Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-25

Amendment "B," by adding the fOi-
lowing: provided, however. that this
act shall not take effect until 1t has
been first accepted by a majority OF
the legal voters. residing within the
limits of the said proposed town Of
Gorges at meeting Of said voters
legally warned and holden for that
purpose at the town house in the town
of York; and further provided that
when one such meeting has been held
and such vote taken and acceptance
of said act refused a second vote shall
be taken for that purpose at meet
ing legally warned and holden not less
than six months nor more than one
wear after said first meeting. If said
act be not accepted at said second vote
then this act shall be void. And pro-
vided further that said meeting or
meetings shall be called and presided
over nv the selectmen Of York"
Mr.. CHASE of York: Mr.. Speaker,
when the vote is taken l move that II
be taken by the yeas ana nays.
Haughter).
The motion was agreed TO-
Mr.. MARSHALL of Portland: l
move that the amendment lie upon the
table.
Mr.. DAVIES of Yarmouth: I should
like to inquire of the gentleman from
York if the entire purport OF the
amendment now pending is that the
inhabitants, the legal voters in this
new town be allowed the privilege OF
accepting or rejecting this matter OF
diyision-the entire purport OF the
amendment
Mr. CHASE of York: That is just
exactly the purpose.
Mr. DAVIES: And nothing more
than that?
Mr. CHASE of York: And nothing
more than that. There is not one line
or one word that has any other pur-
pose whatever (Applause).
Mr.. MARSHALL: Mr.. Speaker. we
have been accused of trying to rush
this thing through. Now, it seems 70
me that it might be well to have this
amendment lie upon the table. | Ger
tainlv for one will take it up at the
earliest opportunity. l simply want
that those interested may have an OPP
nortunity to look it over, that is all.
There may be some legal, technicdi
questions in it which do not occur 70
the gentleman from York or to my
self
Mr.. CHASE OF York: Mr.. Speaker,
T know the influences that are at work
behind the gentleman from portland
(Mr. MarshalD and l ask this one nj
tie thing in this matter. and that Is
that we take this vote today 'There IS
no earthly reason why this decay
should be made now.
Mr.. DAVIES: Mr.. Speaker, l should
like to inquire of the gentleman from
York (Mr. Chase) if you are perfectly
sure that the legal phase of the amend
ment is all right, that is, If a part 81
the town could vote on matter OK
this kind. / ask if you have made any
inquiry as to what the legal erect
would be OF calling only a part Of the
legal voters in a town together for the
purpose of voting upon a SPECIFIC ques-
ton.
Mr.. CHASE of York: Mr.. Speaker,
my first proposition was, the hrst
amendment that l made which mas
been voted down here was. to give all
the people
Mr.. DAVIES: l do not refer to your
first proposition. I refer to this
Amendment "B."
Mr.. CHASE of York: Mr.. Speaker
House Amendment 81 applies purely
and simply to the legal residents with
in this proposed town Of GOrges.
Mr.. DAVIES: 1 understand that that
is the case. My question is this, wheth-
er you have any legal right to summon
the inhabitants of part Of the town
to meet in town meeting for the pur-
pose of deciding a certain question.
Mr.. CHASE of York: l think we
have ! offer this amendment for the
purpose OF giving the people i'll this
proposed part of the town chance
to vote whether they want to be a
separate town or not. I don't know
how the vote can be submitted to them
in any other way.
Mr.. MARSHALL: Mr.. Speaker:
don't object to the amendment only
l want O. chance to look it over and
see what the legal effect of it is. That
is why I moved that the matter lie
upon the table.
Mr. MONTGOMERY of Camden: Mr..
Speaker: | would ask the gentleman
from Portland (NIr. MarshalD if he
has any question but what this Legs
laturc can authorize any portion of the
State to call q legal town meeting for
such purposes.
Mr.. MARSHALL: No. have not.
don't know. whether it is best that the
selectmcn who arc SO particularly hos
tile to this division should be the pre-
siding officers over the meeting.
would rather see some impartial man
whether a resident of the town or not
That is one of the things that occurs
to me.
Mr.. BEYER Of Portland: Mr. Speak
er: ! would like to ask if any lawyer
in the House can explain how q meet
ing of half town could be legally
called. The amendment has the words
legally called in it. l suppose there
is a method of legally calling a town
meeting. but whether that method
| would dcbar your calling half the towr
together and so render the Origina
bill nugatOry is a serious question.
think that should be considered
Mr.. CHASE of York: Mr. Speaker
I have in mind the case of the Kittery
Water District in which the selectmer
called meeting for the purpose OF