Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-17

sives, who stood for the Progressive idea
and were not simply and solely for all
purposes an adjunct of the Republicans
party; and there was a division and
there We're three parties
Mr.. HUTCHINS of Penobscot: Mr..
Speaker, | raise a point of order
The SPEAKER: The gentleman
viii state his point of order.
Mr.. HUTCHINS: | will inquire If
the gentleman is in order
The SPEAKER: The Chair sees
nothing out of order in the remarks
of the gentleman.
Mr.. DUNTON: eContinuing). There
was that doubt expr essed and ar
gued and the opinions of able law
yers cited to show that there was a
doubt; and the opinion was current
IN various parts of the State in rela-
ton To it, and there arose convic-
ton that those men who were United
states postmasters We're not within
the meaning Of the exception.
There was a question raised, and it
was raised in such a way as TO make
the supreme court of this State real
ize that there is a solemn occasion for
the Interpretation of the meaning Of
the Constitution; and | believe. gen
tlemen, that no action should be TAX
en- on the case of Mr. Farrar for that
very reason, until we get an inter-
probation from the supreme court. BY
the action of this House he is I'M
seated and / have no doubt that ev-
eryone personally regrets that fact:
but when we take into consideration.
as | said before, the fact that the
meaning of this constitutional provi-
sion has been seriously questioned, 1t
seems to me that he himself will say
that it is of sufficient Importance, of
supreme Importance, and that moth
ing can be done in relation to that
seat until we set return from this
question to be submitted to the SUI
preme court, if it is to be submitted to
the supreme court. think. Mr.. Seapk-
er. there is nothing further that /
have to say on this question, and |
beg the pardon of lie gentlemen of
the House for having consumed so
much of your time
Mr.. TRIMBLE: Mr.. Speaker, |
have listened to the previous speak
ers on this subject with the idea of
getting some light upon what the flu
ture program may be. | confess that
/ am unable To abstract much salts
faction from the matter. The matter
may be presented to the supreme
court. or it may not be; they may
rule upon it or they may not: if they
do, the House may have To pass on
the question because under a consti-
tutional provision the members of the
House are made judges as to its
membership. Now, i'll the event of il
being necessary for us individuals to
determine on the merits of this case,
there are two things that occur to me
that will help ne decide how to vote;
and perhaps it would be well that /
should explain my position. OF course
there is difference of opinion as to
the meaning of the word post Off
GER" II has been demonstrated that
many postmasters have occupied seats
in this House. 1t has not been dem
onstrated or even claimed that sin
gle military post officer ever occupied
a seat in this House. Does that mean
anything?
Then there is this further fact: We
oil know that an officersin the United
| states military service stationed in the
State of Maine does not gain a vot-
| ina residence while he is stationed
| there If he does not gain a voting
residence. is ii not rather unreason-
' able to expect that he will be quail
flied to represent that town or that
| locality in the State Legislature. Isn't
! It then absurd TO contend that the
! meaning of the word 'post-ofiicer" is
! anything other than the officials con-
/ nected with The post office depart
| ment? (Applause)
! Mr.. BOWLER of Bethel: idr. Speak
/ or. being a young man in the Legis-
/ lature. | did not intend to say any
/ thing upon this subject, but 1t seems
to me that we have had vast amount
I of argument, and we are getting now
| close 10 the voting point of the ques.
| ton We have heard a great dea
| deal about being fair. Fer one thing,
! would say that | have been touched {
bit ny the fairness of some OF the
rulings OF our Speaker. We want some
| fairness in this matter II is a ques-
| ton. as it has been said, of eonstitu-
tiOnal law and we are beating about
the bush Il great deal, but as I have
thought the situation over ii seem t6
! me that the weight of the argument
must be pretty much with the gentle
man whom we are about whom We are
| hont IN vote llDan and decide whether