Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-14

MAINE LEGISLATURE.
sxas'
Continued from page %

,ned by this bill and afterwards submit
II ia the city of Bangor,-does he mean
that?
Mr.. Plummer of Penobscot-I did not
intend To go into the merits of this ease
Al all do not propose 10 any extent.
row. but simply to state that, as under
Grand it, as the law now stands. which is
q general law which was passed for Il
GENERAL purpose, and as most laws passei
:, hat way, is not the best law that
10 Apply To the whole State. the action of
,rc city council must be ratified not by a
nainrity Of the voters voting upon the
ouestion. but a majority of the registered
vote of the city; and that, practically. in
any ease il would be impossible to secure
a me ioritv vote of the entire registered
yote of the city Consequently, in or.cr
~ hiring about IL change of lines and to
correct these great inequalities. and ev-
srybody admits that the wards, according
N the old arrangement, were unequal in
rcnulation, unequal in the registered
vote the vote usually cast at the cleo
lions. unequal in territory. irregular in
form. and all that sort of thing. and
o,pst!on submitted To the committee was
how they We're to be- corrected unless in
,be way which has been adopted: be-
c,use. the city council having acted. ana
,he law as il stands, requiring a ma jor-
inv of the registered voters. il would be
;mpossible to secure that in any case,
and the action of the city council would
thus be nulitied. and the thing might go
IN indefinitely; and. in order to have this
thing made right, and these ward lines
corrected, il seemed to be necessary for
The legislature to legalize the doings of
the civ council. That is all there is to
il That matter was heard in extenso be-
fore the committee. 1t was adopted in
the committee. 1t was considered by "A
subcommittee. 1t was referred back TO
the committee II was considered in all
lis aspects and bearings. and the commit
Zee in its test Judgment seeking to do
what is right, believe, | was not with
il when the matter was finally settled
the committee reported this bill. There
is no disposition TO take away from peo-
ule. as | understand il. any rights which
rhev have To be heard upon the matt,r
II resolved itself into the practical ques
lion whether the ward lines We're to -
main as they We're, unequal and irreg-
ular, and injustice is done to the citizens
Of that city in that way. and have 1t per-
petuated, or whether the thing was Il, be
remedied in this way.
Mr.. VIRGIN of Cumberland-Mr Presi-
dent.
Mr. ADAMS Of Penobscot-Question.
Mr.. VIRGIN-Does the senator refuse
me the privilege of speaking?
Mr. ADAMS-Not at all.
Mr. VIRGIN-I would like to ask the
senator from PcnObscot who just spoke
if n delay Of one week will make any diff
ference 10 the people Of Bangor in the
passage of this bill? Perhaps. before he
answers the question, | will preface il
with a few remarks to this effect. The
senator from Knox asks this Senate to
delay action on this matter until he can
confer with citizens Of Bangor whom he
says he represents 10 the number of 2m,
before final action is taken on this meas
IRE. 1t is a matter that does not con-
Germ me, or Cumberland county in any
way. 1t is 4 matter that concerns the
people of PenohsCot county and the peo-
pie of Bangor There has been no debate
on the merits Of this bill, but. from the
remarks that have been made, it does not
seem if this bill is passed, today, or
week from today, ii will make any diff
ference TWenty-eight days from yester-
day will be the 18th day of March. '"e
day of the election. Now. | believe, in
courtesy to the members of the Senate,
and unless there is some valid and vital
reason for refusing the request of the
senator from Knox, | can see no reason
why his request should not be granted
and the matter be laid on the table. II
il will prevent any action by the city of
Bangor, or work irreparable injury To the
city of Bangor. then | should be against
the motion Of the senator from Knox, but
otherwise | can see no reason for not
granting his request out of courtesy 10
him.
Mr. PLUMMER of PenobscOt-ln an
sWer to that question ! would say that |
tried to state when | was on my feet be-
fore. that. SO far as 4 legal proposition Is
concerned whether the action of the city
government in preparing Tor the coming
election in accordance with the new ward
lines, on the question whether that is le-
gal or not. it would really make no dlf-
ference whether this was finally passed,
today or tomorrow, or next day; but I'M
doubtediy the people of Bangor would
like TO have this thing settled AT as early
day as possible. They have assumed,
undoubtedly. that it was going through,
and are acting upon that assumption, and
II II is laid over for week, of course II
will not be agreeable TO them. 1t Will
Keep the matter in suspense: and If it Is
to be delayed out of courtesy to the gen
neman from Knox, and you will remem-
Der that | distinctly said that if it was a
matter of courtesy to the senator, he
aspect of the matter would be a little
different in my mind from what it would
II 1t We're not; but, if it is to go over as
matter of courtesy to him, | would sug-
sest that ii be not put off 50 long as one
week
Mr.. VIRGIN of Clmberland-Time to
give him opportunity.
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox-Four days
say, or until next Tuesday.
Mr.. PLUMMER-My friend from Ban
s9r is more interested than |. | simply
rose to answer the question of the sena-
Tor from Cumberland.
MIR. ADAMS of Penobscot-Mr. Presl-
deht, of course | ought to extend al
t0llftpSy- RI b. from Il noy thu