Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-15


must keep faith with the people upon
that proposition. But there are some dlf-
ferences. In the Republican platform tho
declaration was that the initiative and
referendum should apply only to the
statute law. The Republicans III con-
vention assembled did not think Ut wise
at this time to go beyond that. We do
not deem 1t advisable to apply that TO
the constitution of the State of Maine
under which we have lived SO success
fully and prosparously for so many
years.
Two resolves were submitted to the
judiciary committee of this House, and
every member of that committee have
signed either the majority or the MINOR
ity report indorsing one or the other OF
the two resolves submitted to YOU Grea,
attention was given to the details OF
these resolves. In every particular
they are identical excepting in one.
The minority of the committee,
composed CT the gentleman from
Watervile (Mr. Johnson and the
gentleman from Camden (Mr. Mont
gomery) thought that it should. be APP
piled not only to the statute law but
to the constitution. The other eight
members of the committee differed and
decided, while agreeing with the min
Ority in every other detail, that the
time had not arrived when We should
apply the provisions of the initiative
and referendum to the constitution of
the State. We had a long and ex-
haustive hearing. We found behind
the general proposition what we be-
lieved was the voice of all the people
of the State. But tho draft of the re-
solve which provided that it should
apply to the statute law of the State
and limiting its application to that
and not extending it to the constitu
ton, vas the resolve recommended and
Endorsed by the federation of labor, it
was the resolve recommended and in
dorsed by the Oranges. so far as
discoveries; and with one or two eX-
ceptiOnS every witness there, of which
there was a large number, endorsed
the resolve, the essential principles of
the resolve, which the majority has
presented here. Therefore, the majority
believed at the hearing and they be-
lieve now that they are representing
the great voice of the people of the
State when they present to you this
majority report limiting the provisions
of the initiative and referendum to
the statute law of the State.
Now. another reason for the conclu-
sion of the majority is this: There is
today upon the statutes in the laws of
our State referendum of constitutional
provisions. We have since the organ
nf hn C.at ~
ment made some changes to meet the
changed conditions in our State. l have
never known that changes have not
been made in the constitution by the
methods now provided whenever the
great voice of the people demanded
these changes. You already have the
referendum as to the constitution. 1t is
the kind of referendum that safe
guards that instrument. The majority
did not believe that you should subject
the fundamental law of the State as
embodied in that instrument to the
passing thought OF the hour. Now it is
safeSuarded by those wise provisions
50 that the constitution shall rot be
amended until the question is referred
to the people i'll the manner provided
by the constitution itself, by a two
thirds vote of the House and Senate.
Whenever it has become necessary and
popular feeling has been aroused so
that it expressed itself, after careful
elaboration by the Legislature. consti-
tutional amendments have been sub
mitted to the people and acted upon
and have become part of the organic
law of the State. 1t seemed to US that
beyond that The committee did not
think it wise to go beyond the point Of
allowing it to apply to the statute law
Of the State in accordance with the
PLATFORM of the party.
There is another practical reason for
adopting the majority report. / feel
that tn" members of this House are
deeply interested in the passage Of a
referendum resolve. / am satisfied.
however. that there are dozens of men
on the floor of this House who would
Tot want it to apply to the constitu-
ton. If this is adopted it must be done
by a two-thirds vote; and if the friends
of the minority proposition should sue
coed, they would not get the legisla ton
they desire. We are with you up to a
certain point. Those who believe in the
minority report ought to be willing to
take a part upon which we can all
stand, if they cannot get the whole.
The gentleman from Waterville NIr.
Johnsnn) does not disagree with me
that it should be applied to the stat
ute law. Now, if you apply it to the
statute law. I assume that any man
who is in favor of the whole PROPOSE
ton is in favor Of a lesser proposition.
1t strikes me as a practical proposition
that the success of this measure de-
pends upon whether or not you defeat
the motion to substitute the minority
report for the majority.
Another thing: 1 believe if you are
going out to the people of the State
with proposition to amend the consti-
tuition you would get thousands of
votes for the proposition endorsed by
the majority of this committee to make
IT apply to the statute law of the
State-thousands more votes than you
would get on the proposition to have
it apply to the provisions of the con-
stitution. l hope that the motion to sub
stitute the minority for the majority
report will be defeated, and then