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

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minority report, but stand as a wall
against this assault which failing yes
terday is now attempted to be passed
here under a different guise. / ask ev-
cry Republican to stand firmly by the
majority report. There was no argu-
ment at all in favor of referendum
that should apply to the constitution
before the committee, it was all in ref
erence to a statute referendum. That is
all the people want, and they do not
want to get at the constitution except
for political purposes. Lawyers are edu-
Gated to be somewhat conservative but
believe they are never deaf to the
real call of the people, and that is
what the eight members of the COM
mittee decided was the proper and
right thing to do. l hope the Republic
can members will vote solidly against
the minority report. (Applause.)
Mr.. MCKINNEY Of Bridgton: Mr..
Speaker. L regret exceedingly that
proposition which comes before this
Legislature presented by both political
parties cannot be discussed upon its
merits without entering into polit-
ical discussion of parties. 1t seems to
me that We have some members here
who have an idea that the Democratic
party is made up Of a class of men who
only desire to destroy the interests Of
the people of this great State. Both par
ties had plank favoring the initiative
and referendum, and am not going to
oppose the will of the two parties and
shall vote for the initiative and ref
erendum. But J confess I have no heart
in it when ! remember that any Will
of Importance passed before this LcgiS-
lature must remain three months be-
fore it becomes a law if in that time
10, 900 voters petition to have that ques-
ton referred to the people, and then
the Governor of the State may take
from four to six months before he calls
an election for the people TO act. Dur
ing this session we have passed some
important appropriation bills. 1t Will be
almost one year before any question
that is passed by this House where a
referendum is called for before it can
become IA law. (To Mr.. Johnson) Am 1
right about that?
Mr. JOHNSON: No. you are not. Cap
plause.)
Mr.. MCKINNEY: Why?
Mr.. JOHNSON: There is a provision
in this act that emergency bills. those
calling for the payment of salaries,
etc. are not included.
Mr.. MCKINNEY: Those are emer-
gency bills. Now. we are representa-
tive government, and for n long while
the people have been governed by rep
resentatives; and it is we'll known that
if we pass any law at this session
,,-J,;cI, &c not icfa hn npOpln
they will let US know it before another
I legislature is elected. l. seems to me
that when political parties meet in con-
vention and adopt platforms and lay
dsJwn principles upon which those plat
forms stand and the people go to the
polls and vote upon them. that is as
good referendum as we want. On
principle 1 am opposed to the referen-
dunn. l am not 50 much opposed to the
other part of the measure. the intia
tive; but after the people elect repre-
sentatives and they enact laws and
send them out to the people. I do not
think it will he productive of good re-
suits to allow the people. small por-
ton of the voters Of our State, to call
our people together again to vote upon
those propositions.
WltH regard 10 tHe CONSTITUTIONAL
amendment, of course that is always
made a political question here. There
is not Il man here who knows how
would vote on the question of temper
ance if those questions should come
before the people or the members of
this Legislature. And when you an
nounce that only the Democratic party
want the constitution referred to the
people you make a great mistake.