Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-15

Understandings and with effects.
| Mr.. Heselton of kcnnebec: Mr..
President ] am mindful of the Senate
Order which was passed in my absence,
mindful also of many of the statements
that the senator from Penobscot has
made; at the same time, l nave Il
desire to bring certain facts before the
Senate in connection with the order
which was passed by The Senate
yesterday To repeal this law relating 70
the State Liquor Agency.
| Personally | believe, that the people
Of this State should have some op-
portunty to legally purchase liquor
| Whether or not the law which is upon
the Statute Books can be so amended
as to make it more efficient, l know
not. do know that the same gentle
| man who introduced this order
| originally in the lower House has also
introduced an order that calls for q
repeal Of this general law relating to
the State Liquor Agency.
If that later order takes its natural
course, it will come before the Commit
tee on Temperance and hearing will be
ordered No one will appear. They
will have no authority to make any eX-
animation and it will be simply aban-
doned for lack Of proper presentation,
that is if it assumes the usual pro-
ceedure that follows other matters be
| fore a committee.
| | propose, if / can, to introduce an
| order in connection with the order thar
was passed yesterday and in harmony
| with the order which was passed by
| the Senate, to regulate investigation of
| all matters, and to present it at to-
| morrow's session. For that reason and
| for that sole reason and not for delay
Nor for the purpose of suspending ar-
| ton on the motion OF the gentleman
| simply to secure sufficient tim. t. pre-
| pare q suitable order in harmony with
| these suggestions | will move that the
motion of the gentleman to indefinitely
postpone he laid upon the table.
Mr.. MERRILL of Cumberland: Mr.
| President, and gentlemen Of the Sen
| ate, ] take great pleasure in secondin%
| the motion to Indefinitely postpone
made by the senator from T'nnb*cot;
| and should like to be Understood as to
the reasons which have led me to this
| action.
| ] would not for moment ,rnnugn the
| motives OF the gentleman WHO intro
duced this bill III the lower fuusn h--
cause | am sure that his nrnti:eS were
the best; but it has come to my mind
frequently in the lobby that this bill
is introduced-not introduced at least,
but is being used as Il back tlrr on til"
matter of the question of tn removal
of the State House.
| Now, gentlemen, I am always willing
| N T f.f hay FIJI
Investigation; and in seconding this
motion, | would not be understood to
express in any way my opinion Of the
| way that the state Liquor Agency has
been carried on But gentlemen, when
these rumorS are 50 persistent that you
hear them constantly, 1 believe it is
our duty TO have the matter brought
openly, and the two questions divorced.
All 1 want is that the two questions
shall he decided squarcly and fairly;
and think there is before the Legisla-
ture at the present time a Bill asking
for the adjustment Of this office and
also another bill for the investigation
of all State departments. For the
reasons have given to second the mo-
ton 10 Indefinitely postpone.
Mr.. HESELTON: Mr.. President, do
rot wish TO discuss this matter further
than to suggest to the senator from
Cumberland that I have no desire to
delay this matter to await the action in
relation TO the State Capitol. pending
| before the Committee on Public Build
incs and Grounds.
| | simply ask q favor which / think is
usually granted out Of senatorial
courtesy, that this question pending lie
upon the table until tOmorrow's sos-
sion. ] will take it up then: and if the
| s, nate then wishes to Indefinitely post
pone the original matter, they can do
so At that time | will be prepared
| with an Order to supplement the last
Order that was introduced by the gem
tleman from The lower House. and
came here, to abolish the Liquor
| Agency.
Mr.. STAPLES Of Knox: Mr.. Presi-
dent. / am, as n general thing, in favor
Of tho investigation Of Republican
officials. recOllect that two years
ago | introduced an order of the same
character but did not met with much
| success. / believe that no investiga-
ton should be started without good and
| sufficient cause. / do not believe that
any mans garment, whether he be q
| Republican official or Democratic
| official, should be smirched unless
| there is sufficient reason for it.
There * a bill before this Legislature
| to abolish the office If state Liquor
| Commissioner: and that | am in favor
| of and will vote for it if it comes before
this body.
| We are now upon the seventh week
| of this session and do not believe it is
| fair II the committee to present these
matters for investigation. The time
| Of the committee from now to the end
| Of this session is more or less taken III
ana if YOU have any investigation it
| cnould be thorough and complete. II
| is before the Committee on Salaries at
the present time-all investigation of
| officers. Now we could not do it mt
| this session. If YOU are going t" in
| vcStigate W" want proper tim"-it is
| the right of the man who is to be in
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