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

State liquor agency may be investigat-
ed? If he WILL l will support it cheer
fully.
Mr.. NEWBERT: will say that that
is one of the instances where, as say,
suspicion may exist where no definite
charges CAN be filed. l am not pre-
pared to file charges against the liquor
commissioner OF Maine.
Mr.. WALDRON: Well. suspicion exc
cuted Christ, you know.
Mr.. HILL of Machias: Mr.. Speaker.
the more have listened to the remarks
Of gentlemen in regard to Senate
Amendment "a" the more l am
strengthened in my opinion that the
amendment should be adopted. and the
more I am convinced that that amend
ment is nothing but a legal and just
protection TO honest officials. and ar
lords no protection to anything that is
crooked or dishonest.
Mr.. STEVENS of Jonesport: Mr..
Speaker. 1 cannot understand the dis
position which some seem to entertain
to stifie any investigation. Are they
afraid that this investigation Will prove
TO the people of the State of Maine that
there is something rotten in Denmark
II they are guilty, let them suffer. yes.
let them suffer, and the rank and file
of the people of the State of Maine
will say amen.
Mr.. BROWN of Auburn: Mr.. Speak
err / believe there is no one in TINS
House who will deny the right that we
must accord to our Constituents IN the
performance of our duties at this ses-
Sion AS a taxpayer in the State OF
Maine and as one of its citizens L be-
lieve that the members of this House
have no right to deprive me CT the flsnl
to know how the money of the state In
the various departments IS expehceo.
Were l one of the heads of the various
departments and were 1 performing
those duties honestly l would Welcoiiie
any investigation from the proper conf
mtitee that 1 might be free from even
the suspicion of any crookedness. L De-
iieve. Mr.. Speaker. that we shall not
.. rform our full duties to our consult
uents if we fail to vote in opposition 10
the amendment proposed by the Sen
ate.
| Mr.. MILLIKEN: Mr.. Speaker, l
think there is an exaggerated opinion
of the difference between the Senate
Amendment "a" and the original or
der. The contention seems to be on the
part of those who oppose the Senate
amendment that this amendment would
close the door to any investigation or
anybody without specific charges or
evidence that would pass in a court OF
law; and 1 understand their objection
to be that it would prevent investlga-
ton from the fact that citizens OF the
state would shrink from appearing be-
fore the committee and filing definite
charges that would pass in court OF
law. Now that objection, it seems to
mo would be well taken il that were
the purpose of the amendment. That
does not seem to me to be the case. AS
T look at it this amendment means that
anybody, a member of this House, d
citizen of this State or anybody any
where who has any reason to pelleVe
that there is anything wrong in de-
partrnent, may come to the committee
and state in writing, not necessarily
evidence, but his suspicion, II any sus-
picion exists. If the gentleman from
Auburn (Mr. Brown) believes that
| there is something that needs looking
| into in the liquor agency. let him state
his suspicion in writing to the COM
Inittee and the committee will investl-
gate. That is the way understand the
amendment.
Now / see no reason under this
amendment why anybody should not
nave the fullest and freest opportunity
to have anything investigated that ne
thinks is wrong. l take the position
and have from the beginning, that any
department which is all right can stand
investigation and should welcome it.
And believe that many OF them do
welcome it. l take the position that
any state official whose department is
not conducted as it should be, ought to
be investigated. But it seems to me II
| we turn down the amendment we shall
be quibbling over a technicality, over
a mere matter of words, and we will
defeat the whole purpose of the origin
al order, and the practical result will
be that we shall not get the opportuni-
| ty to make any investigation at all. AS
| look at it, if the amendment is pass
| ed, on the contrary, we shall have the
power to do everything we need to do.
and the only requirement is that any
person who appears before the COM
| mittee shall state what he has to say
III Wfltlng, not necessarily evidence Out
| only his suspicion if it is no more than
a suspicion, and his suspicion or his
| criticism that any department is en-
ploying too many clerks or spending
| too much for office supplies or too
| much for transportation is reason
enough for a full and complete investi-
CATION of that subject by the commit
| tee. l believe that the committee will
be ready to investigate any suspicion
and give it the fullest and most COM
plete investigation if it keeps us up
| evenings every day in the session.
Mr.. DAVIES of YarmOuth-Mr.
Speaker. do l understand that there is
| any specific charge made against any
| individual or any department? l ask
| the gentleman from Augusta (Mr.
NewberD if he will make the charges
| of the Waterville Sentinel his charges?
Mr.. NEWBERT-I am very glad to
answer that l am not going to do it.
Mr.. DAVIES-I ask the gentleman
from Watervile (Mr. Johnson) if he
makes the charges of the Waterville
Sentinel his charges?
l