Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-26

! not think your motion is in order. The
| question is on the motion of the sem
ator from Penobscot. and specially as
signed for next Thursday
The motion was agreed to and the
| bill was tabled and assigned for next
| Thursday.
| The PRESIDING OFFICER The
| next matter specially assigned for to-
| day is an Act regulating the practice
OF professional public accounting
| The pending question is the first
| reading of the bill
| Mr.. MURPHY of Cumberland: Mr..
| President, this is an Act to regulate
! the practice of professional public ac-
| counting. 1t seems to me that we do
| not understand much about this |
| have not heard much from any one IA
voring this bill and have heard some
| protesting against it. l Will read Sec
| ton l. THAT there be and hereby as
created and established a board which
| shall be known as the Maine Board OF
| Accountancy, vested with power TO
| have and use a common seal ana 10
make such rules, bylaws and reSula-
| tions, not inconsistent with law, as
/ they shall deem necessary to improve
| and promote the science ana art OF
| accounting, and TO carry out the pur-
! noses and enforce the provisions OF
| this act Said board shall promote the
| standard of general education. the
standard of special education in the
| science and art of accounting 'he
| STANDARD of moral character and gen
eral public experience as prescribed III
| this Act in all examinations conducted
| hereunder
"Seetion . Within 80 days after TINS
| act takes effect, the Governor with the
| advice and consent of the Council, shati
annoint three persons, who are cltl|ehs
| and residents of the State of Name, TO
| constitute and serve as the Maine
po.,r5 F. of Accountancy. Two OF such
narsnns shall be skilled in the art OF
n ccatnting who have previousl beeh
| actively engaged in the profession Oh
nuhlie accountant, and the other shali
| he a nracticing attorney in good STAND
| ing in the courts of the sta.e VI
Maine. IT. tho
,stabliebinp of another board. ana II
-, g., - Zoe Of So from each ana
oyery candidate who presents himself
for examination. They are entitled |"
Coo II saws that all moneys collected
IN -, turned over to the state
traasnrer and no money in excess Oh
tta amot,nt collected shall be eNpendeu'
| r. eeams Ia me that S25 is pfe''N
aood sort of fee. 1t seems To me
,t,at II is a bin for the beneht OF
Cow don't know as | have any
,,,ticu1ar objection to this bill AS |
LID before. the only way that hearu
~ II was in the way of somebody on
ioo,inq am agreeable To yield the
toor IN any senator that wishes TO
s,aak for this bill. and, if good anu
sufficient reason is given for the pas
aa.e If this act, perfectly agreei'pe
ia vate for 1t: otherwise not.
NJ, cTEARNS of oxford: MT. fgesi
49,. ,,.os on the calendar for tadtS anu
a., had not noticed that TINS mat
an not prepared TO give the senator
areat deal of information III rela
-, 70 II except that IL was heare
tofore the committee of which atii d
member. Quite large number ehap'P-el
nj anuearea asking for tn bill -
As understand IL. II was tehulis
g. craate n hoard which might pass
unon public accountants ana give tii'ii'
q certificate which might entltle them
IN art as certified public accountants
understand that such boards are
generally now in operation IN othe'
states: that those who are IN the
business at the present time of pubi4e
accounting are at a disadvantage wheE
ulaced over against those who nave
certificates. For instance, If pubic
occountant here in the state OF
Maine goes to Massachusetts To tes-
tifv in court he is asked If he Is Il
certified public accountant, and unless
there is some board which can exam
mo and Determine as To whether theH
are fitted to perform this duty of pun
lie accounting, they have no certifi-
cate and it was thought that 1t was
an advantage for them. There are
quite a good many public accountants
in the state who are engaged in that.
business. and they desired TO have 4 i
board. which would be no expense u
the state and the fee prescribed was
one that they recommended etieii'-
selves one that they are willing 10
pay for the privilege OF belne eNah'-
ined. And there was no opposi''o"
whatever.
several Of the banks were repre-
scented. asking lnal II Dt 7iNNh, 49,
others who were Interested. | nave
received several letters myself from
different individuals who seemed 10
he interested in il. No opposition APP
peared. There appeared TO be no spe-
cial reason why it should not receive
our favorable consideration, ana wv
reported favorably. | hope that thc
senator from Cumberland will not leei
ii necessary to oppose the Dill unless
there is some special reason Tor op-
lection which he will give to the gem
tlemen of the Senate.
Mr.. MURPHY: | want to can the AT
tention of the senators to another iact
that a similar board instituted on simi-
lar lines is now compelled to come De
fore this Legislature and ask for an APP
propriation of $3.50 to defray the eN-
penses of conducting their business ior
the very reason that the people benerteo'
in the shape of the druggists, refused 10
pay the annual one dollar registration
fee.
III.