Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-08
Senate Democrats Turn Down Order
For Investigation Of the Liquor Law
Notification Council Advises
Removal Of Richardson.
SPECIAL SESSION EXPIRES.

The special session of the 10Th
Maine Legislature adjourned sine die
Saturday forenoon. The gavel fell in
the House at lii and in the Senate
at lie.
The single interesting incident in
The House, on the closing morning 81
the session, was the matter of person
al privilege injected by Representative
Austin of Phillips, who desired TO know
who violated the secrecy of the eXecu :
tive session of the proceeding day by
making public in the afternoon papers
the result of the forenoon vote before
the action at the evening session.
which made ii public. Some reflection
was east upon the doorkeeper or other
officials connected with the House I'M
iii ii was explained by Clerk Harvey
that he himself gave out the vote at
the noon hour. supposing that it WAS
all right 10 do 50.
Senator Milliken of Areestoek,
charging that If the conditions set
Eastern Maine Methodist conference
at Rnckland, scoring conditions Of
notification that were alleged to ex-
list in Kennebee county. were true the
county officials were either ineompe-
tent or corrupt, in the closing hours
of the special session introduced an
order, providing for the raising of
joint special committee to investigate
forthwith the notification of the pro-
hibitory law reported to be going ON
in several of the counties of the State.
this committee to report to the Gov
ernor and Council. The order empow-
cred the committee to sit after the adj
journment of the Legislature. to sum-
mons witnesses. to compel the pro-
duction of books and papers and to
employ counsel and such other as
sistanee as needed.
The Introduction of this order pre-
cipitated a lively debate between Sen
ators Milliken and Staples. A yea and
nay vote resulted in its defeat. IA TO s.
All of the Democrats present and Sen
ator Clark of York voted against the
order
The supplementary appropriation
bill was passed, amounting in the ag-
gregate to s6954 and carrying the fol-
lowing sums: Printing, s1l00: coun-
sci expenses, witness fees and other
expenses connected with the Emery
and Richardson cases, $1,000; pay roll
of the Senate. $461; pay roll of the
House. $l373. The first appropriation
bin passed earlier in the week, before
the commencement of the bribery in
designations, amounted to in the ag-
gregate TO $7i,5f714. Of which sl1.905
was for the expenses Of the special
session
The customary vote of thanks was
passed before adjournment TO the Of
ficers of the House and Senate and in
the Senate something of a surprise
was sprung by President Clifford. who
declared, in speaking of the friendly
relations that had existed between
himself and the other members of the
Senate. that he did not expect to re-
turn to the Maine Senate in any ca
pacity
The measures passed by the special
session of the Legislature have been
the act amending the election laws of
the State and providing for uniform
State ballot box, the act apportioning
the Congressional districts, and the
resolve for an amendment to the Con-
stitution providing for the issuance OF
bonds for good reads purposes. A re-
solve fer local option amendment TO
the Constitution passed both branches
OF the Legislature by majority vote
but lacked the necessary two-thirds in
either House or Senate. Hon Obadiah
Gardner of Rockland was chosen Unit
ed States senator for the unexpired
term of the late Senator William
Pierce Frye, which expires, March 4.
1913. resolve asking for an address
to the Governor for the removal of
Sheriff Charles @. Emery of York
county failed of a passage but was
Immediately followed by the sheriff s
resignation. A resolve asking for an
address to the Governor and Council
for the removal Of County Attorney
Asa A. Richardson of York county. the
chief aceuser in the Emery case. was
passed By both branches.
The special session, the first for 81
years, was in session nine days. The
Legislature convened March 20 and
was in session to March %. inclusive.
when adjournment was taken to Tues
day, April ?, al which time a United
States senator could by law be elect
ed. The two bribery Investigations
were considered and the Legislature
finally adjourned, Saturday. April 6.