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

IL. " e gay ScItitHltli, llldl Is Il SIlldH
number of votes upon a matter so i'm
portant to the people of Boothbay Har-
Dor. Twenty-three votes were all that
were cast. Immediately after this
town meeting adjourned remon-
STRANGE was gotten up against the re-
peal of this law. That remonstrance
was circulated about town, and 1903
voters of the town of BoOthbay Harbor
signed that remonstrance. Thirty of
the men who are on the original petit
ton are on that remonstrance. and
that thirty are among the most in
fiuential and respected citizens of our
town. and of the biggest taxpayers of
our town. They include 4 bank presi-
dent, a bank cashier and business
men on our streets. Now, if you
knew these people as l know them-h
tina town meeting had been perfectly
fair and everything as it should nave
been, those business men of Boothbay
Harbor never would have been upon
that petition and remonstrance.
Gentlemen, that is not ALL BY letters
that | have received. I am satisfied
that a large number of the others tha'
NtIt tIl lilstl VI ioi''''i
against this measure at present. IN"
people that are on this rtmois'rai'c"
make claim that this matter was not
lmderstood-they claim that they had
a right to suppose, and did suppose that
this article so would not be taken up
until afternoon. They claim they had
a right to suppose, and did suppose that
that the other % articles were acted
upon before this article was to be acted
upon. All they ask for is Il fair chance
t. vote: a vote that will be understand
ingly.
If this law passes without an amend
ment. we are certainly gCing to get into
difficulties i'll that town. This law
simply repeats that act which allows us
to elect our town officers in January.
If that passes, we shall, of course be
obliged to hold another town meeting
il March. We nave already elected our
town officers, ana raised cur money for
the year. If We have arcther town
meeting in March. verJ likely u diff
ferent set of officers may be elected
and those may claim to hold over and
may appropriate different sums Of
money. and we shall hardly know
where we are. We had nc chance of
seeing this bill when We were before
the COMMITTEES. or we could have
brought all these matters before the
committee. if the bill had been framed
and presented before that: but this bill
has been framed since the hearing be
fore the committee. so we had no
chance whatever to see Just what was
1
fair vote on this matter: and whatever
the decision of our people is we will be
satisfied. Every man had chance to
be heard before the committee appoint
ed by our town before this bill was
nassed-every man had chance to
vote upon it at two annual elections
in our town: hut now we say that we
should have at least only a fair and
impartial vote on this matter: so. in
behalf of the 393 men who signed this
| remOnStrancn. and in behalf of the sc
| that are on both til" petition and re-
| mOnstrance; aud in behalf of that large
humber of people of Boothbay Harbor
| who signed the petition, but did not
sign the remonStranca, I ask that this
amendment may be adopted.
Mr.. CLARK of Hancock: Mr. Presi-
/ dent: l do not know that it is incub-
| bert upon any committee to stand by
| its report upon the floor of this Sen
| ate. This matter came before the judi
| Ciary committee and was fully and
| freely discussed and the committee re-
ported as YOU will see to change the
town meetings back to March. as is
provided by the Revised Statutes. This
matter came up at Boothbay Harbor
upon legal call. or town warrant to
so change it. The evidence before that
| committee was that they should change
back to March. the time of holding
their town meeting. / think Mr.. Mad
doX said that he counted two but 9TH
ers who appeared before the committee
said there was but one who voted
against changing back to March as the
time for holding their town meeting.
There seems to be some controversy
between two factions in that town, but
it does not eseem proper for this Leg
islature to determine who is right and
who is wrong in this matter. This is
a matter that has been submitted to us
by the people of that town and they
have passed upon it after intelligently
| understanding the matter. 1t came up
| regularly before that town meeting
and L say it was practically unani-
| nous, Mr.. President. The evidence, at
| least, before our committee was that
| they wished to change back. Now, that
| is the referendum, as l understand it.
| 1t is self-gOvernment. which we are
giving these people. We are acting up
| on the advice of the town in open
| town meeting, which is the only way to
| act to secure Il full expression of the
| people of that town. The signing of
| the petition and the signing of the re-
monstranCe and sending them here is
| of no avail to us. We have taken the
| only method we know of to get the
| sentiment and opinion of that town. 1t
is true that there are great many
| people who will send word to the Leg
| islature that they would like SO and SO
| done; but here they have done other
wise in open town meeting. When this
matter was brought into this commit
| tee we were unanimous in our report
| We heard both sides. and listened
very carefully, and gave them
| all the time and attention
| We pOSSihIy colIId. and we wore IMAM