Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-09

are to committees, each having juris-
diction of the same subject matter, then
all bills in relation to that subject mat
| ter should be referred to one OF those
| committees. 1 think that is reasona-
| BILE parliamentary law; l think 1t is
| conducive to the conduct of the BUSH
ness of the House.
| Now this bill was introduced by the
senator from Knox, my friend, ME-.
Staples. He is on the committee on
legal affairs. More or less senatorial
| courtesy operates in the other end OF
| the Capitol. Bills are referred there
out of senatorial courtesy, or courtesy
| to some senator. l apprehend, III fact L
| believe that senatorial courtesy mad Il
great deal to 40 with the reference OF
| this bill which was referred by a very
narrow margin. Now we are not gov
erned by senatorial courtesy; we are
only to look at the propriety OF a rel
erence; we are only to look at the Or
derby conduct of the business of this
Legislature. Now for what was this
Joint select committee on printing Gre
a;ed? The gentleman from Portland
(Mr. Reedl has read the order and I
only need to call attention to this part
of it. They are to consider the gen.
eral matter of State printing. And in
another clause, little farther along.
they are to determine what changes, if
any, are advisable in the existing law.
Isn't that subject as to whether il
should be done III the way it is now
done or by contract? Doesn't Changes
in the existing law" include the whole
subject matter under what kind of law
the printing should be done? This bill
is not for the adjustment of the office
of the State printer alone. 1t is phi
marily whether the existing law as TO
the State printing shall be changed
and what change in the existing law
shall be made. 1t is entitled. to be
sure, an act to abolish the office OF
State printer. 1t may have that re-
suit; but it comes directly within the
scope of this order which provides that
that committee is to inquire into what
changes, if any, are advisable i'll the
existing law as to the way in which the
State printing is done. That is all there
is of the bill If that is not all there Is
of it. three-fourths of that bill certain
ly, or nine-tenthS of it. is mere surplus
age. 1t is not necessary, In ORDER tilat
the State printing may be done under
law similar to the present law. thal
there should be an official called the
State printer 1t has no necessary con-
nection with it. 1t may be done under
the existing law without any such Of
fee This bill is one coming precisely
and directly within the terms of the or
der creating the joint special commit
tee.
More than that on January Is, the
gentleman from Bath, (Mr. SewalD in
troduced a special order to enable that
committee particularly to be empow-
cred to fully investigate this matter,
directing that the joint select commit
tee on State printing be authorized to
employ stenographer and summon
witnesses to appear and produce books
| and papers and other documents ana
give evidence pertaining to the inquiry
with which the committee is charged
Under that order the committee is au-
| thorized to spend such sums of money
| as may be necessary. They have got
| to pay for these things. We have au-
| thorized them to spend what may
| amount to several thousand dollars for
| the purpose of Investigating what?
| To investigate as to what
| change shall be made in the
law as to the way in which the State
printing shall be done under the laws
as they now exist. or to report that
there shall be change in the law so
that the State printing shall
be let to the highest bidder.
1t is competent, under this bill.
for the committee on legal affairs TO
report that the printing should not be
done by contract or should be done by
contract. In order to arrive at that
conclusion they must go over precisely
the same ground that We have author
lied a special committee on printing to
go over and have given them money
with which to obtain witnesses that
shall give them full information; and
| submit that senatorial courtesy. be-
cause the gentleman in the Senate from
my county wanted this matter referred
to the committee on legal affairs of
which he is a member. should not pre-
vail and make it necessary. if they
thoroughly investigate it and pass
themselves on the matter of printing
whether it should be done by contract
or otherwise, what is for the best adj
vantage to the State, to go over the
same ground and ask, as they ought to
ask, for an additional order from this
House to enable them to spend money
to find it out-twO committees going
over the same ground at the same time
at the expense of the State of Maine,
when it can all be done by one COM
mittee perfectly competent and able to
| do it; and I submit that the proper and
| orderly reference of this bill requires
| that it be referred to the committee
! that already has that matter under m
vestigation and has proceeded to sum
mon witnesses to investigate the whole
| matter.
| hope. therefore. that the amendment
| offered by the gentleman from Madison
| (Mr. SMITH will prevail and that this
will be referred to the special commit
tee on State printing. and that after
| creating such a committee and placing
upon it some of the best members of
| this House, we will not take it away
| from that committee or give ii to an
other committee to investigate precise
" the same subject matter.
Mr. SEWALL of Bath: Mr.. Speaker,
| Tho ooptIanan from ROcklan6 (Mr