The Portland daily press., 1891-03-14
Two Australian Ballot Bills.

4
j nihine central. b2,b99 6O,7Sl
| rortland q hochester......... 1905 3,o22
Two Australian Ballot Bills.
| Mr.. Borter Of Bangor said he understood
the ballot bill was still in the possession Of
| the House, and he moved to reconsider the
| vote by which the majority report was re-
| jected. He said that by the rules the motion
| could not be made only on the same or sue
| ceeding days, and he gave notice as required
by rule 81, which requires that one days no
tice shall be given for any change Of rule,
| he moved to alter or amend said rule.
| At the request of Mr.. Clason Of Gardiner.
| Speaker Wiswell made ruling on the posi-
tion Of the ballot bill In the House.
Early in the session bill known as the
Clason ballot bill was introduced In this
House, was accepted and referred to the
committee on the judiciary. Two reports
were presented and neither have been adopt
ed. and In my opinion the original Clason
bill Is still before the House subject to the
following action:
Recommitment to the committee.
Reference to committee Of the whCle.
Reference to the next legislature.
Indefinite postponement
But at the request of the friends of the
Dill, as we'll as those opposed to 1t, and by
their express consent and to expedite mat
ters, now rule pro t0rmG that the House
has nothing to do with the bill, and hereby
order the clerk to send all papers to the Sem
ate.
Mr.. Spear presented bill in the Senate
this morning which, while introduced as a
new measure. proved to be the ClaS0n Aus
tralian ballot bill with the optional clause
stricken out and the measure made appli-
cable to the whole state with the exception
Of the plantations, Mr.. Spear said that the
Republican party had been placed in a false
position In respect to the Australian system.
The party should stand by 1t as party or
reject It as a party. Ii the party want it, let
than stand hun rtf llxr
Ii It is not wanted. then let 1t be voted down
in the Senate and House. Mr.. Spear did not
bel eve in doing by indirectlon what should
pc done squarely. He moved that the bill
be referred to the judiciary committee but,
upon learning that motion was to be made
In the House to reconsider the vote whereby
the majority report of the judiciary commit
tee In favor of the Clas0n bill was rejected,
changed his motion to- one to lay the bill
upon the table in order that should the
House reconsider its vote and accept the
majority report. the new bill might be offer
ed as substitute when the matter reached
the Senate.
When the action of the House In rejecting
both the majority and minority reports in the
Clason bill was announced, the Senate after
some discussion assigned the consideration
Of the matter for next Thursday when Mr..
Ryder will move that the minority report be
accepted. Pending the settlement of that
question. Mr.. Spears will lie upen the table.
inc Listing system.
The bill providing for the listing system of
taxation came up in the House this morning
under assignment and Senator Spear gave
notice that he should offer amendments to
section 2 by which taxpayers would be re-
quired to return only the aggregate amount
OF debts due them and would not be required
to return lists OF certain stocks and other Sc
curitles held by them. The provision that In
nrd0r N Aa1, l..
debts owing by him, taxpayer must give
the name and residence of each of his credi-
tors remains In the section.
The bill was tabled for printing aud as
signed to next Tuesday.
The Rum Bill.
When the bill amending the prohibitory
law came up in the Senate this morning,
the pending question being Mr.. Walton's mo.
tion to indefinitely postpone the bill. Mr..
Stewart instead of proceeding with his
speech which was interrupted by adjourn.
ment yesterday, said he believed enough had
been said to inform the members of the Sem
ate OF the provisions of the bill and before
saying anything further he would call for
vote on the question Of indefinite postpone
ment.
Mr.. Walton replied to the reference made
by Senator Stewart yesterday to the recent
closing OF the hotels in Skowhegan by the
united action Of their propretors. Mr.. Wal
ton said that this was caused by the action
Of man appointed to, enforce the liquor
this case. but the innholders' license
law, which had been an unenforced law In
that vicinity. The officer himself gave the
proprietors Of the hotels the choice Of TAX
ing out Licenses or closing their houses, aud
the hotel keepers. as they had perfect right
to do, closed their houses. AS the result of
the trouble. the selectmen who recommended
the appointment Of the officer In question and
who were honorable men and good officials,
were defeated at the next election. The
cause OF prohibition In the vicinity was set
back five years by this ill-advised action of
its friends.
MIR. Walton repeated that he was in favor
of prohibition, but he believed that the
cause was going backward In this state and
desire for license was growing, and this state
OF things was brought about by the unwise
course Of the friends of temperance. Mr..
Walton, referring to the statements Of Sena-
tor Stewart that liquor agencies were the
means Of debauching the people, called at
tention to the fact that In the bill reported
| by the Senator from York, liquor agencies
were TO be established upon the petition of
one per cent OF the inhabitants of towns and
cities.
Finally. upon motion OF Mr.. Thatcher, the
bill was recommitted to the committee on
| temperance In order that the committee
might have chance to remove features to
which objection had been made.
Woman Suffrage.
| When the action Of the House refusing to
concur In the recommittal of the bill grant
ing municipal suffrage to women, was an
n0unced In the Senate today. Mr.. Walton
OF Somerset. moved that the Senate adhere
to Its former action and ask for committee
/ OF conference. AS the cOnferees on the part
OF the Senate. the president named Messrs.
| Walton, Spear and Ryder. The action of
the Senate In voting to recommitt the bill 1t
| Will be remembered, was to give opportunity
for the preparation Of minority report in
| its favor.
Committee Business.
The committee on education voted today to
report ought not to pass on the resolve In IA
voT of Harpswell Academy.
i Inc railroad committee will report favora-
bly, the bill increasing the salary of the
chairman OF the board OF railroad commits
sioners from $4,000 to $2500, and Of the clerk
to the board from $1,000 to $500.
The Judiciary committee will report In IA
its provisions shall apply to "any employer,
employe or other person."
Some time ago Representative Shaw of
Portland introduced an order directing the
committee on military affairs to inquire into
the expediency of reducing the number Of
the committee will report a bill fixing the
number at 10, instead of II as at present.
The staff would then consist of an adjutant
general and inspector general, TO rank as
brigadier generals; cOmmissary general,
surgeon general, judge advocate general and
inspector general to rank as eOlOnels. three
aides to rank as lieutenant colonels, and a
military secretary to rank as major.
The committee on agriculture voted to-day
to report ought not to pass on bill referred
to them from the last legislature for a for
estry commission.
House Matters.
In the House this morning, on motion OF
Mr.. Hill of Augusta, the bill for the high
way across Atkins bay, which came back
from the Senate, passed to be enacted, Was
taken from the table. Mr.. Hill moved TO re-
| cede and concur with the Senate.
Mr., HilPs motioned prevailed ana the
| House receded and concurred with the SEN
ate in passing the bill to be engrossed.
The judiciary committee reported resolve
submitting to the people the question OF the
appointment of the adjutant general by the
governor instead of election by the legisia-
ture. -.
with the doors Of the Hall OF Representa-,
tlyes opening inward contrary TO law, and
this morning Mr.. Peaks of Dover, intro
duced the following order In relation tnereto
Ordered, the Senate concurrlng, that ths
| oonu,Itfaa ~, nuhlte huildinQs D0 directed II