The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-03-18
Matters at Augusta.
What the Legislators are Doing and Saying

sion of the hearing before the committee on
temperance upon several acts of proposed liq-
uor legislation. The measures under considera-
ton were; The act to repeal the so-called
Sturgis enforcement law, the act to abolish the
liquor agency system and the act introduced by
Senator Millken of Arroostook to make all liq-
uors for the sale of which United States liq-
uor revenue tax is required intoxicating hq-
uors.
The first matters to be taken up were the
act introduced by Senator Staples of Knox for
the repeal of the Sturgis law, and the amend
ment to the law presented by Representative
Havey of Sullivan providing that the counties
where the enforcement deputies are at work
should pay the bills. Senator Staples spoke
for the repeal of the Sturgis law, which he de-
scribed as unconstitutional, un-American and
contrary to our form of government Mrs. l..
M. N. Stevens of Portland, State Presi-
dent, and several members of the W. c.
7. u, were present. Mrs. Stevens and several
others spoke in opposition to the repeal of the
Sturgis law, and Senator Staples was the only
speaker in its favor.
THE SENATE DEFEATS RESUBMISSIoN.
The resubmission to the people of Maine of
the Prohibitory Liquor Law was refused by
the Senate March 11th by vote of % to T.
Senator Irving of Aroostook started the ball
rolling on the resubmission debate. He said
that the argument of the man who wanted the
question resubmitted to change the law was
Vdiu puL lHe argument OF the man VINO wanted
the law resubmitted simply for the chance of
voting upon it and Strengthening and affirming
the law was illogical.
"ReSubmission has been a dead issue since
the smoke of the last political campaign died
away. Hon. William T. Haines. a popular
Republican candidate for gubernatorial hon
ors, whose only sin so far as know is the es-
pousing of resubmisson, said at the Bangor
convention that the amendment had been re-
submitted and he was getting the benefit of it.
''ln view of the prohibitory wave sweeping
over the south and west it ill becomes prohibi-
tory Maine to discuss the question of resub
MISSION The saloon is now on trial for it's
life. We can see the hand writing on the wall
and l believe that the time will come when
National laws will be enacted against the
saloon" said Senator Irving. In conclusion
the senator said that the funeral obseouies of
reSubmssion would be properly performed by
the senator from Knox.
Senator Staples in opening his speech for
resubmission declared that he represented the
best element of the two political parties of the
State.
In conclusion Senator Staples said this was
probably the last time he should be on the
floor of the Senate to champion resubmission
and urged his fellow senators not to deny the
people the right to vote on the question.
Senator Howe of Somerset declared that he
was proud of the position of the Republican
party. "The Democratic party in Maine, he
said, has preached for many years upon the
text" Is there no balm in Gead, no physi-
clan in there, and they have at last found
their balm to be free rum and the physician the
devil himself. His speech abounded in Bibli-
cal illusions and metaphors.
He denounced the demand for resubmission
in behalf of the temperance organizations and
the grange and the great trinity, the home.
the church and the State.
The motion of Senator Irving to accept the
majority report, ought not topass, was carried
by vote of % to Z, Senator Donigan breaking
away from the Democratic ranks and voting
with the Republicans
Yeas Baxter, Cocord, Donigan, Eaton,
Emery, Gowell, Hamilton, Hastings. Howes.
Irving, knowlton, Looney Macomber, Mlliken,
Reynolds, Shaw, Smith, Therriault, Walker,
Warren, Wheeler, Wyman Total %.
THE DEADLY CIGARETTE
The cigarette had another hearing before the
legislature Thursday afternoon, this time be-
fore the committee on public health on the
bill introduced by Senator Miliken of Aroos-
took to prevent the sale of cigarettes in any
town providing that the voters of that town
decided that they shall be excluded. Senator
Miliken appeared for the BILL while the opposi-
ton was represented by Thomas Leigh and
Joseph Williamson of Augusta as counsel. Dr.
G. c. Kilgore of Belfast spoke in opposi-
ton to the passage of the proposed law. He
said that he didn't advocate anything that was
harmful to the public health, and he agreed
with DR.. Gordon and Professor Robinson that
tobacco injurious to the system. But"
said DIR. Kigore, 1.-THE people have wrong
idea of the composition of cigarettes. l can
see whereby down in my city of Belfast law
might be passed prohibiting the sale of cigar
cites in that city. do not think that the Bel
fast people as rule smoke cigarettes, but the
boys down there-some of them | mean--are
seen on the streets smoking pipes and the
stubs of cigars. The sale of cigarettes is limit
ed to five months in the year in Belfast. The
summer people buy them, and if they can't get
them in Belfast they will go somewhere else
and do their other trading in that other place.
A cancer lip arises from smoking pipe or a
cigar and not from the use of cigarettes.
THE LooNEY BILL KILLED
The house, March llth, by a vote of 90 to 34
concurred with the senate in killing the Looney
bill for the Massachusetts system of voting.
On motion of Mr.. Peters of Ellsworth the ma
jority report of the committee on the judiciary,
'ought not to pass, on the repeal of the Morey
law providing for swinging doors in polling
places was accepted in concurrence with the
senate
TO ENLARGE THE STATE HOUSE
After long debate the Senate, March 18th,
passed to be engrossed the resolve for the en-
largement of the State House or the erection
of separate office building adjacent thereto at
an expense of $350,000. Previous to this three
amendments were defeated. They proposed
reducing the appropriation to 100000, dehn
ing the addition as separate library build
ing and leaving the work in the hands of
the Governor and Council instead of a special
building commission.
TO CONSERVE THE FORESTS.
In the Senate Friday Senator Macomber of
Augusta introduced an act to provide for a
commission to investigate the condition of the
forests of the State of Maine and to recon-
mend such laws for their preservation and in
crease may be deemed necessary. The act
provides that the Governor shall appoint a
commission of three men to investigate the
condition Of the forests of the State of Maine
and to recommend such laws for the preserva-
tion and increase of such forests as in their
judgment are necessary The members of the
commission shall serve without pay, but shall
be allowed actual expenses, may employ coun-
sci at a cost not to exceed $500 and one clerk,
whose salary shall not exceed $1,000 per year.
The commission shall report to the next Legis
lature.
FOR GAME AND FISH PROTECTION.
In the Senate Friday, Mr.. Wyman, for the
committee inland fisheries and game bill
"An Act regulating the use of noiseless fire
arms" submitted in new draft under
title of "An Act to prohibit the use of firearms
fitted with any device to deaden the sound of
explosion"
Tho Same senator for tho sapa committee