Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-24
giving what was wise and just ana

Now, with this referendum we are
simply giving to the people rlsnt u
say whether or not certain acts hid!
become laws The gentleman from Carl
bou says that we have all the retereh-
dunn a2d initiative at the present Tune
that We need because in the dlIlerei''
towns of the State any ten voters iii"y
call on the board of selectrcen ana nave
an item inserted in the town Warrai.
so that the voters in those towns can
pass judgment upon The proposed lesis-
latiOn. Now, gentlemen, l submit ="
| you whether or not there Is any sucii
| safety or any such wise rrotectloh LOT
the people of other places. rake 'ae
cities for example. We do not hoiu
town meetings in the cities. Are il"'
the peoDie Of the cities entitled TO IN"
same guaranty that is given TO the
people of the small towns? belleNe'
| gentlemen. that this is the one isS'ie
which has been raised here at TINS SeS
sion of the Legislature wherein we us
members of this House can SHOW tnit
we apnreciate the confidence that mas
heau reposed in us: this is the one
grand oppOrtEnity that has peen pre-
| santod 70 rs to place ourselves on
record AZ approaching that commence
| il brings us closer to the people, ana II
we should pass this bill for the lnltla-
tive ana referendum we are simply
waking each individual Of our cOnsti
tuants an essential part CT the entire
working machine OF legislation. we are
.imp!v placing each Individually voter
in our cities and towns in a position
where he can have something to say
about legislation. / do not agree with
those persons who say u.at we have
been elected here as representatives
and thereby that We must legislate for
ourselves alone. That is not true. We
are sent here as representatives to en-
act legislation upon matters wherein
the voters of the different cities and
towns and plantations are not author
lied by law to MAKE that desired leSis-
lation. They don't wish us to pass leg
islation in any particular whatever up
IN q matter upon when they as voters
can settle at their town and city ele"-
tiol.s; and I believe that it is our duty
as members of this House to vote TO-.
the acceptance of the minority report,
thereby proving that we do believe in
the principles of Republican govern
ment that We believe in the principles
of Democratic government, as system
of government and not as political
issue. but as system of government.
We never should be afraid to get too
near to the PEOPLE. I have always be-
lievcd that you can trust the great ma
iority of the people ana if the people
of this State do not wish this referen-
dunn they will not take advantage OF 1t
even though you MAKE 1t law. CIV"
them an opportunity to use 1t If tn"
occasion presents itself. You do not by
passing this act compel them to us" II.
Give them an opportunity to make thelr
choice III the matter. and l say that in
SO doing you are simply going back to
YOUR constituents with a badge hand
ed out 10 them as a warranty that you
appreciate the confidence which they
reposed in you when they sent you here,
and that you are now trying to show
such confidence in Them in matters ol
legislation as they showed in you when
they sent you here.
The question being on the adoption
of the minority report, Mr.. Merrill of
Skov hogan, moved that the vote be
taken by the yeas AMI nays.
The motion was agreed to.
Tho SPEAKER: The vote is on the
acceptance of the minority report of the
judiciary committee the minority re-
port being in favor of the referendum.
Those IN favor of the minority report
will say yes when their names are call
ed; those opposed will say 10. The
clerk will call the roll.
YEA:-Allan, Belleau, Berry. Bradford
of Friendship, Byron, Cobb. Cole, Davis
of Benton. Davis OF Gullford: Dennlson'
dudley Fawsette. Foss, Fulton. Garce-
lon, Giddings. Grant. Hanson, Hastings,
Hill. Hodgkins, Hussey, Hutchins, Jlllson:
Jones, Jordan OF Yarmouth, Kinsman OF
of Skowhegan, Miller Millkcn, Morey,
Morton, Mullen. Nash of Damariscotta.
Newbegin, Norcross. O'Brlen, rage OF
Appleton, Peacock, Pendleton. Philbrook,
Price, Purinton. Russell, Sargent of Cas-
tine SOwyer OF Milbridge, Scribner of
Charleston, Seavey. Sewall, Shaw. Sieve
nell, Smart, Smith of Saco. Sparrow, sta
pies. Treworgy, Tricky. Turner, Usher
Witherspoon-6i.
Bradford of Livermorc Buzzell, Cnshman.
Downs, Goodwin. Gray, Hale. Hall. Hath
away Higgins, Holmes, HoweS, lngersOll.
| Irving, Jordan of Cape Elizabeth: Joss
elyn, Knapp, Leonard, Lougee, Martin.
Nj rrill of DIxhed, Nash of Kennebunk,
Cakes of Milford. Percy. Poor Putnam
kteU. sargent VI bItWtl, SatNNtl vi
Smithheld, Scribner of Springfield, Swain.
SWEET, Talpey, Webster. Wits.
| ABSENT:-Albert. Bean. Blanchard.
| Bliss. Briggs. Bunker Burkett, Clark.
Cousins, Gannett, Hagerthy of Ellsworth.
Hagerthy of Sedgwici, Johnson of Cal
| ais. johnson of Watervile, I.aliberte.
I.anigan. Lbbey, Marshall, Page of
| Hampden. Perry, SanbOrn. Stearns. Ter
reault. Thomas, Thompson of Orono,
| Thompson of Rogue Bluffs. Thurlough.
| Upper. Vittum, Walker, Weathcrbee-a2
TAIRED:-Copp, Yes; Abbott, No.
| Morrison, Yes; Kimball, No. Johnson of
Watcrville, Yes; Smith of Madison, No.
Cakes of Auburn. Yes; Stevens, No. Ira
| cy, Yes: Whitmore, No. Littlefield, Yes;
| Powers. No. Kinsman of Augusta, Yes;
NeWcomb, No.
So the minority report was accepted.
The resolve was then read once, and
the rules were suspended, the resolve
| receivd it's second reading and was
passed to be engroSSed.
Cat this point the Speaker resumed
| the chair)
The conference committee to which
was referred the disagreeing action of
| the two branches of the Legislature or
House amendment A to Senate bill No.