Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-25

mittee. ~
| Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. Pres-
dent: I would like to ask the Senator
from Hancock what appropriation the
| Resolve carries
MIR. WALKER: Nothing. 1t is just
| to authorize the Commissioner of III
dustrial and Labor Statistics to col
lect certain information which he
considers valuable in regard to non
resident summer property, and they
wish authority from the legislature to
collect that information.
Mr.. STAPLES: Free Of charge
Mr.. WALKER: Yes.
| Mr.. STAPLES: Mr.. President:
think if there is any man who desires
to obtain that information for the
benefit Of the legislature, free OF
charge, the Resolve ought to pass.
The Resolve was read by the Secre-
tary and on motion by Mr. Walker Of
| Hancock. the Resolve took its several
readings and was passed to be en-
crossed.
| On motion by Mr.. Looney of Cum
Lerland, House Document No. 40.
Resolve proposing an amendment of
the constitution providing for the cleo
| y
urer and Attorney General by the
qualified electors" especially assigned
for today, was taken from the table.
| Mr.. HASTINGS of Oxford: Mr.
President and Gentlemen of the SEN
ate: | move the acceptance of the ma
| iority report. The two reports before
the Senate this morning for consider
stton-the majority, and minority re-
port of the judiciary committee-touch
and concern the amending of the con-
stitution OF the State, looking to the
election of the Secretary of State,
| Treasurer of State, and Attorney Gen
| cral, by direct vote of the people.
Eight members of these committees
have signed the majority report; two
| members have signed the minority re
port; each report was signed in the
utmost good faith. The resolve which
furnished the basis for these reports
was introduced at the session OF 1867
| by gentleman who was then q NOM
her of the House. The notice of the.
hearing upon the resolve was sent to
all the dailies in the State several
weeks in advance of the hearing, as in
| the case Of all important matters, that
all the people of the State might APP
| Eeal in person or by petition. The gen
| tleman who introduced the resolve ap-
| pearcd and was heard. No one else
came. The committee 1'elt that re-
| solve proposing an amendment to The
| constitution, was an exceedingly i'm
puTtant and serious matter and not
Tor moment to be considered unless
there was an unmistakable cali and
demand for its passage. There was
| no division Of sentiment and the COM
| inlttee composed as it was of eight
Republicans and two brilliant and able
Democrats conspicuous for their lead
ersnip in the councils of great minor-
ty party, unanimously refused it IA
vorable consideration. The Resolve
was referred to this legislature that
II might again come up early in thu
| sc ssion il case q demand for it's pas
| sage developed.
Fairly in this session the resolve came
to the committee and again a long and
| thorough notice of the hearing was
given ard at the day set who appear
ed Did the people come with their
petitions? Not a petition came-not
one. No one came in person to cham
piOn the cause of this important re-
duced it did not come though he was
in the State House and in the room of
the committee on that afternoon. And
when the number on the list was
reached the messenger of the commit
tee was sent out to find the gentleman
ard bring MIN in, but he could not be
found. The committee certainly was not
overwhelmed by pressure for a favor
allie report. The people certainly did not
clamor to gain an entrance to the
hearing. There may have been louder
and determined calls for the relief sup
posed to be contained in the measure
but it did not materialize
More than this and far more signf-
cant the state had Just passed through
fiercely waged political contest-a
contest in which no rhase of the rights
of the people had been overlooked in
tcntionally. Caucuses had been held in
every town and city bv each of the
two great political parties The people
had had a chance to be heard. The
delegates came together in the'r con-
vcntions: they formulated their plat
forms with the utmost care and DELHI
Grafton A vigorous campaign was
made. The State was thoroughly can
vassed. No school district in the state
was neglected. No stone was left I'M
turned. Each party put forth its high
est cndeavor till the very eve of cleo
ton.
But during all this time from the adj
journment of the Legislature of 1907
/ to the converting of this Legislature
was ever a word heard relating to this
resolve-relative to the election Of
these officials by the people. Did any
one raise his voice in the preliminary
canvass for this proposition? Did any
newspaper in this whole State of what
ever political persuasion and bias men
ton it? Was there paragraph touch
ing this resolve, was there line
touching this resolve. was there a word
| touching this resolve in the platform of
either party? At the conventions in
| the canvass did any speaker of any
party ever give utterance to the
| thought that their several officials
| should be elected by the people. that
the constitution should be amended as
| per this resolve?