Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-17


Prayer by Rev. F'r. Hamel of Au-
Susta.
journal of yesterday read and APP
proved.
Mr.. REED of Portland: Mr.. Speaker,
arise to a question Of personal privi-
icSe. On Tuesday last, at IL hearing
before your committee on legal affairs.
Il witness was examined by he and
by others on that committee in refer
ence to what he knew in regard to the
matter being then and there colsid-
cred. The Portland Evening Express
III its issue of February 18th has seen
lit to comment on my behavior ON that
occasion i'll the following words:
'Inrtl;lnd Republicans who, with
considerable enthusiasmand much UNA
hlmlty, chose Joseph Is. Reed to be
one OF their representatives to the
legislature are amazed to find that
gentleman acting in his official capac-
Iey as a member of the committee be-
fore whom Il hearing is in progress,
and as the special representative and
counsel for the Democratic sheriff of
Cumberland county, at that hearing"
This. Mr.. Speaker and Gentleman of
the House, is practically Il direct re-
lection upon me. and i'll effect a direct
accusation that | have violated the
rules of this House and that | have
been guilty of conduct thoroughly
reprehensibie. This would be so if it
were true. | brand the statement
of the Express as an absolute false
hood. 1t is true in no way. l am
not The attorney of the Democratic
sheriff of Cumberland county, and
never WAS. At that hearing | neither
represented him nor anybody for him
nor at the request of anybody for him
for any purpose whatever. But | did,
at that hearing. cross-examine one of
the witnesses who appeared, for the
purpose of bringing out. as | had a
right to 90, matters that believed per-
lained to the question then at issue,
for the enlightenment of the members
of the committee.
If this charge We're against me alone
il would be unSeemly and unbecoming
III me to reply here to newspaper; I
never can get another chance; they
have all the chance left in the world
it would be foolish, | recognize that
Eut the matter to which this insnua-
ton alludeS now lies upon the table OF
your committee on legal affairs pend
ing the report to this House; and
claim that this charge against me. one
of the members OF your legal affairs
committee, is a direct attempt on the
part of a newspaper in this State to in
timidate a representative of the people
in the discharge of his official duty. It
1. I l. L
claim your Indulgence and your
privilege. I brand this statement as
false. and I demand here before you.
the representatives of the people. that
the Portland Evening Express, retract
this false and scandalous statement,
and that they do it in as public Il man.
ner as that in which they have already
stated it.
Just i word more, gentlemen. In the
future, us l have endeavOred to do in
the past, while 1 remain a member of
this House. without fee and without
favor. unintimidated, and in the fear of
God and in the fear of God only l will
ask of any witness who appears before
any committee upon which l serve
any question that honestly believe is
for the purpose of honestly bringing
before the committee on which l serve
information i'll regard to the matter
which they are to determine.
Gentlemen of this House, I believe |
that you are in accord with me in this |
matter, and 1 believe that you will |
support me unanimously in the posi- |
ton with which 1 assume. Applause) |
Mr.. CAKES of Auburn: Mr.. Speaker |
and Gentlemen of the House, it seems |
fitting that as 4 member of the legal |
affairs committee and is the chairman |
Of the committee on the part of the |
House. that 1 should say a word i'll |
this connection. / believe that [ |
should voice the sentiment of every |
member of our committee. and think |
OF every member of this House. in say
ing that we believe that no con-
stituency is represented by any more
faithful or conscientious member III |
this body than is the constituency of
the city of Portland as represented by |
the gentleman who has just spoken. I |
believe that it is of the utmost i'm
portance. especially I will say with
reference to the matter under discus
phases of the great question of en-
forcement which is before this LeGis-
lature, and which we are all anxious
should be decided in a way which will
be for the best interests of our State
I believe it is of great Importance that
both sides of every question before our
committee, or any other committee.
should be fully considered. I believe
that the action of the gentleman from
Portland before our committee was in
accord with the highest interests of the
committee and this House and of the
city Of Portland and of the State of
Maine: and think I voice the senti-
merit of our committee although l
speak without consultation with them.
7 think that this should be corrected.
I think that no such statement as this.
the position. attacking the
honesty of the member from Portland,
should be allowed to pass unques-
toned: and | present at this time a
resolution and ask that it be passed by
this House:
Resolved. That it is the sense of this