The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-03-28

rotary of State, at the expense of the
state 1t further provides that all
/ ballots used in an election must be
sealed and returned to the secretary
of State within a period of "a hours
after the close of the polls. These
ballots are to be retained by the sec
/ rotary of State for period of six
months after the election II Is fur
Their required that within a period OF
/ q hours after the polls have closed
/ the election clerks shall transmit to
| the secretary of State written state
ment or report of the election. Fail
ure to do this to be punished by
penalty provided
The entire forenoon was taken up
in the senate Friday with a debate on
the administration local option bill,
to which an amendment designed to
permit towns which tried to plan to
return to absolute prohibition, If they
! SO desired.
The amendment which was offered
by Senator Staples, makes the second
section of the bill read as follows:
This section shall not apply to
cities in which the manufacture. sale
and keeping for sale, of intoxicating
liquors, may be permitted under such
regulation as the legislature shall
provide, and whenever, 81 per cent
of the legal voters in any town petit
town the right herein granted to cit
les, such right in its discretion may
be granted But III no case shall the
legislature permit the manufacture,
sale and keeping for sale of intoXica-
ting liquors in any city or town with
ont making such permission condi-
tional upon its approval by the voters
of said city or town, which approval
must be expressed annually at the
regular election, held in such city or
town The word town in this section
shall not be constructed to include
plantations.
Senator Staples opened the session
by moving that the rules be suspend
ed during the special session and that
all bills be referred to the committee
of the whole.
Senator Milliken opposed the mo-
/ ton, stating that as long as the mem
/ bers must return to Augusta for the
election of a United States Senator on
! April 2, there was ample time to have
committee hearings in the regular way.
! II matters were important enough to
call for special session, he thought
they should not be railroaded through.
The members of the legislature have
had insufficient time to investigate the
merits of the measure, he said.
A vote was then taken and the Sta
| pies motion went through by vote
of 10 to five 1t was on strick party
lines President Clifford then appoint
ed Senator Mullen chairman of the
committee on the whole, and both he
and Secretary Hanson retired
After Senator Staples had introduc-
! ed his amendment he gave way to
Mayor Hanson of Belfast, the new
Waldo county senator, who talked
over an hour and half.
He rehearsed the familiar local ar
guments.
The chief business of the House on
Friday afternoon was the consdera-
ton Of the amendment to the election
laws. After the recess taken that al
ternoon for the purpose of consider
ing the effect certain actions would
have on the adjournment of the legis-
!ature, the House rcconyened and the
debate proceeded
Hersey of Houton moved an amend
ment to House election bill No. 2. In
forceful language he asked that the
section providing that ballots be sent
to the secretary Of State be stricken
out He deplored the fact that the one
man should be made the custodian of
the only evidence of the will of the
people.
He asked thai section 8, providing
for the inspection of ballots be strick-
en- out claiming that the city or town
clerks who make out the returns
should have the retention of the bal
lots. you cant make people believe
in this section which takes away their
ballots.
Newbert of Augusta responded and
said that he didn't believe the house
wanted to leave the election bill to
the gentleman from Houlton for
amendment and revision, in the short
space of three-quarters of an hour.
The committee of the whole voted
down the Hersey amendment and re
ported the bill to the House, Ought
to pass" The House accepted that
report, gave the bill its three several
readings and passed it to be engross-
ed.
Rep. Sleeper House chairman Of
the committee on apportionment re
ported the redistricting bill approved
10 to 9 by the committee, which pro
vides that the congressional districts
shall 10 40 follows,