Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-15

this coming from the Senate " ould re-
ceive short shift and would be sent
back to that body informing them that
they had ineringed upon the dignity
and rights of the House Of Rep
ate does moi undertake to pass
Il reciprocity treaty which affects the
matter Of the collection Of revenues be-
tween this country and others until it
is made conditional upon the action Of
tho House Of Representatives in itself
ORIGINATING and passing bill which
shall regulate the tariff in accordance
with the treaty. | think ! can say
nothing better as 10 what this House
should 40 under these circumstances
and we lose too much sight of the con-
Stitution Of the State of Maine in the
laws we pass hcre,|I say / can do
nothing better in calling your atten-
ton To what this House should DO I'M
der these circumstances in insist ing
upon its privileges and its rights which
haze been clearly infringed under the
constitution of the State. than to quote
the concluding" clause of the speech OF
Payne in ConSi ess on February 10Th on
the matter to which 1 have already
called Your attention; and he says:
"\ow. Mr.. speaker, | might cite other
pre-. chentS.' (And those We're prccn-
DENIS to show that 4 bill affecting the
revenue came within this provision of
the constitutinn.) 'They are numerous
and they are all to the same effect
our predecessors have held inviolate
The right of the House Of Representa-
;iVts 10 originate revenue bills 1t is
guaranteed to us by The constitution.
I, is higher than any question that can
arise in regard to tariff or TO tariff
change. 1t is higher than Il question of
duty on wheat or duty on any other of
the four thousand articles that are COW
ered by q revenue measure 1T is the
sacred right left us by the trainers of
the constitution as representing the
people, as coming from the body of the
people. ana as being nearer the people
than any other body. to originate these
bills. and none of them can be orisinat-
ed and none should be originated and
none viii be originated in the other
body il the House of Representatives
stand by their right and by 1hair priv
il"Ges as guaranteed by the constitu-
ton OF the United States
1 need only TO change that to apply
TO the constitution OF the State of
Maine. And what did the House of
Representatives. in Congress do with
hat? It made no difference whether a
member of the House was for the
measure or against it. for the discus
sion will show that members OF the
House said they We're for The measure
and they voted against the way in
which the measure WIS presented. But
the House of Representatives voted on
that proposition and the vote was .63
supporting the resolution to five OPP
;.oSed.
Now. Gentlemen Of this House. this is
not only Il question Of whether We shall
pass the laws in accordance with the
constitution of the State of Maine, it
is Il question of whether we will pre-
serve and insist upon the privileges of
this; House as guaranteed under That
ccns titt.tion,-whether we are going to
allow laws to be passed and to be sent
10 US for us to vote either up or down.
don't know how it may be. irrespec-
tive CT our rights under the constitu-
ton Of this State to originate bills of
this kind. I submit that the House
should not for Z moment, it makes no
difference how they may be inclined
n relation to this bill. entertain
proposition which so unanimously and
so consistently and persistently is
turned down by the national House Of
Representatives whenever the question
is raised ana whenever it appears.
Mr. Speaker 1 move the ADOPTION Of
the resolution.
Mr. REED of Portland: Mr.. Speak
ar appreciate the instruction given
us by the gentleman from Rockland in
regard to parliamentary law and prac-
ice Personally | am ready TO admit
th?t nm not fafriliar with all the rul-
inCs of the House of Representatives
since the time of Th1ddeus Stevens.
other members of the House may b.
entirely familiar with all those rulings;
| am not. ] do not believe. though. III
spite Of all that has been said by the
gentleman from Rockland. that this bill!
IS introduced is different from any
ether That is passed by the House and
Senate. 1t is within ;he exception of
the constitution pertaining to revenue
measures. The friends of this bin. how
ever. are DESTROYS OF having this mat
ter CpflStttpfSO or us leclltS anu we
claim that we have an undOuh:ed right
at this time to have this matter held
W until we cam meet fairly this point
that has been sprung upon rs by the
gentleman from Eocilland. Perhaps the
gentleman may be right and perhaps
the bill should have originated in this
House; but 1T most ii can amount to
nothing but /. matter of delay; for II
You find him to be right we shall i'm
nlcdiately. IS soon as we can under the
rules of the House. re-intio duce exact
ly the same subject matter here. This
matter must he considered on its meil,S
and the friends of this measure would
like 10 have the opportunity to eX-
anime for themselves the rulings re-
fern ed to and not take them from the
report of the gentleman from Rock
land. move accordingly that this mat
ter lie on the table.
Mr. LITTLEFIF1LD: Mr.. Speaker, rs
understand the question this is Il
privileged mat ter and a matter that
has Il right to be considered. | am not
discussing parliamentary usage. l am
not and have not discussed the rules