Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-03

wou,d respectfuny call upon Senator Mer-
r;u of Cumberland county 10 PieseA'
| ou,e precedents in this matter. ~.
,,. MERRILL of Cumberland.
-:zo,+ and gentlemen OF the oei'
not had time to eNalhi'e w.,
| To see what the course
,,,d been in the past IN case
| "e' % ..at in the Senate; pu' INV
!, 1s-s after the report OF the IN
M =, elections had been maoe. 'iN
| hti''ee o. motion was made ana was
lin -. THAT so much of the rePo'.
| -. 70 file 10th senatorial ulstiie|
| se,.,oa to a select committee OIL So
-. ;,.+r,ctions to inquire INTO 'ne
-. ,f al the votes cast, the les"n''
~. orranization of the seVerai pi""
ta.;ons in said district, the consi'u''o'
.,o,iGcotions of the candidates DIV"
III o,her questions which may III '"'
,reoct such election. in justly w
.arr,irine the right of either coh'es'"''.
coat in this Senate, ana rePo'
tsareon to this body. 1 find that '''''
.:o VOC nassed: that q, special COM
| -. ,,,s. anncinted and that they con-
-, +ha n,atter. and it was some siN
r,ea;xs before the matter was 1inaliS So
|
committee. Now. it seems to me- "'
49, ,.non- whether there is any objection
20 tic going to the regular comHlittcc-
hut if seems to me that it IS only 'a'r III
coec Of this Xxi n. that it should go To d
committee which should have opportuhi-
~ Ia inorire into the whole matter. Fcre
| is q case where there have peea I-'V'o
rotes cast in the county. There Is /
,;,,1y 4, n
mon claim to be elected by some small
| number of votes-from six to III. NOW. IL
seems to me that this cannot be decided
| ,i.bt off Int that, in fairness 10 both
sides it should be referred to a commit
tec-and. so far as precedent goes, 1t
shows il to be a special committee; DUE
7 Gee no especial objection to Its gong 10
4 regular committee, if that commit
tee has time to act: otherwise. I think
it should 60 to a special committee
Mr.. SEWALL of Sagadahoc: Does the
| senator from Cumberland refer to the
| regular committee on elections, or the
committee on senatorial votes?
Mr.. MERRILL: The committee on SEN
| atorial votes.
Mr. PARNHURST of PenobscOt: Mr.
President, I desire to suggest through
land. that If in his opinion the commit
tee that has just been appointed by the
Chair under the order of the House is
not fully clothed with authority, or fully
charged with the duty, that ali order
might be introduced enlarging the scope
of their employment and giving them all
tie authority and charging them with
all the duties that are required for the
fair determination of the matter. Ger
| tanly, cur committee on elections. if
they have anything to do have this very
kind of question to pass upon.
| Mr. HASTINGS of Oxford: Mr. Pres
| idcnt as far as am concerned 1 wish
to say there is no disposition on my part
| and do not think there is on the part
| of any member of this Senate to hurry
| this in the least. or to railroad any
| thing through. In my judgment & is the
| intention of the committee. and certain
| ly mine. to give both contestants fair
chance and every opportunity 20 prove
| their cases. My objection to its lying
on the table was simply that it would
delay matters: and this committee it
seems to mo. has full jurisdiction of this
case: and 7 insist on my motion.
ar DEASY of Hancock: Mr. Prosi-
| dent. the Senate has already passed a
| vote that a committee of seven he an
pointed to whom the returns of votes for
| senators shall he referred; and in ac-
| cordaEcc with that vote Il committee Of
| s"ven has been appointed by the Chair.
| That committee has. ! submit fun au-
| thority and jurisdiction in this matter:
| and ii Il special Nommmittce were to be
| appointed there would be two commit
tees charged with the same duties and
given the same jurisdiction
Mr.. STAPLES Of Knox: VIII the sem
| ator permit a question" Does the scna-
| tor say that the committee of seven Just
| appointed has the right to send cut pro-
| cc1Scs for persons and papers. and to de-
| mand the filing of returns from the va
| rious towns in the county?
| Mr. pEASY: If the committee ap
| pointed lacks any powers those powers
| can bc conferred upon it by special vote.
do not know whether it has or not.
| That committee has jurisdiction over this
| matter ana it seems 10 me we must
| either reconsider our vote appointing a
| Joint committee on elections or else VIC
| shall have two committees having TIL"
same jurisdiction, if Il special commit
| tee is appointed.
| Mr. MERRILL Of Cumberland: Mr..
| Prc sidcrt ! simply want to say that !
have the same idea that the senator from
| Hancock has. My only idea was as to
| what the power OF that senatorial COM
mittce was-whcthcr they had any more
| mower than simply to canvass the re-
| turns; and my idea was. that if they did
| not that it should go to the committee
| that did have such power. or they should
he given the power. ] practically agree
| with the senator with regard to the two
! committees appointed TO do the same
| thing. except tina l wancd them to have
| the power.
| Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. prcSi-
| dent Their" seems to me very grave
| doubt whether this committee of seven
| has any power other than to canvass
| the returns in the Office Of the secretary
| of State. and that would not reach the
| case at all. 1t should be committee
| clothcr with authority to send for per-
| sors and papers. and to examine all the
| returns and all tho votes which thew