Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-01

printing in these different deplrG-
ments. That is the only question. Now
l know that the Senator from Hancock
was in favor of keeping it where it is,
for happened to hear his speech in the
House of Representatives upon the
election "e Il certain officer for public
printer who is public printer today. L
know that my Brother Heselio1 is ON
that committee, the special committee
on printing: and 1 also recollect that
upon the IoCr of the House, in that
caucus. he EXPRESSED himself as BE-
lievins IN the State Printer is h"l l : alb
solutely correct and almost Immaculate
in the manner in which he had done his
business; but when he is appointed on
that committee / have right 10 its not
going to a man who is already, as L
suppose, in favor of the office OF pubic
printer. Now, as far as courtesy is
concerned, it has ever been my prac-
tice, and has ever been the practice or
the Maine Senate for the last three
terms that I have been here. tfat
whenever a Senator introduced a bill
and sent it to a committee, as matter
of courtesy it went to that committee
unless it was grossly wrong. L believe
every matter pertaining TO temperance
should go to the temperance committee.
The Senate voted otherwise the other
day. because they said the abolshing
of a State office was a legal question
and it should therefore go to legal
committee. I believe. in all fairness,
that this matter should go to the legal
affairs committee Barring myself, I
a.
as capable of settling the fact whether
the public printer should be elected by
the Legislature. or whether that mat
ter should be delegated to the Governor
and Council, as a special committee on
printing. Just as capable! Just as
component; and hope. Mr.. President,
the amendment will not prevail. I
trust that. because I am in the minority
party, it will make no difference in the
vote of the Senate; because this is not
party question.
1t is a question for the best interests
of the State. believe. as l always
have believed. that the Public Printer
should not be elected by the legislature.
l was looking over the New Hampshire
reports last night. The whole matter
of public printing should be done as it
is in other states. as New Hampshire
does it. 1t should be left entirely with
the Governor and Council: and let me
say that on looking at the Treasurer's
report of New Hampshire, 1 found
there was only $4,000 while ours was
e, 600 1t should be left With the Gov
ernor and Council as to what contracts
they will make, printing. stitching,
binding and everything else. That IS
the purport of the bill-not that we
shall not have q public printer but that
the matter shall be left with the Gov
ernor, instead of the public printer be-
ing elected by the Legislature.
Mr.. CLARK OF Hancock: Mr. Presi-
dent, / am surprised that the Senator
from Knox impugns the motives of the
committee by talking of Pro. Heselton
in this matter in saying that ne
listened to his argument on the floor of
the joint caucus Whom we organized
this body, in which he says that I
member of the committee is prejudicod
in this matter. l think I would as soon
60 to Brother IIeselton in the matter
so far as prejudice has disabled him,
as to the Senator from Knox who. by
his attitude is disabled in this matter.
think he has expressed himself as
much prejudicai against ii as Brother
Heselton has for it. This matter was
thoroughly thrashed cut two years ago
before the same committee that my
brother the Senator from Knox is on.
He introduced this same order and
went before the committee on legal
affairs; and I ask him. today, to show
me the report, or if ne in any way sign
ed n minority report? Did not a unani-
nous report come in here that was fav-
Orable to this committee. I do not be-
liCve there is any such Senatorial cour-
tesy as he speaks of; and we all know
there is not. 1t is an argument By
which he is trying to influence our
votes. If any such courtesy is due him,
would be one of the last to take away
that right. I think this matter should
go before that committee, and if it is
question purely upon the abolishing
of the office, we have some of the most
able and capable lawyers upon that
committee.
Mr.. POTTER of Cumberland: May I
trouble the Chair to state precisely the
question before the Senate.
The PRESIDENTS: The hill introduce
cd by the Senator from Knox, Senator
Staples, is can Act to abolish the Of
flee of Public Printer" The Senator
from Knox moved its reference to the
committee on legal affairs. The Sena-
tor from Hancock. Senator Clark. NOV
ed to strike out the words Legal At
fairs" and insert instead thereof the
words Especial Committee on Print
ing" The question is upon the amend
ment offered by the Senator from Han
cock.
The question being put, the Chair de-
clared itself in doubt. A rising vote be-
irg taken the Chair declared that 10
had voted in favor of the amendment
and Is against the same.
The question was then put upon the
motion of the Senator from Knox.
Senator Staples. tina the bill be referred
to the committee on legal affairs.
The question being put, the Chair
declared itself in doubt and a rising
vote being had. the Chair declared that
Ii had voted in the affirmative and l.
in the negative. So the motion pre-
vailed.