Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-20

] IGWSis VA At1tSt91k ujINS4 KIM
the motion Of Mr.. Sssssrs be laid on the
question being put uron the motion
| BY Mr.. Stewart Of York, the motion
prevailed, and the action Was feconsidered.
On further motion by The same senator the
!. report was laid on the table.
4 Mr.. Thatcher Of Penobscos presented
bill, sn Ecs 10 authorize the Bangor and
Aroossook Railroad 10 issue preferred
stock. Bill accepted, and on tie same
senator's motion laid on the table pending
reference to committee Of the whole.
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT.
i Majority and minority report on the
Australian Ballot Bill. The pendirg
! motion Is that OF the senator from Kenne-
bee to accept the majority report.
Mr.. Ryder of Penobscos-I move to
smerd that motion by substituting the
minority report for the majority report
When this matter came into the Senate
las. week, nv reason for mxkirg the
motion that it lie upon the table WAS for the
purpose Of stating my reasons for differing
from majority II my colleagues upon the
committee in regard 10 this very important
matter; and slso for stating nay position in
regard {, il. Circumstances thss have
arisen stree this matter was intro
ducsd into the Legislature at the
very first Of the session, have made it
one OF the most important matters, if not
the most imp ,rtaut rra.ter thar We shsil be
called upon 70 consider At this time. When
the matter was introduced st. the icst Of the
session, did not consider that it was the
most importsn. matter hst was likely to
come up for consideration. There were
other matters that interested the people OF
Maine more than this matter pertaining TO
the Australian ballet so calied.--the
questions Of taxation, Appointment OF
State assessors, and the adoption of the
listing system, were all Of them Of more in.
teresg 10 the people Of Maine nj the beginning
Of the session than this question row under
confederation, hut the circumstances that
have surrounded i. since it has been intro
daced hare; the position ihst has been
taken by many of It's friends upon the
floor of the House and in the Senate; the
position that was taken by msjotity of
tie committee in regstd to the matter Of
,ferens bill than that nov under considera-
ton, which WAS introduced before the con-
mittes-sli these thugs have made it one
of the most important, l will say the most
important measure ihat We ehsil be called
| UpOH III CDbnIlSE. Al sbauuiuk HtFC hhu
defioing my position in siguiug the
the judiciary, + belisve-I kno~--thst
III represent the sen,inent Of the
county of Perobscot. know that toe ZEN
tment Of ny county is against the adoption
AT ;hs1ima Of this measure which you are
today considering. | believe tha; repre-
sent q msjoriiy of the people of the whole
eastern eection of the State. In saying
tha.. do not wish il TO be understood this.
the people ia the essiern section OF the
State are adverse to any measure that will
reform the ballot or purify election; bu. l
say the people OF the eastern section Of the
State 1T this time are not in favor, in my
opinion, of adopting this measure at this
session Of the Legislature. l know | rep.
resent the sentiment of Penobscot county.
II ia q couuty that for progress and fer
| wealth and fer citizens tina. stand ready to
accept any necessary reform, stsn1s at the
very head of and among the first counties
of the State. | am supported in this posi-
ton by majority, will say almost solid
dele gsion in the House representing the
Republican party there. and / am glad to
say that | am also supported by beth my
colleagues On the Il DOR of this Senate. I
ssy then that inasmuch as the sentiment of
my county, and. as believe. of The eastern
part OF the State is opposed to this measure
ard as / am supported by almost
a sclid delegation in the House
ard both my colleagues, that l
was justified in differipg from
a mo jori.y of She judiciary committee and
am justified in standing tere today it
support of minority report. Il isaquss
ton upon which the people of this susie
differ. Whether there is q ms j1rity in the
Stale OF not thst are opposed to 'his meas
ufe sm net sble TO say, but cay there is
st least "A respectable minority that objecte
| 20 this very important mfa'ure at this ses
sion of tie Legislature. / believe, as o
| whole, the sentiment Of the State ia sesinst
the adoption CT it at this time 10 not
mean that they egaiDs. the sdopiion of any
measure, as has been alleged upon the floor
| Of the House ar as certain papers o. The
State have seen fit TO allege that in so doing
they are opposed to the measure or 10 that
| VI hich the measure seaks to reach in ;hs
reform of The ballot and in the purity of
the ballot box. say thar the people OF
the Republican party Of Maine are in favor
OF it. Ard say that believe the sert-
ment of the State not believing in she
necessity of the matter at the prssenttioie nos
in t1S SNOptloU OF su TauiCdt II Cus1kF
ia the elective system as this and not be-
leYiog that the bill nov undsr considers-
ton will remedy the evils which are said to
exist, say for these reasons, If Tor no
other, the sentiment Of the Rapuoii
party, as it has been expressed in the lower
House, is agains, the adoption Of this
measure vt the present time. II must be
conceded that the opponents OF this meas
l,s,p ~ iva sl, fjnr
cannot be that the men who ere opposed to
this measure at the preeeat time are dis
honest.
! 1t is fact that the ms joIity OF these men
are hore.tly aud from ptinciple opposing
this matter today, becsnse they see no
necessity for it. or, ii they do see uecss-
sity for il they do net believe that this
measure will remedy the evils which lts
friends claim exist ia the State today. IL
is very seldom that the opponents of 8
measure of the Importance that this has
have been tut j5ct to the abuse and insult
that have been heaped upoa them by certain
papers and c7rtsin osrt es In the State who
are friends to this bill. S)ne of the lead
ing Republican papers in tire state
in commenting upon this matter have
been unjust aad unfair. They have not
acc5rdsi to tho opposition thas fairness
and justice to shilh they are entitled. They
have rather seemed to strive 20 verify shei:
prediction than 70 accord TO the opposition
that they were honest in opposing the meas
ure. Right here wish TO read sn ex;raet
that appeared in TIE kEssfBEc JOURNAL
under date of msrth II:
BALLOT REFORM IN MAINE.
| New York Press,
BY the nsrrow margin of "a TO II an
!; Australian baiiot reform bill has been de-
feated In the lower brsnch Of the Maine
Legislature. This may be only temporary
defeat. Bat It is & d,.asreeable surprise
that in such stsu, city Republican State
bsllat reform should meet with cheek
Tventy-oue states have adopted laws simi
J lar 10 the one proposed in Maine, and the
passage Of which would have eaIsted ex.
. actly one-h half the states in this notable AMI
noble reform. The opposition to ihe bill
was from elements of the party which DIS
credit aid disgrace 1t. Fortunately the
: party as a national organization Is commit
ted 60 firmly 10 ballot reform by the act "a
. OF the srest shorty Of itssstsse oFFanizs-
J lions that the backsst in Maize can have
little serious effset except locally. Tos
J Republican party IL for honest ballots
everywhere.
Z This sppesrs in TIE KEsSEcEc JOURNAL,
the State paper, without soy Comment. Ia
no editarisi Of thst issue have they COM
. rsasaied upon it, but ii has bean inserted
, rera ard bas raas ont To the State as