Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-01-28
Socol CIlotters.
IMPORTANT DECISION
Made by The Board Of Registration al
their Melting Yesterday
With Regard to Registering Judge
Libbey's Name Decided Not TO Do so.

At their meeting yesterday the Board Of
| Registration rendered decision in regard
10 registerirg Judge Libbey's name. Il
will be remembered tina. Judge Libbey
SIP sarrd before the board but refused to
comply with the rules Of the board sad the
matter V az laid on the table Dec 81.
When it was pui TO vote yesterday there
vas a lie. C. B. Morton, the member
chosen by the Democratic city c)mmitte,
voted against putting the name on the !ist
sni W. II. Williams WHO WAS appointed
ny the Illness of D. A. Cory the m mber
chosen BY the Republican city committee
voted in the affirmative. This left the ques-
ion to be decided by the Chairman, A. s.
B,ngs. He voted sssinst putting the name
Of Judge Libby on the list. Accompany
ing bis vote wss the follox wing which Mr.
Bangs allows the JOURNAL to publish;
N. 1l3
LAID UPoN THE TABLE DEC 81, 1891.
The informS.ity in this case vas the re
iusal 10 comply with he rules Q f the board
ibis board OF rigs ration was cous'itU-
ted BY, and suthofized 10 carry out The
provisions OF la~ enacted by the Leg
lsls,ure OF Maine in 1912 for the pnrpose
| 81 mssIog sreglstrslon OF 'hose Fo'ers IN
he c!Gies, Who were undoubtedly entitled
t, the privilege Of suffrage, under the con-
stltuuon OF nsiue. They were instructed
| to make up hsts OF sueh persons IS ut
toubtediy appeared to item to possess thst
| right
They are re'ponsiole for correct Fegii-
Ter of such pers"ns To sustsin that re
spor sloill :, they had given them the rig at
snd are required to make ard sdopt such
| reasonable rules std method ss IN thelf
judgment VII BEST acc mPlsh hat OBJ &C..
Having In mIhd the fact that whatever
| rules were s3rpet SHOULD be so framed as
| to rOmpy With the law governing The SIX
| secular days previous 10 each election :;
alter careful itudy sEd obtaining such II 60
'otmt'ion "a &c coult f'op' methods
adopted in Massachusetts, she board for
muisted certain questions to be asked each
applicant for registration as IN ,hei- Judge
snent would cover any case likely to come
before them, and established rules of pro-
Having adopted those rules, and proDul-
sst d them by proper notice, they ware
entitled TO enforce them, being clothed
with authority to do so. If the rules
were arbitrary or unreasonable, 4 msndu-
mus from a higher tribunal could have
Instructed them 10 modify them, present.
ing shst modification should be made. No
such action was asked for, or II requested
was not granted.
The fact that over eighteen hundred Of
)uf intelligent cit ms cneeriuliy accepted
them and in one single exception com.
Piled with their requirements, sesm' to
indicate that they Ttre not considered by
them unreasonable. The resurt lss regis-
trstion Of which our citizens and ths board
may Justly be proud.
The case before US involves peculiar and
might say painful responsibilities. The
reputation Of the gentleman for legsl
ability and knowledge OF constitutional
law ia widespread sod u7q lestioned. Az
81 early period in cur lsooss he appeared
before US and openly refused to comply
With the ruI sdop ed by the board for
thti, suIdssez.
His recognition Of the bosrd of registrs-
ton, a. d their published plsn Of action, by
appearing before them, in my ijgement
settles the question of our authority. to
adopt personal registration IS the bssis of
our fret lists ard leaves the question only
for US to determine, for what cause should
'1'g Ti uus fun ~ U5 -. III. -.
case Gar the bansit NJ ors nsrso1 ubo
was able and did appear before u, would
not Only have defeated th7 paipose fof
M" 80 - 80, ,ho,a JI' ny,
thu. fz7o-ea.
have siren this case the most careful
consideration, and nave desired Tor pet
a. t'as' ~ ~. -. :. 800
come 10 re for decision
| But fairness to those who hsve alresdg
registered, sed in view OF she ,dVlssouity
" eD..s 80 . 'se oi,
10 ssn,ds .v.tn.Tif-
lam strengthened in thi, decision. by
the fact that Ihsre l. YET simple lime fsr
~, aa'H uuo VI. ~ - ss .,