Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-31


Mr. SMITH of BERWICK: Mr.
Speaker, l desire to read one or tw'
statements from Mayor Nathan
Walker:
In 1900 Mayor n. 3. Walker said
THE good order that prevails and thu
general avoidance of the place b,
crooks and criminals attests the ability
and efficiency of our police. There seems
to be no requests from this department
or recommendations by it which par
ticularly demand our consideration
In 1902 Mayor Joseph Gooch said
''The good order that prevails in oul
scenes of the past demonstrate that thi:
department is in competent hands.
Again in 1904 Mayor n. B. Walker said
Our regular police force consists of the
chief and eight regular officers, which is
comparatively small for such city as
ours. That it is sufficient to maintain
the good order that prevails attests both
abiding character of our citizens. In the
records of crime of higher character nc
city in the State stands better than ours.
In 1905 Mayor Walker said: There is
probably no police department in any city
of this size that is conducted with less
expense than ours, Vet the efficiency OF
the department is conceded to he equal
to that of any city OF the same popula-
ton -
The gentleman said that the city was
hopeleSSly Democratic. / would call at
tention to the fact that from 1898 to 1907
RepublicanS represented the city of Bid
deford in this House with only one excep-
ton: in 1899 Democrat and Republican
represented Biddeford.
Nh. PETERS of Ellsworth: We had a
long and exhaustive hearing before the
judiciary committee and a very satisfac-
tory one, and after they got through l
think a large majority of us, eight out
OF the 10. could see clearly why the prop
osition which had come before the Legis-
lature several times before had been uni
formly turned down. 1t appeared to the
perfect satisfaction of my mind that this
police system of Biddeford was the most
efficient and inexpensive of any police
system in the State SO far as came to our
knowledge. 1t appeared that prior to the
inauguration of this system conditions
must have been very bad in Biddeford
and that now those conditions have been
practically remedied. There was large
remonstrance against abolishing the pres
ent system: there We're present but few
not more than thrr. | think of those who
favored the abolishing of this system
and eight of the committee could come
10 but one conclusion and that was that
it would be unwise to overturn such an
apparently satisfactory and efficient sys-
TEN; and majority of us made that re-
port.
Mr.. SMITH of Biddeford: Mr.. Speaker,
the gentleman from Berwick speaks of
the reports of mayors as regards our po-
lice department, They owed their cleo
ton to this man; what else could they
say?
Mr.. Dunn of Brewer moved the pre-
viGus question.
The motion was agreed to.
The question being, shall the main
question be now put?
1t was agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. BOurassa of Bidde-
ford the yeas and nays were ordered
The SPEAKER: The question is on the
motion to accept the ma jority report that
the bill ought not to pass. Those in ia
vor will. when their names are called an
swer yes; those opposed will answer no.
The clerk will call the roll
Bartlett of Eliot. Bartlett of Stoneham'
Bemls, Boyer, Bigney. Bisbee, Blake,
Blanchard, Bowley Bradford, Bragdon.
la1, Russell. Campbell of Cherry
r lela: o ca Sahe of kingman Charles,
Idge, Cousins, Davies. Donnell, Drake,
Emery. Ferguson, Gilbert, Hall, Hanna,
19rd. Hanson Hartman. Harris. Hersey.
IiodgkinS OF Temple Holt. Iussey. Hyde.
Merrill of Bluehill. Millett. Morse. Moul.
ton, Nelson, Nickerson. Perry. Peers,
Porter, Presley. Redlon Richardson,
wisE s smith a. Of Andover Smith of Ber
cortland. Stackpole, Stanley. Stetson,
Ilbbetts, Trafton. Trickey, Trimble, True.
!, Ea nnt;y;, Mhitehouse, Whitney Wing of
NAY:-Allen of Jonesboro. Beals
Bearce OF Eddington, Bogue. Bourassa,
Burse of Pttsfield. Buswei, Corners
E I,ok Couture Duncan, Dunn. Edwards,
Harrington. Havey. Higgins, Hill Hines,
f1o1eklns OF Damariscotta. Kavanough
Kelley, Lambert, Mace. McLain. Merri-
lleld. Merrill of Durham. Miller. Mont
Patten, Patterson. Pelletier, Pike, Pink
Sawyer. Sleeper Smith of Biddeford
SNOW of Brunswick, Spear of Warren
1 Nne 81 S'llc k, Thompson. Thurlough
BSENT: Addition. Bigelow Chase of
J ork, Cummings. Day. Doble. Dorr, Du-
,3ur. Hamlin. Jones. Lombard. Ludgate
,W1:. Taul' Robbins. Rounds. Weld.
w White of Columbia, White of Wayne-19
So the motion to accept the majority
report ought not to pass" prevailed.
Special assignment: Majority and mi
'o'i'S iVp'itS a ana Is OF committee
judiciary. to which was referred bill to
provide for nomination of candidates of
political parties by primary elections. ma
ofty reporting ought not to pass" mi
noft AZ reporting the same in a new
iraft under same title and that it .oueht
to pass minority "R" reporting sam,
ought to pass"
ON motion of Mr. Davies of Yarmouth
The consideration of the reports was
postponed until Thursday.
Special assignment: Bill to regulate the
Use of joint poles in the public streets by
electrical companies
On motion of Mr. Boyer OF Portland
House Amendment A was adopted
Mr.. Boyer offered House Amendment G
~ striking out in Line the word grant
I'd" and inserting the word Greeted"
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Boyer moved the adoption of House
b.
Mr. Peters of Ellsworth moved that
he amendment lie on the table.
The motion was lost
The question being on the adoption of
Amendment b
The amendment was lost.
Inc Dill then received its two readings