The Portland daily press., 1893-03-02

used the word only as signifying undue
haste.
Hon. S. S. Brown of Waterville, made
his first appearance on the field of battle
at this point. He said that the discuss
ion so far had related only to the city of
Portland, but this was matter in which
all the cities Of the state were int. ested.
If he thought this matter was to be set
tied on party lines he should not make
an exhibition of himself by arguing the
question. But he believed he was talk
ing to fair minded men, who wanted to
do what was right. His city was inter
ested. They wanted to change their
ward linesIthere although they were now
satisfactory to his own political party.
Mr. Brown spoke in further praise of
when they were formed there was not a
difference of twenty votes between any
of them. But if this bill passed, ward
lines could not be changed in any city in
the state. Who wanted this bill? Was
it asked for by any city? Did Bangor
want it? No. Did Waterville want it?
No. Why, they said hat majority of
the people of Portland did not want it.
1t was asked for because some politi-
clans in Portland were scared, and in
stead of standing up and beating the
proposed redistricting as he believed
they might do, they had come here to
get the legislature to pass special law
to help them out. Mr.. Brown spoke
eloquently during his half of the speech.
Then Mr.. Higgins of Limerick finished
it,
Mr.. Higgins made convincing argu-
ment for the bill which was received
with much applause. He said that the
gentleman from Patten had said he
was not prepared on this question and
had then talked an hour and half on it,
Mr.. Higgins congratulated the House
that the gentleman had not been prepared
for if he had had time to say all that he
h d mapped out, and this House was to
adjourn finally on the 10th of next
month, they would find the gentleman
from Pattten still talking.
The distinguished gentleman from
Waterville had said that this was not a
party measure, but Mr.. Higgins found in
a report of meeting in Portland on the
previous evening some remarks of the
distinguished gentleman. He read that
the gentleman stated that If the forty
four Democrats in the House could de-
feat this bill, the City of Portland would
be Democratic for the next ten years.
[Great laughter and applause.
Mr.. Higgins told of the proposed re-
distributing and the delay of the Demo-
cratic city council in proposing the ques-
ton so that it had to be acted upon
hastily. He asked in view of that fact
where was the indecent haste? This was
party question. If the Republicans of
this legislature would not go to the assis-
lance of their fellow Republicans under
such state of things, they were not
made Of the stuff he gave them credit for.
Mr.. Higgins paid his respects to MI.
Scott, calling that G ntleman's attention
to the report of his last nights speech
Eastern Argus with much COM
mendation. The gentleman from Pat
ten had denied that he had
filibustered but the headlines of the
Argus referred to the bill as being
STAYED off for one day. And, said Mr..
Higgins, turning to Mr.. Bird, the same
paper gives the gentleman from Portland
the credit of leading the movement. That
may be reporters error. Laughter. ]
If this question was to be made parti-
san one by the Democrats, he hoped the
Republicans would not be found want
ing.
As leader of the filibusters, Mr.. Bird
then closed the debate, speaking briefly.
He claimed that the present law had
been passed to prevent a Democratic
city council in 1851 from redistricting
the city and that the Republicans in the
redistricting of the next year had kept
back their plan until the eve of election.
Mr.. Bird said that gerrymandering
might be done by omission as well as by
commission and that no redistricting
had been done in Portland since 1872.
He urged that this matter should not be
treated as party question.
Mr.. Powers of Houlton then said that
as the friends of the bill had permitted
the minority to do most of the talking,
it seemed only fair that the vote should
now be taken.
Mr.. Bird said he had no objection, and
the vote followed on Mr.. Bird S motion
to substitute the adverse report for the
majority. This, it should be remem-
bered, required the opponents of the
bill TO vote yes and its friends no. Mr..
Birds motion was defeated.
The majority port was then adopted,
and the bill passed to be engrossed un-
der suspension Of the rules, the minority
forcing division on the motion to sus-
pend, which prevailed, s. to 81.
Scarlet Haver nm the peruviau