Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-19

ly elected officer is paSSed-there is a
pronounced tendency for those officers
to step aside and not be active, and
say, Here, you have passed law
directing those other fellows to come
in here, and let them do the work"
That is only natural, and it has been
the case. If we change the law and
repeal the Sturgis law and take out
that method, then there is a hole left.
SO to speak, that the officers will not
again be rushing back with that vigil
ance which they always have had be-
fore this Sturgis law was put into
operation. 1t seems to me that is one
reason why something else is needed
in place of the so-called Sturgis law.
1t seems to me the practicable propo-
sition-and l tell you that we are prac-
tically bound to put something else,
all that we can that is reasonable, in
place of the other law, because We
want to have the law enforced, and if
there is any way that we can enforce
it by a proper and reasonable law. we
want to do it. If we do not believe
the Sturgis law is a reasonable law,
then get rid of it, and when you get
rid of it let us see what reasonable
and proper laws we can substitute for
it, and | say that it is a reasonable
and proper and effective law which l
should like to see substituted here.
OF course the same reasons Will apply
to this as to other similar legislation.
1t is unnecessary to say that the Gov
ernor is required by the constitution TO
see that the laws are enforced. it IS
unnecessary to say to the Legislature
that he has not much power in re-
pealing this law: it is not necessary
to say that if we give him this hold
over the sheriffs. if we give him this
power behind the sheriffs, making
them responsible to him in a sense,
he then does have certain power in
his hands which he can use to help
enforce the law which he was sworn
to enforce.
This is my plant may not be per-
feet and probably is not. ] have no
great pride of opinion, and if anybody
else has any better plan | will vote for
it. / simply put this forward as "a
proposition, as something in prac-
teal way and perhaps the best way
we can get at it to meet the situation
/ believe we should look at this thing
from the standpoint of officers of the
State of Maine, Legislators sent here
to devise something to help the peo-
pie out and to enforce the law in THIS
respect. AS / say, if there is any bet
ter. plan, let us have it, and we wan.
it, and ! will vote for it, and this IS
simply something that comes up be
cause the other proposition has been
voted down. Now, this proposition
you may take and try, and all | want
is q chance to offer this as an amend
ment, and in order. that | may have a
chance to offer it rs an amendment
| am obliged to have the vote whereby
this House passed to be engroSS"d the
resolve reconSidered and as 1t requires
Il two thirds vote and a suspension oil
the rules to reconsider that vote ] nave
moved at the beginning of my remark
that the rules be suspended and .tnat
the vote of the House whereby TINS
resolve was passed to be engrossed, De
reconsidered; and | do that, as l say,
for the purpose of Offering the Very
amendment which / have tlled IN Il
rather rough way to explain to you.
Mr.. PATTAGAI.L of Waterville: Mr..
Speaker. | would ask the gentleman
from Ellsworth il he would take final
action on the main question today?
Mr.. PETERS: Yes, / will say frank
w to the gentleman from Waterville
that + the House reconsiders the vote
whereby the resolve was passed to be
engrosscd, / then desire to further sus-
renG the rules and have the amend
ment adopted and have the resolve put
upon its final passage.
. hn
nally disposed of today?
Mr.. PETERS: Yes.
Mir. PATTANGALL: With that I'M
derstanding I hope that the motion
will prevail and that the rules will be
suspended.
Mr.. RIGELOW of Portland: Mr..
Speaker. | had hoped that we could
get away from this Legislature with
out having it described in the records
that [ had made any speech upon tenn
perance. but this matter has reached
the point where l desire to say word.
When I sit into a poker game l want
at least "A reasonable sort of hand
with which to make bluff. II l have
four cards there may be a chance or
NV getting fifth one and so be able
to make a good bluff. but when i start
in with nothing and try To put up
bluff it is a dismal failure. Now this
proposition submitted by the gentle
man from Ellsworth is not honest.
90 not mean to question his motives. !
believe he is sincere il the matter. but
it is simply a bluff. LaushterD What
tho majority want. or some OF the ma
iority members of this House want
some of them | SAYS to find some
way to get rid of the SturgiS law, and
the reason they want TO get rid OF 1t
in NV oninion is because it enforceS
the prohibitory law. They may claim
IT is because it violates the sense Of
local self-government. they may claim
that il is expensive. but it is my opln-
ion that in those sections where the
agitation for the repeal Of this law is
the greatest. they are opposed to It be-
cause it enforccS the prohibitory law.
Now if they want to get rid of that
piece of egislation--which | say now
should never have been enacted into
law in my opinion because If the party
which enacted that riec" of legislation
had been honest at the time that law
was up instead of passing the Sturgls
<lN.N.