Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-19
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interests G TIE tate; 4 adds to it the
.mall,r industries which Tast's not be-
ievc,, Tie people of s4fe state had in
mind when they unsl imousl% practi-
cally, by their partidNs cndors@d Il utl-
tiles bin. And SO this commission in
its makeup should be represented by
the three great parties of the State. 1t
should be non-partisan N its makeup,
u shonld not be left SO that any Gov
ernOr may take from any Utrty the
three commissioners. Notwithstanding
tWn-thirds of the people cf. III" State
may be OF different political affiliations
and say to them. We win put the pow
II nj controlling the State in the hands
of three men who. perhaps sometime.
when the crucial test may come will
wavef from their sense Of obligations
20 the public to their obligation to the
party to which they belong. And so
as i is conceded to be nom partisan
tier, selection from each one OF
tn" parties 1t seems to mr., would be
Cminentiy proper and fair.
There is another reason why it seems
10 me it would be a good thing to do.
IN oG.- Legislature we are made M of
tHrcc parties. No one party itself is
able To put this act through II should
ties and shouldNSo to the people of the
state as an act Of the Eegisa turc for
the Welfare OF the State joined in by
the par,Ies And will he the beneficial
result of that? This bill in whatever
form it passes. will be subject to run
the gauntlet of the referendum in the
State. 1t will need then the combined
efforts of the three parties to make it
become law 1t must have il at the
polls, and it not only is a scn.e of fair
play what would commend, itself in an
act that is admittedly bipartisan, but
il would ensure its passage by the people
when it comes. before them. If represent
tation. for instance Is giyendto but one
party, what would the other parties do
if it came clothed with all the power
that may be given to This aet when il is
enacted into law? And so | think that
the first thing To do is to make the com
mission non partisan, qand our bill will
be non-partisan when we get done with
it. 1t will be bill that 'wd hope To
frame for the best interests of the peo-
pie of the state of Maine Rob 1t of any
political significance and say that while
this act is a distinct departure from our
previous form of government. yet we Will
so safeguard the rights of all parties that
we want it to go TO the polls as an in
strument, as an act under which they
may be content to relinquislf part of the
government that they have heretofore
enjoyed, and for these reasons / move
the adoption of amendment to Sec
tion /.
MIR. COLE of York: The committee in
drafting this bill had in mind the va
rious points that the senator has ex-
pressed. He does not want partisan
bill: neither did the committee. The
committee in drafting this bill placed the
members of the commission upon the
high footing of the supreme court 1t
gave them fun power to decide and ii
nally decide all questions of fact. pay
ing them salary equal to the salary of
the supreme court. 1t had faith in the
Chief Executive of the State. that he
would appoint only to that court men
unbiased manner. This commission rs
not created for the benefit of those who
go upon the commission members OF
the same. 1t does not ask the Chief En-
eeutive to appoint the members of his
party, or the members of the Progress
sive party, or the members of the DEM
three men capable of executing the pow
ers conferred upon them under this bill
and it does not believe that partisan
politics in any degree. or the name of
any political party, should be, incorpor-
ated into this bill any more than you
would incorporate it in the act appoint
ing the supreme court, or amend your
Constitution that it should be politically
la
Republican, one Progressive and one
Democrat. These commissioners are APP
pointed for the long period of seven
years Who knows when the next ap-.
pointment comes, where there viii be
Progressive in the State of Maine? Who
knows where the Republican party is go-
ing to be seven years from now? And
Judging from the past there. will be |.
mighty few Democrats perhaps seven i
years from now To- choose from. | don't
know why it is not making class iesis- J
lation, and if I were not Repuhltrap.
have right, To- be a Prohibitiontez M y
a Socialist. and under his ilmendu< i.
am forever barred from eves being
pointed 1t seems to me thar it IS Hu7z
wise. And your committee considcrnu
that and they put in the very bill ftsfW
lilat tIfe IitfuDCfS VI lilS Cpuits II i
please, this commission, should have no.
affiliation with any political party In anyA
campaign or on any, committee. They
may be removed if they do it, And wet
believe that it is unwise to put party
politics or party names into this meas
ure, and we ask that the amendment be
rejected. s. go 57tfi W
The question being on the adoption
of Senate Amendment f. TO Senate
Document 453, the amendment was re-
jected.
The CHAIRMAN: The Chair LAYS
before the committee for considera-
ton Senate Document go, Senate
Amendment LII.
On motion by Mr. Hersey of Aroos-
took, the amendment was rejected.
The CHAIRMAN The Chair lays
before the committee for considera
ton Senate Document 522 Senate
Amendment Ell, 31& .i'
On motion by MIR Hersey, the