The Portland daily press., 1899-01-20


te,day-Mr. Keefe of Eliot sworn In
as Member OF the House-Bii TO
Amend Savings Bank Laws aud 60
Reform the Photographs.
ESPECIAL TO THE PKEss.I
Augusta, January i9--In a short session
today, the House of Representatives took
considerable important action. First they
unseated Thomas ). Staples OF Eliot ana
gave his place In the House to the con-
testant for the seat. MIR. Francis heele'
This WAS In accordance with the unani-
NOUS report of the committee on elections
When the report and the accompanying
resolve declaring Mr.. keefe entitled 10
the seat were laid hefure the House, MI
Melcher of Portland moved that the
matter be assigned to Thursday next
Judge Hopkins of Deering, the chairman
of the com mittee. was imipediateiy on
his feet He said that this was a matter
which should be promptly decided rs II
involved the right of a man TO seat IN
the House. Judge Hopkins asked IL MIR.
Melcher would not assign an earlier day.
Mr.. Melcner not agreeing TO this PROPOSE
ton, the question came on the assign
ment to next Thursday and the motion
was lost. Then Judge Hopkins moved
that the resolution have passage and the
motion was carried without IA dissenting
vote Upon tbs announcement oil this
result Mr. Perkins OF Cornish stated
that Mr.. Keefe was in waiting and ready
to take the o ath of office. MIR. Perkins
was a, ..einted a COMMITTEES TO consuct
MIR. keefe to the Governor and Council.
This was done and then Mr.. keefe was
given Mir Stapless committee places.
MIR. Staples was not entirely forgotten.
lie will, under an order passed by the
House, receive his pay and mileage for
the session.
The result in this case is significant for
its bearing on the attempt TO repeal the
Australian law, that great movement
which is now so thoroughly dead that no
body even speaks OF 1t. Hon. Herbert
Heath. In his presentation of MIR. Staples's
side of the case, based it entirely upon the
ground that the Australian law had de-
feated the will OF the people. The law IN
its present shape, Mi. Heath ridiculed
with all his ability as a speaker. de said
that 1t had been purposely altered to de-
ceive the voters and that man who
wanted to vote an independent ticket
needed copy of the law TO take with
him when he went into the booth. Had
there been any extensive feeling of hostili-
ty to the law among the membeSs of the
House, there was an excellent opportunity
To show It on this occasion, but II did not
appear Not single member of the COM
mite took MIR. Heath's view of the case
and today the resolve unseating MIR.
Staples was passed without a dissenting
vote.
STANDING BY THE PRESIDENT.
The morning session of the House was
further enlivened by the passage of reso-
lutions endorsing the attitude of Presi-
dent Mckinley on the question of our
relations with the Philippines and urging
the atinoation of the peace treaty. The
resolutions were introduced by MIR.
Macomber of Augusta Mr.. Macomber
said that the unanimity with which
Senator Hale had been renonfDated
might give the impression that the legis-
lature shared the views of MIR. Hale re-
specting the policy of the administration.
To correct that impression, he would offer
these resolutions and he moved that the
rules bs suspended and the resolutions
given a passage. Then Mr.. Wilbur of
Avon, moved that the vote be taken by
rising, and the resolutions were unani-
mously adopted. Con siderable enthusiasm
was manifested during the presentation
and passage of the resolutions, which are
as follows:
Whereas, within the past year under the
wise ana firm leadership OF William Nc
hinlsy, President of the United States,
the forces OF the United States. regular
and volunteer, by their skill and valor ON
land and sea, have brought the war with
Spain to speedy and victorious termlnl'
nation; American statesmen have negoti-
ated u treaty ensuring to Cuba the free
dom for which the war was undertaken
and to their country the right to extend
under its flag the domain OF civiliza-
ton, and bear the blessings of God and
stable government to peoples who have
not known them; and the United states
has been advanced to u recognized place
among the great powers OF the world,
therefore.
Resolved, That President Mckinley has
well earned the gratitude of his country
in the conduct of his great Office; that the
treaty with Spain should be speedily rati-
fled; that the supremacy OF the United
States should be established and all the
rights and obligations of sovereignty
should be exercised and discharged in the
Philippines, in accordance with the in
structions which have been given by the
President to the commanding officers of
those islands; and that the relinq uish-
If
be considered until it shall appear that
the duties and responsibilities of govern.
ment may with safety TO the interests of
all concerned be committed to the people
Of the Philippines.
Resolved, That the State of Maine
pledges her earnest and faithful support
to the President in the execution of this
policy.
Resolved, That the governor, the Presi-
dent of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives be authorized to