Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-12
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Page Nine.)

An Act to amend Section nine OF
Special Laws of eighteen hundred and
sixty-three, relating to the City of
Portland.
An Act to extend the provisions of
Charter three hundred and fifteen of
the Private and Special Laws of nine
teen hundred and nine, being An Act
to incorporate the Penohscot Bay
Water Company, as extended and
amended by Chapter two hundred tif-
ty-five of the Private and Special
Laws of nineteen hundred and eleven,
to March twenty-sixth nineteen hun
bred and fifteen,
An Act relating to the compulsory
assignment of real estate mortgages
under certain circumstances.
An Act to amend the Primary Elec-
ton Law and reduce the number of
ballots required TO be printed.
An Act additional to Chapter sew
enty-nine of the Revised Statutes, re-
lating To transfer of actions and other
matters TO the Law Court in case OF
death of presiding justice
Resolve in aid of Navigation on Sc
bago Lake.
Resolve, in favor of aid in, recon-
strueting a bridge in the Town of
Verona.
Resolve in favor of aid in repairing
the Lake Road in oxford County.
Resolve providing for an appropria-
fion for the protection of trees and
shrubs from the introduction and raw
ages of the gypsy moths for the year
nineteen hundred and fourteen.
Resolve in favor of Repairing High
49,, l., tax.sn of carpprvillp
Resolve for further Public Instruc-
tion in Forestry. (Tabled pending
second reading on motion by Mr..
Cook of Nassalboro.)
Resolve to determine the ownership,
location and value of islands along
the coast of Maine.
Orders of the Day.
On motion by Mr.. Connors of Ban
/, gor, under a suspension Of the rules,
the vote was reconsidered whereby
bill, An Act additional to chapter IS
of the Revised Statutes. for proven
ton of false fire alarms, was passed
to be engrossea, 8 and on further mo-
ton by Mr.. Gonnors the bill was
recommitted to the committee on le-
gal affairs.
On motion byJs Mr.. Descoteaux OF
Biddeford, Senate Document No. 22s,
bill, An Act to sauthorize the York
Light q Heat, Company to furnish
electricity to the inhabitants of Pine
Point and Grand Beach, was taken
from the table, and on further motion
by Mr.. Deseoteaux the bill received
its first and second readings and was
assigned for Tomorrow morning for
its third reading.
The SPEAKER: Specially assigned
for to-day Is bill, An Act to amend
chapter six of the Revised Statutes,
relating to the regulation and conduct
of elections. The pending question is
the first reading of the bill.
Mr.. Smith of Presque Isle: Mr..
Speaker, | do not intend to detain the
House very long in this matter; but for
the purposes of its discussion / move
that that bin be Indefinitely postponed.
The proposition before the House, as
understand 1t, will change the ballot
system in the State of Maine and make
it over into what is known as the Mas
sachusetts system. Under the Massa
chusetts system, as / understand it, ii
is necessary for cross to be placed
opposite the name Of every candidate
for whom YOU vote The names are
arranged alphabetically and then the
voter is required to place cross OPP
posite the name Of every candidate for
whom he desires to vote. There is no
provision whereby a voter can vote a
straight ticket. Under the Maine sys-
tenn every gentleman that wants to
vote a straight ticket makes one cross.
Under the Massachusetts system he
cannot vote straight ticket by max
ing one cross Now ! submit this is a
solemn principle, that parties are or
ganized for the purpose of sustaining
and advocating certain principles. The
Democratic party has certain principles
to which il adheres; the Progressive
party has certain principles to which II
adheres, and the Republican party has
principles to which il adheres and
which ii advocates. Now Republicap
candidates are enumerated from Gov
ernor down, and the average voter
wants to vote his party ticket straight
and does it by making a cross i'll thu
square at the head of the column. Toe
idea of the average voter is that his
party having nominated certain gentle
men as candidates that those candl'
dates they have elected will carry out
the principles of the party. 1t is so Wit
our Democratic friends. and II is 81
with our Republican friends Now tn,
trouble, If any. with the Maine ballo
is in voting a split ticket That is
when voter does not care TO vote fol
some particular candidate that is fount
in the column of the party to which M
belongs he undertakes 10 insert SOM
other name, either writing it in or us
ing a sticker. / have discovered tina
the bill drawn by my friend Hersey foi
the adoption of the Massachusetts sys
tenn makes the same kind of provision
that names may be inserted just th'
game as we insert them now, either b,
stickers or writing them in. Now tel
me. some of you gentlemen who hav'
studied the question more than have
what Improvement is that going to b
over our present ballot? If names ar
to be written in and stickers to be as
ed. if we adopt the Massachusetts bal
lot. we are going to have precisely tn
same trouble we have at the presen
time. / would like for some gentleman