Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-03
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Page Seven.)

throughout the commonwealth OF
Maine. l believe ON the ether hand thas
those same constituencies sent us here
with the desire that in regard to any
form Of legislation which they in theif
different cities. towns or plantations
acquainted as they are with all the dlt-
farent conditions in those cities. towns
and p!antations.-that they should ne
allowed themselves to make whatever
legislation or change in legislation they.
may deem necessary.
Now, the gentleman from Portland
(Mr. Baxter) presents petition mere
from an Organi|ation. in Portland maze
UP of GOO members; then he presents
letters OF petition, oe 500 more nave
no interest in this matter otner thdh
to see 10 1t that the rights OF the people
of Portland are not put at Il disadvaiit-
age. BIT here are 400 hundred sigma
lures brought in here. GOO from Tn"
hoard OF trade. Now, | know that IN L
great many Of the ether towns IN
Maine,-I do not know how II rs Ill
Portland,-but we know that boards Oh
trade in a great many other towns IN
Maine are made up of men who maven |
any money but are looking for some
bOdy's else. The 500 petitioners That ne
has here, together with tie signatures
OF the board of trade make 1iOO. me
gentleman from Portland tMr. Hale)
has told us that there are 1000 voters
In the city of Portland. | submit wheth-
er 400 signatures secured TO peutlonS
are a fair percentage of 1000 voters
living in the city of Portland. intelli-
gent voters as they must be. L believe
on the other hand, Mr.. Speaker, that
question of such Importance as this
should indeed, be referred back to the
people of Portland. Now. for example,
what do l, as a citizen of Lewiston.
knew especially about the matters of
Portland? What does the gentleman
from Pressure ISLE. for example. know
about the conditions of Portland? The
gentlemen coming, from the coast of
our good old State,-how are they ex-
pected to- know what the citizens of
Portlan desire who have their money
invested there, their homes there, their
every interest there, many of them born
there, many of them having emtOmbed
there those who are nearest and dear
est to them? Are not they the people
10 say whether the city of Portland
shall have a common council and
board OF aldermen, or whether it shall
have a government made up of but one
body? submit that We are doing our
duty when We send back this bill vOt-
ing in favor Of this referendum amend
ment, when we give to the voters of
Portland an oppoI tunity to decide for
init odd
every condition in the city. knowing
more about political manipulations
which the gentleman (Mr. BaXter) has
referred to than we rs members from
other communities can knoW.-1 say to
you that when we refer this matter
back to them we are sending it back
to a court and a court which has At
heart their own interests. and what
ever their verdict shall be upon it will
be a verdict from which there can be
no Just appeal.
/ submit, further, Mr.. Speaker, what
right have We, coming from different
sections of this commonwealth. to try
t. dictate to the citizens of Portland
whether they shall have one or two
bodies in their city government? The
gentleman from POrtl11d (Mr. HaXtcr)
practically asks you to put aside and
disorganize and iIleGalixe body which
practically to the House of
Representatives. here in the government
OF the State. Suppose for example
somebody should stand up in the SEN
ate today and ask for the passage of Il
bin to do away with the House of Rep
Would you as members of
this House, rs conscientious American
would YOU believe in taking
from the people this branch of our leg
islative government, this branch of our
State government. which is SO near and
50 dear to the hearts of cur cOnStitu-
eEcies? And | say to you that when
the gentleman from Portland CHR.
Baxter) asks you to abolish the COM
mon council, he is practically asking
You to do something which is along
the same lines to which l have refer
red. I am glad that the gentleman from
Portland tMr. BaXtery has said that no
matter whether this amendment of Mr..
Hale's passes or not. he Intends to offer
an amendment to the effect that there
snail be q members. I am glad that
they both agree on that: hut l submit.
SptLNti, lI.tt W. 90 iii'i'ib'i'' ~
this House should vote in favor of the
amendment presented by Mr.. Hale al
lowing the voters of Portland to say
whether or not they wish to do away
with the dual form of government
which they have.
Reference has been made to the fact
that there are certain members in this
LEGISLATURE who have in the past pre-
sided as mayors over different munich
palities. and that they expressed their
opinion to Mr.. Baxter that they wished
while they We're mayors of their dlf-
ferent cities. that they. had but one
body with which to deal. 1t may be
that it was for the very best interests
of those same municipalities that those
same mayors did not have one body
but had two in order that they could
not manipulate their different political
games. ! say, Mr.. Speaker, that we
have no right, and there is no justice
in the plea set up here that we. sent
here to enact legislation which is sup
posed TO be of interest to the State at
large. that we have no right to put our
hand into these Portland affairs and
take from the voters of Portland the
rights which an American form Of