The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-31
The Famous Water Fight r ecaIled.

What appeared something like filibuster-
ing took place in the Senate this afternoon.
1t began when Mr.. Stewart of York took
from the table the bill to legalize certain do
ings of the town of Cape Elizabeth. On
this bill the judiciary committee made two
reports. The majority reported ought not
to pass, and the minority favored the bill.
The House adopted the minority report and
passed the bill. On motion of Mr.. Stewart
the Senate also adopted the minority report.
Mr.. Stewart then offered an amendment to
the bill providing that In addition to legal
Using the method calling the meetings named
in the bill. the proceedings of all other
meetings since March, 1887, be legalized.
Mr.. Powers pointed out that the amend
ment was broader than the bill. The bill
provided for legalizing the. call for certain
meetings. The amendment legaliZed all the
proceedings of certain other meetings.
Mr. Ryder objected 10 this kind OF legisla-
tiOn. In the matter under discussion, the
trouble arose from quarrel over the intro
duction of water supply into the town. He
moved that the bill be indefinitely postponed.
The motion was lost.
Mr.. Warren of York. said that anybody
who had taken the Portland papers must
have heard something about this question.
AS for himself, he had read so much about
the matter that he knew nothing about it.
He repeated Mr.. Ryder's attempt to stop the
bill by moving to table it. On this yea and
nay NObo Wdo edhOh aho tuO ulOblOu WAS lOSb,
to II.
Mr.. Moore asked if the Senator from York
understood the effect the bill would have on
the questions arising from the attempt to In
troduce water into the town. That was a
serious matter.
MT. Stewart upheld that he understood the
bill Just as it read. 1t legaliZed the call for
certain meetings. He supposed that it would
legaliZe the dOings of those meeting only SC
far as.their legality was affected by the de.
foat In fha pnna
| ipgs. or any part of them, were illegal In
| themselves, he did not understand that this
| action would help the matter. He was in
| formed that the illegality arose from the
failure to advertise the meetings In certain
newspaper as had been directed by prev.
| ious vote of the town. Mr.. Stewart re-wrots
| his amendment to make that also apply tC
the call. He said that the amendment, as ht
| understood it, was presented to meet tn,
| items of those who objected to legalizinl
| some meetings and not taking the same &C
tion regarding others.
Mr. Swanton asked how large was th,
minority of the judiciary committee which
reported the bill.
The President stated that three member
signed the report.
Mr.. Thatcher made the next move. HI
wanted the bill recommitted and made
motion to that effect. Mr.. Walton seconde,
the motion. The President stated that tn
Judiciary committee had reported finally.
Mr.. Walton believed that the history O
such bills was that they caused more harm
than they remedied Still the Senate ha
set precedent in legalizing the doings O
the town Of Palermo and he bowed to tn
will of the Senate. When the matter wa
before the judiciary committee, the gentle
man who advocated it was partisan in th
town differences and wanted only certai
meetings included In the bill. II any meet
ings were to be legalized, Mr.. Walton wante
| all of them legaliZed.
The amendment was then adopted by
| yea ana nay vote, 13 to 6.
Mr.. Swanton said he still had no idea whs
the bill was for. and he made another motto
to table it. The motion was lost and the bi