The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-12
LOTS OF EL0QUENcE But NO ACTION,
The Registration Bill Is just Where
1t Was Before.
Many Committees Get In a Coco
Days work.
Some Of the Probabilities Briefly
Discussed.
ISpeclal 10 the Press !

Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, February 11.--After about two
hours Of debate today, the House left the
registration bill in just the shape 1t found 1t
this morning, refusing to adopt either of
two amendments which were forcibly urged.
The debate was interesting, aud attracted a
large number of spectators, including many
ladies. The bright sallies of Mr.. Peaks
caused much laughter, Mr.. Stearns found an
attentive audience as he always does, and
the big Democratic member from Biddeford
was also heard with interest. Mr.. Noble of
Lewiston Is speaker who is always in
earnest and his earnestness has its effect on
his hearers. The amendment supported by
Judge Savage did not find favor, but that
was not because 1t was not ably advocated
by the gentleman from Auburn.
In accordance with the vote of yesterday
q number of amendments to the bill were
printed and distributed this morning. When
the bill came up, Mr.. Savage of Auburn
moved the passage of the first of these
amendments, one which proposed radical
change in the bill. In place of the provis-
lon OF the bill for the apportionment of q
board of three members, ore to be nominat-
ed by the city committee of each leading po-
litical party, and the third by the governor,
the amendment provided for board of
three, all to be chosen by the county COM
missioners Of the county in which the city
is located, the members to be residents of
the city. and not more than two to be from
the same party.
Mr.. Savage, in advocating the amendment,
which was marked Amendment b, said
that the provision for the appointment of
members by the city committees would lead
to the selection of the sharpest, and he had
almost said the most unscrupulous, members
Of each party to act as its attorneys on the
boards. He believed that the appointments
should Lot come from the city committees,
out should still be made by local officers. 1t
was local matter, to be locally decided
Some of the cities In the state, which 1t
wasnot necessary for him TO n me, had prev
en- unworthy to exel else this trust Govern
ment there had been exercised to the dam
age and danger to the public. 1t was there
fore for the interest of the people to remove
from these localities the power regulated by
the bill.
Mr.. Stearns of Caribou spoke forcibly in
opposition to this view of the case. referring
TO the dignity of the Office of the Governor,
while county commissioners were not thus
subject to general criticism. He also re-
ferred to the fact that In every county In the
state the board of county commissioners are
Republican Mr.. Stearns hoped that the
am.ndment would not prevail
Mr.. Cote of Biddefoid wanted the law
amended to conform to the Massachusetts
law. Ii the bill must be passed providing
for b ard of three members he would a
thousand times rather see the Governor CIV
IN the appointing power than the ward poll
ticians who hecame county officers He be-
lieved the bill a partisan measure.
Mr.. Gentleman of Parsonsfield, who sign ed
the minority report against the bill, said he
should favor 1t If IL could be amended as
proposed in several new sections which he
and Afr,v fnr hOo I'd m ha .tnf
by the mayor of each city. Mr.. Gentleman's
amendment had not been printed. 1t was
not acted upon today.
Mr. Callahan of Lewiston, presented as an
amendment TO amendment b one which pro-
vided for board OF four members evenly
dlvded between the two leading political
rarties, to be appointed by the mayor. Ii
tue bill was amended in this way Mr.. Gala
nan would favor 1t. MIR. Callahan then de-
Tended the city of Lewiston from the
during debate. Mr.. Callahan objected to
the bill In its present form because he be-
lieved it to be a radical and partisan meas
ure Ii amended, as he proposed to amend
lit, ha should favor it.
Mr.. Harrington Of Norridgewock. thought
that the number of amendments proposed
might obscure the point now before the
House, which was the manner in which this
BOARD shall be appointed. All men be sup
posed we're partlsans to greater or less de
gree hut, from the remarks of the gentleman
from Lewiston, 1t was evident that he had
nothing to fear from Republicans, as he said
that 25 per cent of his vote was cast by
them. Mr.. Harrington said that the bill as
reported was the result of hard work by the
committee. He believed its pro sisiOns bet
ter than they would be if amended as pro-
posed Dy the gentleman from Lewiston, bug
If the bill was found to be faulty after 1t be-
came law it could easily be amended. de
hoped therefore that the amendment would
not prevail.
Mr.. Noble of Lewiston said that the House
had reached a road of many forks. As he
had predicted yesterday, the House found
itself face to face with all sorts of amend
men s, which he believed were offered under
the guise of friendship with the purpose of
X ling the bill. Mr.. Noble then proceeded to
describe some of the scenes ne had witnessed
in Lewiston under the old system of regis
tratiOn. he blamed the system, however,
and not the city which he represented.
Mr.. ChadbOurne of Biddeford referred to
the reflections on the political affairs Of the
Democratic city which he represented and
said that seven days trial in an United
States court had shown their political man
agement to be clean and pure. Mr. Cnad
bourne favOrtd d the Massachusetts, plan of a
board of four. He believed that such a
board you'd operate without clashiDg be-
cause neither party c,uld afford to have a
deadlock. He did not believe that the
Governor could make suitable appointments
not because he doubted the ability and in
legrily of the Governor but because in the
nature of things the Governor could not
know the necessities of all these cities. He
had nothing to say against the judges of the
municipal courts and the county commission
ers. He had no doubt that they would make
good officers, but he honestly believed in the
system of boards of four and hoped that the
House Ould adopt it.
Mr.. Peaks Of Dover. In a speech that fire.
quently convulsed the House, stated his be-
lief that the purpose uf the amendments wa:
simply to kill the bill.
Mr.. Savage of Auburn explained that he
had endeavored to get his amendment CON
sldered last week.
Mr.. Callahan also explained that it hat
been impossible for him to present hi
amendment in time for printing.
The vote was then taken on Mr.. Callahan's
amendment, that providing for system sim
liar to the Massachusetts. The yeas and nay
were call-d and the amendment was defeat
ed-44 tu 96 Amendment B, providing fol
appointment by the county commissioners
was also vO,ed down, SO that the bill was no
changed by this mornings action. On mo
tion OF Mr.. Porter of Bangor an order wa
| passed providing for vote on the bill a
noon tomorrow and the House adjourned.
The appropriation sill.
| Eleven O'Clock this fornoon was assigne
in the Senate the proposed amendments t,
the first appropriation bill which are (a) t.
strike out the item giving the militia $4,000
and (b) to strike out the item of SIG. .34S. /
deficiency for furnishings, etc., for publ
buildings.
Mr.. Walton of Somerset, said he had n,
Objtction> to a liberal allowance for tn
militia, but he thought the item could be Iai,
| over two Or three weeks SO that the amonn
could be determined.
Mr.. Spear believed that 1t had bettsr h
left out until the Adjutaut General made tn,
report which the Senat- has cailst for.
The amendment (a) was carried and th,
military appropriation struck from the LIST
On the amendment (b) for striking out tn,
deficiency item. MIR. Haines said that M
Mallet had examined all the items and conf
explain them.
Mr.. Malet said it was found necessar
that the addition should have furniture An
fixtures, and the Governor told the superir
tendent of public buildings, Gen, Harris !
90 ahead and geth them and be would bae
him up. There was about Sl1,OO0 exueade
on the old part In fire-places for the Cover
or's room, the council room, carpets en-
The capitol commission Ordere
an expensive counter for ~
State Treasurer's office and left Gov. Harri
| to pay for IL. In fact the commission ha
| ordered large part of the fixtures for th
| new part when they had no money to M
for them and they appear In this deficit. On
item ON this bill is for fire CRATES S2O3. III
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