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


Printing will not prevail.
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. Presi-
dent, and Senators: The Senator from
Sagadahoc has voiced my sentiments
in regard to the courtesy that should
he extended to any member OF this
Senate who in his own good judgment
desires to present a bill to any appro-
pirate committee. I beg leave to say
that when a bill was introduced by
myself to abolish the office of state
liquor commissioner and was referred
to the committee on Temperance, that
this Senate. on motion of the Senator
from Washington, who said that he be-
lieved that this bill which called for the
abolishing of a State office should go
not to the committee on temperance, to
which 1 desired to refer it, but to a
Legal committee, voted TO send it to
that committee. This Senate agreed
with the Senator from Washington,
that being a bill to abolish a State
office, it should go to legal COMMITTEE
and this Senate so voted, sixteen being
in favor Of taking it from the COM
mittee on Temperance and sending it
to the committee on Judiciary. They
set the precedent in this matter of
|
which is in the same category as the
adjustment of the Office of the State
Liquor Commissioner; and I believe
this Senate will not reverse itself with
in few days, and now vote to accept
| the amendment of the Senator from
Hancock. This matter should go to
| one of the legal committees, as claim
and should not be sent to the commit
tee on printing, which is not a stand
| ing committee of the Senate, Mr. Presi-
dent, but is special committee APP
pointed, not for the purpose Of saying
whether the Office of Public Printer
should be abolished; but to find out
what has been done and whether the
prices that have been paid are large, or
| whether they are fair. That is the
purpose for which that committe was
organized. 1t was nor to see whether
the office should be abolished. 1 hope,
Mr.. President, that in fail ness to my
| self and to the members OF this Senate
the amendment will not prevail and
trust that the members of the Senate.
sixteen of them, who considered that
being a question as TO abolishing
State office it should go to a legal COM
mittee, 1 hope they are of that mind to-
cay.
| Mr.. CLARK of Hancock: Mr.. Presi-
dent: have not had the legislative ex-
perience that some of you have had in
| this matter, and especially that of the
Senator from Knox. | had never pre-
sumed it was a matter of senatorial
courtesy in any case; nor do believe
there is any precedent for that cour-
| ha har int ~,
the Senate or House has right to say
| as a matter of courtesy, to which COM
nittee it shall go. Nor do I believe
| that the Senator from Knox believes
that, himself. Now, want to act fair
ly and impartially in this matter to
every member of the Senate: and if
| there is any senatorial courtesy due
any member of this Senate, 1 am per-
| fectly willing to subject any Of my
rights that have, and will not try to
raise my voice against any Senator's
| having his full rights in that matter.
But, it is merely an argument of the
Senator-and l do not thing he intends
1t to be taken very seriously-so far as
1 have been able to find out there is no
such precedent. Now, it is our duty
| in these matters to look at them very
carefully. 4 report of a committee is
adopted from the fact that its men,
bers are able men, able to go into the
particular matters that are referred to
them. For instance, in referring a
| matter to a committee and in getting a
report of the committee upon 1t, that
| report is advice to US as to what should
be done about it; but if it goes to a
| committee which has no especial
knowledge, not having any special
work in that line. it cannot be advice
| to this Senate as to what should be
| done, and that report must necessarily
be reversed when it comes in here for
action. 1t is the duty, it seems to ME,
of each member of this Senate 70 see
| that bills dc rot go before committees
| they do not belong to; because if we
| do we shall constantly have reference
after reference. l have no personal
| interest in this matter. l do not care
| a cent which way it goes. or where it
| goes. My only idea is to get it before
| the proper committee. Now, this COM
mittee is not a special committee; as
my brother would make US think it is.
1t is joint standing committee of both
houses of this Legislature, appointed to
investigate the printing, and see what
need there is of public printer. If
there is no need of public printer, and
no need of having the public printing
DONE that committee is more able to
pass upon it than the committee on
legal affairs. The committee on print
ing are going into this whole question
and that committee this very day is,
and previously has been going into the
question of public printing, Investigate
ing every item, and seeing what the
entire business is costing, and seeing
what it is costing to do their printing
in the commercial houses in this State:
and they are going into the whole
question of the necessity of public
printer. This is not a question of
, abolishing the Office. This is a ques-
ton as to the necessity of having 4
public printer, which that committee
will be more able to pass upon than
, any other committee of this Legisla-
ture. If this is a legal question, as
my brother tried to make us think it is
we have five of the ablest lawyers in
| r To- hnf