Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-11
REGISTRATION Btll.

\
majority and minority reports Of less
Affairs committee on bill, an oct to provid
a board Of registration Of voters in tn
cities Of this State. we're taken from tn
table MAJORITY report fought t. pass il
new draft" Minority report ''ought no
to pAss.'l
Mr.. Harrington Of Norridgevo vock -
move that sha. the majority report Of tn,
committee On legal affairs be accept in con
currence BY the House.
Mr.. Harrington motion Was adopted b,
. rising vote of 81 to IS.
Rending the fret reading Of the bill, Mr.
Noble Of Lewiston moved an amendmeu
House amendment "A''o ~ follows
Amend section Is by adding after the word
repealed in said section the words "but
the provisions Of this act shsll not apply Il
the municipal elections of the year 1891 in
the cities in which such elections are held
on the first Monday of March"
Mr.. Savage of Auburn-It seems to me
that the amendment offered by the gentle
man from Lewiston 10 not quite far reach
log enough. l understand that il apple.
only to elections. Ought it not to apply Al
well to the preparation of the lists and oil
matters preliminary 10 the election: Sec
tion Is otherwise provides that all acts and
parts OF acts inconsistent herewith are here
BY repealed. That would repeal all Law.
relating to the preparation and revision OF
check lists in all cities. Ii seems TO me
that BY common consent If such an amend
ment is to be passed it should be widened
so As to include the preparation of checL
lists.
Mr.. Noble-l think the suggestion oi
the gentleman from Auburn is little cap
tious. Ii strikes me that the term ''elec
tons" as used in the bill and in the Ststutei
10 comprehensive enough TO include moi
only the revision Of the lists. but the bal
losing after the lists are made up. wish,
of course, to make the terms so broad tha
there shall be no apprehension Of any dan
ger. The provisions Of this act cxunos sp
ply to cities holding their elections on thu
first Monday in March
Mr.. Ssvage-Excuse me, but let me ash
the gentl aman il that is the way his amend
meat reads.
The Chsit read Mr.. Mobiles amendment.
MIR. Noble-I desire to state again fol
the benefit of the House that the provis
ions of this act with no amendment would
not apply to cities holding their elections
10 the year 1891 on the first Monday in
March, but il was thought best to put in 6
saving clause lest the House nigh have
some fear that. election laws being entirely
repealed in the existing Statutes by the
new act, it would leave them practicsll
without any election law In force. think
the term "clection" is broad enough, but
will not be cAptious. am willing that the
La a. H..
brosdened.
Mr.. Callahan of Lewiston--Mr. Speaker
l should like to inquire, if this bill cannot
apply 10 the cities holding their election on
the first Monday in March. whether the
amendment is not superfluous.
Mr.. Noble--If we passed the act without
any saving clause whatever, since it repesls
sll acts and parts Of acts inconsistent with
it, there might some apprehension arise
that we have left those cities holding theil
election on the first Monday in March
practically without any election lsws in
force.
Mr.. Noble subsequently offered hi,
amendment somewhat modified at the sug.
gestion Of the gentleman from Auburn.
The amendment read as follows Section
Is of Senate bill No. 81 is hereby amended
by adding after the word repealed" il
said section, the words "but the provisions
of this act shall not apply to the municipal
elections of the year 1891 in the cities in
which such elections are held on the frs,
Monday of March, or to the preparation
and revision Of its lists therefor
Mr.. Chsdbourne OF Bidieford-I oTeI
the following amendment to the amendment
rT. hx,t tI, 7 ,at1
Amend House amendment "a" 50 that said
section II shall provide that the provisions
of this bill shall not apply to the municipal
elections of the year 1891 in any city.
The question was then upon the amend
nent OF Mr. Chadbourne to the amend meni
Of the gentleman from Lewiston.
MIR. Harricgton of Norri1gewock--T This
bill i. q majority report and is framed
upon the theory that i, is good bill fol-
the registration of cities and il necessary
one. If the conclusion of the msiority OF
the committee is worth anything, that is ia
the ef feet thSt the sooner the cities can
have the benefit Of this bill, the better i,
will be for them As understand it, the
cities whose elections occur on the tirei
Monday Of March have not time 70 adop,
it's provisions; therefore a saving clause is
put in t1 cover this point. II there were
time, no such amendment would have been
offered. As the municipal elections have
close connec ction with those that follow, il
is well and proper and Just that the provis
ions Of this bill should be adopted as soon
as practicable. In regard to cities whose
elections come later, l understand that
there is ample time for carrying out the
provisions of this bill. Therefore il seem.
to me that the amendment Of the geDtlemsr
from Biddeford ought to be rejected, in
order that the cities whose elections occur
later may have the bene fit of this bill.
Mr. White of Bansor-In the city Of
Bangor we hold cur elections on the sec
ord Monday in March. The people OF
that city, irrespective of party, are perfect
ly satisfied with tie manner in which the
registration is now made there. doub
very much if you could find in either party
any objection to the present mode of revi,
ing the voting list think that to hurry
matter Of this kind upon our cities whc
hold their elections in the month of March
10 reversing the order of things and placins
them at disadvantage and il the goct
Judgement Of this Legislature decides tha
the bill is necessary, hope tnat the amend
ment offered by the gentleman frop Bid
deford will pass for the reason that every
city in this State ought to have time to pre-
pare for the measure If adopted believe
that without this amendment. il IL hu ryn.
the thing upon us altogether too fast. F0
our city at least, whose election comes a
it does on the second Monday of March.
hope that the amend nent offered by the
gentleman from Biddeford will prevail.
Mr.. Chadbonrpe-Io offer this amsn linen
because believe it to be fair and aoov,
board. II Questions Of party politics wer'
dragged in here, should certainly have q,
hope of success, so that IL were no. fai
for any other reason, certainly policy woul'
lead me to be fair. live in city whsr
political rsncor runs high. am not her
to say that my party is the o,ly pure party il
this State but il were put upon oath coul
swear that it is.not the only imp1re one
but above and beyond tais consideration
ouah. re not TO be fair, one to the oiher
Personally hail with delight every a.temp
which can and shall be made that look
toward q fair registration of the voters o
this State. ThsAthis bill will accomp!is.
all that is recommended for il, DO no
believe, and think That voice the senti
ment Of very large number Of the cor
servative members Of the party that oppose
me. | know that there are Anendmsn mt
which will be offered to this bill which vii
address themselves to the good conscienc
Of every member Of this House. ard tha
the bill passed will Jock toward . fai
board of registration msis up o
men who can raise tn .mselves abov
mere party politics, male up so that "
shall have the assurance that our check lis,
shall be fair t, all men. / heartily favo
the adoption of the bill, but, gentlemen
are We istifisd in making this entire revo
lutinn Of nnr ,euiatxafinn rnachinn.u . n.