Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-01
Work of the Session.

SIX a9e that for 1912 at four mills.
Work of the Session.
The 18th Legislature. which COM
pleted its deliberations Friday night
was commilSad through the platrpgf1
of the anlaj<Fity party to readjusts
ment Of taxes, to economy in State
expenditures, to resubmission to the
people Of the so-called prohibitory
amendment to the constitution of
Maine and the repeal of the Sturgis
Law, to action favoring the popular
election of United States senators, to,
the ratification of the income tax
aplef1snent IT, t,ie Federal constitu-
ton and tDgthe enactment Of a corrupt
pra44cea n62 direct primaries law.
T4esprdniE6eh III regard to liquor leg
islation was the first which the party
kept. 1T early passed the resolve re-
Submitting the 5th amendment to the
State constitution, which forbids the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating
liquors within the State, to the pee-
pie. The so-called Sturgis law, pro-
viding for a force of State deputieSs
20 enforce the ppohibitory law, was
repcaled. The state liquor agency sEs-s
tenn was abolished and the law giving
tbs Governor the right to remove de-
liuquent county attorneys repealed. A
bill providing for Jail. sentences in all
convictions of infraedons of the pre-
eilibitory law, was. defeated. This was.
= bill similar to TIE one wetoedsstwd
years ego. by Gofernor Fer6ala.
The promise in regard togdpa ~ IN
State expenditures ifas Il NH 81, 6iopz
certain lines, but the man 4nwlifch
it has been kept is sevef = criticized
by members of the nin6rity party.
Appropriations for state institutions
/ have been so small that in many cases
their usefulness has been seriously
hampered. Pauper claims and road and
bridge appropriations for many of the
smaller towns have been referred to
the next Legislature.
The 18th Legislature has taken ac-
ton favoring the popular election of
United States senators, but it was only
through the pressure of the Executive
/ department brought to bear upon the
| Senate that the party was compelled to
keep its promise in regard to the rat
I.iGcation of the Federal income tax.
House ana Senate passed an act pro-
viding for State income tax, but on
| the initiative of the Senate in the clos.
I ing hours Of the session. the vote upon
1.-The state income tax was recoHsidered,
| the hill defeated, and the Federal IN :.
| come tax resolve defeated. But little
has been done by the Legislature III
regard to the readjustmert OF taxes.
/ Two bills were offered providing for
| the distribution of the school funds
under new system, both of these We're
] IN the closing. hours OF the session re-
! ferred to- the next Legislature.
| A law was passed committing tho
! State 10 q policy, in passing upon
! questionable ballots of determining the
/ intent of the voter instead of being
soverned'by distinguishing marks. The
! Morey law, whereby polling booths
must be supplied with doors, an ar
rangement which has heretofore been
optional with municipalities, was made
compulsory
A direct primary law. fathered by
/. Representative Davies of Yarmouth,
and which provides for the nomina-
ton of all elective State and county
officers as well as Governor and Con-
gressmen and the advisory vote for
! United states senator by means of d.
rect primaries, also containing cor
rupt practices act, was refused pas
sage by the Legislature. That body
passed in it's stead the So-called Pen
nell direct primary act which extends
the provisions of the direct primary
law only to Governor, Congressman
and the advisory vote for United
States senator The Legislature also
passed a corrupt practices, act, but
which differs in important features
from the one presented under the
Initiative in the Davies act The Davies
act will go before the people but there
is still doubt in the minds of many
as to whether the Pennell bill which
tie Legislature has passed will or
not 1t may require a decision of the
courts to settle the matter. An at
, tempt to have the State adopt either
the Massachusetts or the Connecticut
form of ballot failed.
The Dongan bridge bill, which has
been before two previous Legislatures
and which provides for State owner
ship and maintenance of bridges over
: 40 feet in length, again failed of pas
sage and the 18th Legislature referred
it to the next Legislature with favor
; able recommendation.
!, The labor and factory inspection de-
partments have been consolidated un-
der one head, the exemption of sar-
dine factories from the provisions OF
the labor laws, has bNen. removed, a
weekly payment of was9 bill enacted
and law passed compelling the use OF
Ito ;,.c II, fnf,fn,ssos w harx vr0yney1 arc