The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-01-04
ruvyPEcIAL SESSION.
IT. Hire to Meet at 10 a. m. March
Ane Goth.

hire to Meet at 10 a. m. March
Raisted last Friday afternoon issued a
.ksmation for a special session of the Legis-
70 ture. requiring the senators and representa-.
tves to assemble in their respective chambers
at the Capitol, in Augusta. on Wednesday. the
10th day of March, 1912, at 10 o'clock in the
forenoon. The proclamation reads:
Our laws relating to the conduct of elections.
the making OF returns to the Governor and
Council. the tabulating of such returns and
the declaration of the result thereof. are un-
! certain in their wording and inadequate in sub
stance. There is no provision in our statutes
for an official inspection or recount of ballots.
or even for the depositing of such ballots in a
place OF safety. These defects in the law be-
came startiingly apparent after the special
election OF last September. They afforded op-
pcrtunity for overriding the will of the people
as expressed at the polls. 1t is imperative that
before we enter into another Statewide eIec-
tion careful and thorough revision of these
important laws should be made by the LeRis-
lature.
In order to comply with the requirements
both of our State law and of the act Of Con-
gress concerning the division Of the State into
congressional districts it is necessary that the
Legislature should pass re-districting bill
before we again elect representatives to the
national Congress-.
. The situation with regard to the prohibitory
law and its enforcement is the cause of uni
versal complaint and criticism. No thinking
man in Maine is satisfied with present condi-
tlons. Those who are pleased with the law are
dissatisfied with the manner in which it is en-
forced. Others regard the law itself as i'm
Practicable and incapable of Statewide en-
forcement. The problem is vital and pressing
The Legislature should find means to solve It
or, at least, should be able to submit to popu-
lar vote some one or more possible solutions
of it.
But three times in the history of the State
have special sessions of the Legislature been
called, and in each case they were to settle a
single issue, while Governor Plaisted's procla-
nation calls for the settling of three distinct
questions, the revision of the election laws,
re-districting of the State and settlement of
the liquor question.
The session called in 1912 by governor Fair
field lasted IA days and was for the purpose of
settling questions regarding the Northeastern
boundary dispute. The second was called in
1853 by Governor William G. Crosby. for the
purpose Of ratifying a contract, authorizing
the purchase Of the so-called Massachusetts,
lands. and lasted nine days. The last special
session was in 1861, called by Governor Israel
Washburn for the purpose Of raising troops at
the outbreak Of the Civil War and lasted four
days.
There would have been special session at
the time Of the Spanish American war had not
Governor Powers. to save the State the ex-
pense, advanced personally the money needed
for the equipment and transportation Of troops
as required by the Federal government. But
expense is evidently not regarded when the
object il to cater to the liquor interests.