The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-08
Representative Scott Gives the House
Hints on Manufacturing History.
MEMORIAL ASKING THAT THE RE.
MAINS OF MR.. BLAINE BE
BROUGHT TO AUGUSTA.
Portland Representatives Take Hand in
the Contested Election Debate-Thou-
sands of Petitions for the Druggists
Bill-Protests Against the Annexation
of Oakdale- o Permit Pool Selling.
Especial to the Press.l


| of Oakdale- Permit Pool Selling.
| Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Feb. THE legislature this
morning listened to the first debate of the
session. 1t was on the question of that
contested election up in Franklin county.
It will be remembered that Mr.. Hinkley
of Phillips is sitting in the House as the
| representative of his town and that Mr.
Nathaniel Beale contests Mr.. Hinkley's
| right to the seat on the ground that the
apportionment by the last legislature, as
| far as it related to the case of the class
| of which Phillips is one of the towns,
was unconstitutional. Some days ago,
the elections committee made two re-
ports, the majority confirming the right
of the sitting member to the seat. To-
day Mr.. Purington of Minot moved the
| adoption of the majority report. AS an
amendment to that motion, Mr.. Belleau
of Lewiston moved that the minority re-
port be substituted for the majority re-
port. Mr.. Belleau said that during this
session no matter would come up involv-
ing a grander question than this 1t was
one involving contested election, ques-
| ton strange to Maine legislatures, though
common to the law making powers Of
other states. Mr.. Belleau then proceeded
| to argue the case of Mr.. Beale. the con-
| testant, substantially in the same line as
| that taken by Mr.. Heath when he ap-
| peared as counsel for the contestant be-
fore the elections committee; that is,
that in giving to the town of Phillips the
exclusive right to elect a representative
| to this legislature and one other in the
decade for which the apportionment was
| made, the last legislature disfranchised
the other towns in the class, and in SO
doing violated the constitution. Mr..
| Beales side of the case was further ar
gued by Messrs. Churchill. Scott Brown
and Parker. Mr.. Scott was oratorical
Referring to Mr. Purington, who had
spoken just previously for the maiority
report, he wanted to know if the SANITY
look of conscious rectitude on hi, friends
face would not change to scowl of in
dignation if Democrats were attempting
what the Republic n majority of this
committee wanted the House to do. Mr..
Scott also wanted to know if the Repub-
licans of the House were so blinded by
passion, so fettered Dy prejudice that
they must follow where this commit,
led. Mr.. Scott reminded the House that
manufacture an article which it could
read without shame. He also sad all
things were possible since the Rep
cans had lost Kansas, and again rned
the House not to establish preceden
Mr.. Brown of Waterville, who spoke
soon after Mr.. Scott, made a clear pre-
sentation of the contestants side of the
case and spoiled the pyrotechnics by say
ing that he had no doubt that the com
mittee and the House were pro mpted
only by desire to do what they believed
was right
In behalf of the adoption of the MAJ
jority report, remarks were made by
Messrs. Purington of Minot, Morrill, of
Portland, Powers of Houlton, Emerson
of Portland, Woodbury. of Deering and
Shaw of Bath. Messrs. Purington and
Morrill, of the committee, spoke of the
constitutional arguments in the case and
claimed that when the last legislature
acted as it did upon the request of the
town of Phillips it acted clearly in its
right. Mr.. burlington pointed out that
SO far as politics were concerned one
Democrat more or less in the House made
oo,,rsa of bir ro,,,o,l,e so;d +bo+' ,rl,;Ios