liberal
party. Abraham Lincoln favored
| woman suffrage. Hon. George F. Hoar OF
Massachusetts takes the same ground.
The fact that women would vote from their
| feelings il an argument for rather than
sgsinst the measure. We need more feel
Ing In our laws. In every city the women
who pay taxes should be represented. The
aldermen and council levy taxes and the
| women pay them. Should they have no
voice in the election Of these officers? In
the matter of schools, of the enforcement
Of laws and Of sanitary improvements, the
influence Of the women is needed. Women
are more interested in municipal affairs
than are men. The male voters wont turn
out men who refuse to execute laws. The
women would insist that only those should
be elected who would do their duty.
Mrs. Hannah J. Bailey of Winthrop is \
taxpayer upon a large amount Of property.
She believes that that taxation without rep
resentation is tyranny. We must conclude
that Thos. Jefferson did not think of wom-
en- when he wrote the Declaration Of In
dependence. She thought tina. because
some women did not care for the ballot the
rest should not be disfrsnchised. / once
obtained the signature of every female tax
payer in Winthrop but one, 10 in number.
for municipal suffrage.
Rev. X A. Griffin said that when he
came to this country he asked for the most
progressive state. They said 60
to Massachusetts, and went.
But wanted state even
more progressive and | came to Maine
And now find thst Maine has no municip
al suffrage for women. There Is no POI
sible reason why we men should vote and
these women not Posterity viii, read with
smazement that their grandmothers had not
the franchise. BY passing this Law we
shall see whether women are qualified for
full emancipation. lived in Marlboro,
town where women voted on school matters
and on license The town meeting showed
every sign Of vuigsrity. Some half dozen
women entered the gallery Their presence
quieted the throng of eager voters AMI
while they stayed no sign of indecorum was
to be seen.
Mr.. Blanchard said that it wss expected
that Ara Cushmsn Of Auburn. the property
sharer, would be present. He then read
letter from Mr.. Cushmau reg,etting his in
ability to attend ard pedging himself 10
woman suffrage.
Mrs. Abby c. Pessee of Auburn said
there should be no hesitancy in the adva
cacv Of womans rights b. women. For
long time she did not believe in this meas
ure but she had changed her views. The
argument of mental incspacity is no longer
urged against il. In Dakota woman SUI
frage was beaten by 6000, Iadian suffrsge
carried by about the same number.
Mrs. Jane H. White of Deering hsd
voted in Colorado and Kansas sud described
the elections in those states. The polls
were orderly aud everyone seemed to re-
gard ii as Il great pleasure day. Ladies
served as clerks of election.
Mrs l.. VI. N. Stevens Of Deering wished
again to make an appeal for the suffrage Of
women. All women do not want the ballo,.
Neither DO all the men. Women want the
bsllot as tax payers. The working women
would like some voice in regulating the
hours Of labor.
Judiciary
Before the judiciary Judge Smith OF
Aroostook ard Webster of Gardiner on bill
to allow Judges of Probate stenographers.
The committee will report fsvorably on the
bill.
J. <. Moore appeared in behalf of bills
to incorporate Thomsston Hotel Co. AMI
Georges River Land Co.
For Perry Bros. who wish to extend
piers into Aroostock River. Senator Lum-
bert appeared. Hon. II. M. Heath appeared
for the town of Caribou. The committee
will report fsvorably.
F. Il. Timberlake and Judge Woodbury.
Of Bethel appeared in favor of q isw giving
lien for protection Of persons who furnish
supplies for numbering parties.
Or. J. J. Linscottlsppeared in behalf Of
petitions for extension of time of putting
in work Of Pennington Water Co. F. l..
whiscomb Esq. appeared for the remon-
strants.
Taxation.
The committee on taxation gave q hear
Jug on electric light, gas. water and insur-
snce companies.
VIM. NJ. Bradley, Esq, of Portland said
that the commissioners had recommended
the taxation of mill mutual insurance COM
panies. They must have done this through
misconception. These mill or factory
companies were organized as early as 1885,
by mill owners who conceived the idea Of
protecting their buildings by proper con.
s.ructicn. by watchmen, etc. The owners
then formed an association for mutual pro-
sc;ion from fire. Every mill owner pays
in a certain premium which is used to pay
losses, expenses aud for inspectors. The in-
spectors are not agents and do not solicit,
but are merely skilled mechanics. The
PROPOSITION is to tax these companies
| on the net premium paid. 1t 10 = cardinal
proposition Of these associations that there
shall be no profits. The proposed tax
would be levied simply upon lisbility, ard