The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-03-25
Eaton Resolve Defe ated.
Sturgis Law will Undoubtedly Remain OF
Statute Books.

AUGUSTA, March 10. Especial to the
Portland Expressly Amid dramatic
scenes the Eaton amendment to the con-
stitution giving the Governor power to
remove delinquent sheriffs and automa-
tically repeating the Sturgis law in case
it was adopted by the people, failed to
get the necessary two-thirds by two
votes, the vote being Sc to 81. Repre-
sentative Peters of Ellsworth then offer
ed an amendment to the Eaton amend
ment which provided that upon it coming
to the notice of the Governor of the State
that sheriff is delinquent in his duties,
he may order special election in the
county where the fault lies and that when
successor to the delinquent official is
elected he ceases to hold office. The
House declined to give this substitute the
necessary two-thirds by the same vote,
Sc to 81. On strict party lines, the
House buried resubmission so deep that
it will repose in peace for two years
more.
There is pending before the House, no
its passage to be enacted, a bill which
conditionally repeats the Sturgis law, the
condition being that the Eaton amend
ment be accepted. This having failed the
bill is apparently useless piece of half
finished legislation, but there has been a
determined effort made the past few
days to get enough Republican members
of the House to join the Democrats in
amending the bill so that it would be for
the unconditional repeal of the Sturgis
/ law.
/ The Republican members caucussed
until nearly midnight last night and a
part of the subject matter of their discus
sion doubtless appeared in the Peters
amendment, but it is also known that
this move to Internationally repeal the
Sturgis law was also preached by its
father and a strenuous effort made to
have the caucus adopt it. This attempt
| the sense of the caucus that the best
policy would be to stand or fall by their
campaign pledges and not repeal the
Sturgis law until suitable substitute
was assured.
The taking of each of the three yea and
nay votes proceeded amid a silence only
obtained in a crowded room where every
one is intent on the result. AS each
result was announced the hum Of CONVEX
sation seemed almost roar and it was a
relief. With the exception of the calm
and business-like explanation of his
amendment by Representative Peters of
Ellsworth, and the brief, but impassion-
ed protestations of the three Demo-
cratic leaders, the whole procedure was
devoid of speech making. Neither side
wanted it. Their minds were made up
and they were ready to vote and vote
they did
The detection of Representative Bige-
low of Portland caused buzz of protest
to sweep through the Republican ranks
and round Of applause from the Demo-
Gratis, but when the vote was taken, it
was found that he had carried with him
but one man, Representative Donnell of
Bath. On the Democratic side, Repre-
sentative Havey of Sullivan, who is
known to be firm advocate of the pro-
hibitory law, voted against the Eaton
resolve as first presented but voted for
it in the amended form. He had as
companion Representative Miller of Lin
colnville.
RESUBMISSION DEFEATED.
Resubmission was put to yea and nay
vote in the House without debate and was
defeated SO to So. 1t came in the shape
of motion to substitute the resolve for
the adverse report of the committe. The
vote:
Yeas: Allen, Beals, Bearce, Bogue,
Bourasse, Chase, Corners, Couture,
Day, Doble, Duncan. Dunn, Edwards,
Farnham, Fortier, Frost, Harmon, Har-
rington, Hines, Hodgkins, Lambert,
Mace, McLain, Merrifeld, Merrill, Mil
Ter, Montgomery, Moore, Moulton, Orff,
Packard, Pattangall, Patten, Pelletier,
Pike, Pinkham, Putnam, Quinn, Rob-
bins, Ross, Sanborn, Spear, Slower,
Strickland, Thompson, Thurlough, Weld,
Wing.
Total yeas: So.
Nays: Addition, Allen, Andrews, Bart
lett, Bartlett, Bemis, Boyer, Bigelow,
Bigney, Bisbee, Blake, Blanchard, Bow
ley, Bradford, Bragdon, Burleigh Burse,
Russell, Boswell, Campbell, Campbell,
Charles, Chase, Clark, Colby, Cole, Cool
idge, Cousins, Cummings, Davies, Don
nell, Dorr, Drake, Dufour, Emery, Fer
guson, Gilbert, Grant, Hall, Hamlin,
Hannaford, Hanson, Hartman, Harris,
Hersey, Higgins, Hill, Hodgkins, Holt,
Hussey, Jones, Jordan, Joy, Kavanough,
Kelley, Lane, Libby, Lombard, Lord,
Ludgate, Marshall, Merrill, Millett,
Morse, Nelson, Nickerson, Patterson,
Paul, Perry, Peters, Porter, Presley,
Redlon, Richardson, Rounds, Silsby,
Smith, Smith, Snow, Spear, Stackpole,
Stanley, Stetson, Tibbetts, Traitor,
Trickey, Trimble, True, Varney, White,
Whitehouse, Whitney, Wing.
Total nays: SO.
Absent: Cook, Havey, Hyde, MERCER,
White.