The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-12
Tile Legislature Conyenes Again
Today.
BOTH BRANCHES MEET TO LEARN
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.
Gov. Powers and Staff VIII Attend Funer
al of Ex-Gov. Davis-Deputy Secretary
of Stats Chadbourne Thinks Australian
Ballot allure.
ESPECIAL TO THE pREss.l

Augusta, January 11-Govarnor Powers
| Is In close communication with the
friends in Bangor of the late Ex-Governor
Daniel B. Davis, who died Saturday. He
received letter asking him ana his
council to attend the funeral and replied
| that he had already planned TO do 80, and
would lay the matter before the council
at its meeting Tuesday, to ascertain If
Its mem bers would attend.
Governor Cleayes said to some Of the
state officials today: "Of course I shall
go, because Davis and were old friends.
We have campaigned 1t together and l
have been associated with him as q
partner, and in many ways. I have re-
quested his friends in Bangor to keep me
posted by wire on the funeral arrange
nenta -
President Seth L. Larrabee of the
House, it is quite generally understood
has: been putting a great deal of thought
on the appointment of the House mem
oers of the judiciary committee. In fact
he has found it necessary to do SO for he
bnilt of good timber for this important
committee. Aside from this little puzzle
thin IS are ry auspicious for Mr.. LARA
bee. There is almost no end of praise for
his address of acceptance.
The ballot system of the stnte is GER
tainly one of the topics of the day in
official and political circles of this city.
Secretary of State Boyd was not in his
office today when o PRESS correspondent
called, but hisj assistant, Sumner j.
ChRdburne, WAS in, and he iS man Of
experience in this department..
Deputy Secretary of State Chadburne
says regarding the law: II look on it as
cum bersome system of voting. Many
voters lose their vote. Why there were
5000 of that kind in the last election.
Sometime when the state is close. and I
have seen it so. sSand expect to see it
the election of governor or member of
Congress.
"The present system is not a secret
ballot. 1t is expensive, vary expens i've
and involves great many complications
aside from those which confront the
voter.
ssSupposing a new party, includi ng
half the people of the state should sprin q
up one of these odd years. Just see what
it has got 20 do TO get onto the st ate
ballot. Hut perhaps the most serious
thing is the accidental disfranchising of
such large number 0 our citizens AS
I understand the system proposed by Mr..
bradbury, it provides for an envelope in
which the voter puts his party ballot,
the act being performed In q booth SO
| constructed that no one can see which
party's ballot be selects. That arrange
ment i believe to be an improvement
over the present system, and of course it
would not involve the expense of print
ing and distributing the blanket ballot
of the system In use, and I presume i t
would simplify matters somewhat for
the voter.
"They said that the system We are
using would stop bribery, but I don't
believe that it does. do not know of
course that bribery can be stopped and
doubt If it oan. :"
The Maine Electoral College met at the
State House this morning and formally
cast it's six Yates for Mckinley and
Hobart. Hon. J. F. Hill of Augusta was
elected messenger to bear the returns to
Washington.
The legislature will meet again at 4. 80
O'Clock tomorrow afternoon and listen to
the announcement of the committee by
The presiding officers of the two branches
The committees can do little this week
but organize and receive what matters
come to them. 1t will not be practical