The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-03-11
Matters at Augusta.
What the Legislators are Doing and Saying.

BY strict party vote the Senate March Sd
endorsed the Eaton resolve providing for a
constitutional amendment giving the governor
power to remove delinquent sheriffs and pro-
vldlng for the automatic repeal OF the Sturgis
law upon the acceptance OF the resolve at a
special election next September. The vote
was 22 to Z, the senators voting as follows:
Yea-Baxter, Colcord, Eaton Emery, Gowell,
Hamilton, Hastings Howes, Irving, Knowlton,
Looney, Macomber, Milliken, Minott, Rey-
nolds. Shaw, Smith, Therriault, Walker, War
rem, Wheeler, Wyman-2.
Nay-Boynton, Donigan, Kellogg, Lowe,
Mullen. Osgood, Staples.
Absent-Hill.
After somewhat extended debate the SEN
ate voted to defer action on the question of en-
larging the State house. The kennebec sena-
tors sought to force immediate action but
there was an evident disposition to wait till
the tax committee has provided measures
which will secure sufficient revenue and when
Senator Milliken of AroostoOk moved to table
the resolve the motion was carried, 19 to TO-
After protracted debate the House March
Sd voted to accept the majority report of the
judiciary committee, ought to pass, on the
bill empowering the governor to remove dere-
lict county attorneys The Democrats made a
desperate effort at the acceptance of the mi
nority report ought not to pass, returned by
Mr.. Montgomery but its acceptance was de-
feated by a vote of 80 to A. The debate last
times, spirited.
The House concurred with the Senate today
in killing the bill for creation of State Board
of Charities and Corrections There was no
debate.
TO DO AWAY WITH SEPTEMBER ELECTION.
Senator Donigan of Somerset appeared be-
fore the Committee on Judiciary March Sd, in
support of his constitutional resolve to do
away with the September election and bring
Mai inf limo with nf fhp Of tote
for a November election. He said he had
talked with number of members of the legs-
lature and he had found no one opposed to the
resolve. According to figures furnished by the
secretary of State, he said, the State would
save nearly $500 every two years and the
expense Of a second election in presidential
years. He quoted Gov. Fernalds inaugural
message in which the change was advocated
and said that while the legislature hadn't been
very obedient to the governor he thought the
members might be in this instance No one
opposed the measure.
TO INVESTIGATE INSANE AsYLUMs.:
Provision for an investigation of the conduct
of the insane hospitals of Maine was contained
in order introduced in the house March 3d.
by Mr.. Wing of Auburn. The measure is con-
sdered one of the most important offered at
the present legislative session. The order
was tabled for printing. The order provides
for an investigation of the business methods
employed in the hospitals rather than as to the
treatment of the inmates. The attorney gen.
eral is requested to appear before the legsla-
tive committee on insane hospitals and take
charge of the hearing for the State.
LOoNEY BALLOT BILLS DEFEATED.
In the Senate Thursday both the ballot
measures favored by Senator Looney of Cum
berland were defeated. Upon the bill provid-
ing for the use of a form of ballot similar to
that now used in Massachusetts, with the names
of the candidates arranged alphabetically, and
upon which the judiciary committee divided
equally, the motion to accept report "B, ought
to pass, was defeated by vote of IS to g.
Upon the bill which provides for the doing
away of the Morey booth and substituting an
open compartment, the motion to accept the
minority report, ought to pass, was defeated
by vote of Is to 8.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FRIDAY.
In the House Friday Representative Bur
leigh of Augusta presented an act relating to
frivolous exceptions. The act provides that
when exceptions which are certified and trans
mitted to the chief justice are frivolous and
intended for delay, and are not argued by the
excepting party within 80 days thereafter, or
within such further time as the presiding JUS
tlce has allowed therefor, they may at once be
overruled for want of prosecution.
Representative Thompson of Skowhegan in
troduced an act to prohibit horse racing, ball
playing, or kindred sports on Memorial day.
violation of the act shall be punished by
imprisonment for not more than 80 days.
On motion of Mr.. Libby of Amity Resolve in
favor of Waldo County Hospital was taken
from the table and on further motion by Mr.
Libby it received its final passage.
On motion of Mr.. Boyer of Portland An
Act to amend the charter of the Penobscot
Electric Co. was taken from the table
This bill then received its third reading and
was passed to be engrossed.
On motion of Mr.. Morse of Belfast the rules
were suspended and he introduced An Act to
amend Chapter 1913 of the Private and Special
Laws of 1907 relating to records of real estate
in the county of Waldo. (Referred to the
committee on legal affairs)