Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-03-27
STATE soLoNs /.
Seventy-Fifth Maine Legislature In
Special Session.

Special Session.
The special session of the Maine legisla-
ture convened last Wednesday. At a
democratic caucus in the evening, 1t was
voted to cosfine the legislature to the four
measures recommended in Governor Piais-
ted's message, as follows;
A resolve for an amendment to the con-
stiturion, making possible s2,oO,oo
bond issue for good roads.
A resolve for an amendment to the con-
stitution, enabling the Legislature to
modify the prohibitory system.
A bill making a new congressional APP
porcionment.
A bill amending the election laws.
At the caucus-of the repu blicsn members
of the legislature Wednesday evening, it
was voted that the members OF the mi
narity party refuse to support Gov.
Plaisted's proposition TO give local option
to such communities IN Name as desire il.
OPENING SESSION.
At the opening session, organization
was perfected, the proclamation calling
the special session was read, and in joint
session.. Governor Plaisted delivered an
address stating his reasons for calling the
special session as outlined above.
Memorial resolutions Tor Ex-Governor
HUI were adopted, and, as further mark
OF respect, Senate and House adjourned
for the day.
Despite attempts to end the special ses-
sion OF the legislature within a week, it
will be necessary for that body to remain
IN session until April 3. The sdministrs-
tion measures were all introduced Thur
day morning, except the superintendent
bill, which was in the hands OF the appor-
tionment committee, and the order that no
other legislation except that recon-
mended in the governors message should
be considered in the special session, was
passed in both branches.
1t was planned to ballot for q United
States senator Thursday morning in both
houses, but it was discovered that the
federal statute provides that after a
vacancy is discovered TO exist in the office
OF United States senator, 1t cannot be
filled until the second Tuesday after the
converting OF the Legislature. Thus it will
be necessary for the special session to con-
tinue until April 3.
RUSHING BUSINESS.
Things started with a rush Thursday,
and as an indication that the pace would
be kept up. 1t was voted to have three ses-
sions day until bills were disposed OF.
Before the two houses had adjourned,
Friday, the Senate had passed to be en-
crossed by strict party vote OF twenty
to seven the local option amendment; the
House had passed 10 be engrossed the
election regulation law and similar action
upon it had been taken in the Senate; the
redistricting bill had been reported into
the House and passed in both branches, the
good roads bond issue amendment had had
its two readings in the House, given two
readings in the Senate and was again
amended in the Senate by provision that
the expenditure of the money raised
should be divided equitsbly among the
several counties OF the State.
The only change in congressional dis
tricts under the new bill is the transfer
OF Washington county from the fourth
to the third district, thus putting it in
the district with Hancock, Somerset, Ken
nebec and Waldo counties.
The administrations local option bill
failed to receive the necessary two-thirds
vote to secure its passage in the House
Friday evening. Sixty-four members yot-
ed against it and seventy-one in its favor.
By vote of eighteen to eight the Senate
voted to non-concur with the House.
Thus the bill dies between the two houses.
The other three measures presented at
the special session were all finally passed
by both houses.
AT 11.50 O'Clock both braachea adjourned
they will reasonable to elect United
States senator TO fill Senator Fyre's unex-
pired term.