Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-18
THE REFERENDUM
Will Be Exercised al
Coming State Election.
The People viii Vote Upon
Three He|dup Acts.
Portland Bridge, One Per Cent.
Beer and York Division,

ciidhce 10 pass on matters which wore
enacted by the Legislature but which
iaiieo OF becoming operative through,
the medium of the initiative and refer
enuum. Three acts have been held m
ana according to the law they will GO
70 the people for final settlement in thu
coming biennial election.
The acts are those relating tn tn.
reconstruction of Portland bridge. an
act to make uniform the standard re.
latlng to the percentage of alcohol ir
intoxicating liquors and an act to d.
Vlde the town of York and establish tho
town of Gorges.
Some question has arisen as +,
whether these referendum matters
should be placed on the same ballot as
the names of the candidates for tn,
several offices or on a separate ballot
There is nothing in the various statutes
determining this question and the at
torney generals department has fail
ed to lind a precedent after carefu'
perusal OF the laws of 81 states Sec
rotary Of State Brown thinks. however
that the referendum questions shoulG
ne placed on separate ballot as it
believed that fairer Concensus q
opinion of the voters would be game,
in this way. The citizens of Yorl
county will this fall vote on the cues
ton according to Chapter 1888 of tn.
Public Laws of 1909 as to whether TIN,
shire town of York county shall b.
changed. and if so to establish tn,
shire town at Saco. Kennebunk o
Sanford. Thirtv-four thousand
these ballots will be printed so the vot
ers of York county will exercise thei
right OF suffrage on three different bal
lots in the coming election.
ONE PER CENT. BILL.
OF the three questions which will @,
to the people there is only one c
Statewide interest. the act to max,
| uniform the standard relating to tn
percentage of alcohol in intoxicatin.
'"uors. which is commonly known
| the one per cent. bill
Under the present law liuuor, cor
| tanning less than 3 per cent. of alcohc
are not Intoxicating under the meanin
Of the statute and in this class are ir
Guided UnO beer. Allwanter Iithia an
other beverages which are sold in man
instances for good lager beer in CON
I munlties where the probibitory liquc
'aw is being enforced. But the Unite.
States requires that a revenue tax
$40 sfyear shall be paid for the sale
these kinds of beer. In fact, the to
or selling the beers under per cent
limit is the same as that required fc
the genuine lager or ale.
This hill was introduced in the no
per branch of the Legislature by SEM
tor Carl e. Milliken of Aroostook coun
ty and was therefore known as tn
Milliken bill. The act is very brief .
follows: Alcoholic liquors which ma
not be sold except by payment of tn
revenue tax to the United States gov
eminent are hereby declared to be ir
toxicating within the meaning of a
statutes of this State"
After the measure had passed bot
branches of the Legislature and ha
received the signature of Gov. Fernal
the Maine Bottlers' Association immt
diately began to get petitions for
referendum on the act The necessar
signatures were obtained and this ia
the people will decide as to whether o
not the beers under per cent. will
placed in the same class as those of tn
higher variety.
PORTLAND BRIDGE BILL.
The act relating to the re-construt
ton of Portland bridge a measur
which was introduced by Representa-
tive Rounds of the Forest City. is ar
solutely of no interest except to th
residents of Portland, vet the Who'll
state is called upon to vote on tn
question under the provisions of tn
initiative and referendum
In fact. hut one section Of the Port !
land bridge bill, Section 4. is asked
be referred to the people. and thi
reads as follows:
"All railroad tracks crossing TT
county way which forms the approac'
to said Portland and all public way
extending from York street to sal
Portland bridge shall be. and the sam
are hereby declared. to be discontinue.
when and as soon as said bridge shal
he removed at the expense Of the cit
of Portland and as soon as the sam
can conveniently he done after sal
Portland bridge is rebuilt"
THE YORK DIVISION.
There have been town division fight
in the past but those who have follow
ed the ioinss of the Legislature for tn
past % years CdTUOt TeIieIHpei IL COIl
test that was more bitter than that
the opposing factions over the bill t.
divide the town of York and establlS
the town of Gorges. York is the old
est town in the State and the figh
really began over bridge down a
that place. with the result that tn
whole controversy was aired in tn
halls of legislation. Money was free
" spent on both sides and one of tn
strongest Hobbies of recent years wa
in evidence at the Capitol on the case
Men from the old town came to tn
Capital city as soon as the Legislature
convened and camped all winter, 1g
'.-ativclv speaking. at the state House
The bill finally passed but the recess
cary SIGNATURES We're obtained 50 Una
the matter goes to the referendum. AZ
thnuyh 2 very small percentage OF III
voters of this State were ever lnsio
the confines of the town OF YORK We
thew will all be called upon to vote o.
the question of the division OF tm
town. a matter which great man
neople believe should be lett 10 tl''
voters of the town itself.
Under the provisions of the reteren
dun law the Governor may call a spe
c;al election to have the voters pas