Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-07
THE 18th MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Stenographic Reports Of Yesterdays Sessions Of
The Senate and House Of Representatives.

sens. How natural then to say they
were deceived or misled at the time Of
purchase They may have been de-
ceivcd by the selleF, and they may
have been deceived by their own judS-
ment. 1t is hard to overcome natural
laws by legislative enactment es-
pecially those laws which seem TO be
instructive in our nature, and it seems
to me most dangerous to undertake to
regulate or treat instinct by statutory
enactment
Where could jury be found that
would convict, or a court that would
| impose sentence--which might be one
thousand dollars fine or two years I'M
: prisonment, or both under this statute
/ for publication that might be con-
| strued as misleading"
| There is a popular clamor to reg
ulate everything by statutory law
which is very strongly offset by. the
popular impression that such laws are
not to he enforced, or that they are
easily null1ied. Such legislation has a
| tendency to weaken respect for all
laws.
If this statute is intended to punish
everyone who in the earnestncss ana
enthusiasm of his business might ad-
| vcrtise in way that might be claim
cd to be "misleading," the mercantile
part of the community, as il seems to
me. would be subjected To all sorts of
spite prosecutions; and if the act is
really intended to be enforced, |
should think it would call for the es-
! Establishment Of a new court in every
county, and additions TO the jail. IL,
on the other hand the object of this
statute is 10 punish for fraud and de
eeit in the selling of goods, would
| recommend that the statute we already
have upon that subject be examined
and if not sufficient to cover all posi-
bic contingencies which may arise.
| that such an amendment be introduc-
ed as will meet all reasonable demands
| of the community upon this subject.
(Signed) WILLIAM T. HAINES.
Augusta. March 6, 1913.
| The PRESIDENT: The title of the
bill is An Act relative to untrue and
misleading advertisements.
Under the provisions of Section OF
Article of the Constitution. the vote
whereby this bill was passed to be en-.
acted in the Senate is automatically
reconsidered
The question now is shall this bill
become law notwithstanding the OBJ
lection of the Governor
Mr. BAILEY Of Penobscot: Mr..
President, | move that the message
and bill lie on the table.
The PRESIDENT: The Chair will
state that he cannot entertain a mo-
ton to lay the bill upon the table. as
under the provisions of the constitu
lions, as the Chair understand them.
the Senate must proceed to vote upon
this question.
Mr.. FLAHERTY of Cumberland: Mr..
President. / introduced that bill at tho
suggestion of the advertising men Of
Portland They We're at the hearing
before the legal affairs committee. on
that bill. and there were news, ae..
men here at the hearing to testA IN
favor of the bill. one was Mr. wv,
president of the Evening Express
Company. and Mr.. Wish of the East
ern Argus Company, but he had to go
away
There were some features of the
bill that did not meet with the APP
prevail of the legal affairs committee
and a new draft Was submitted which
l believe struck out the Objectionable
features, and after due consideration
and showing the new draft to people
who were interested in the bill, it
was decided that it was all right.
This bill went through the different
branches of this Legislature and then
went To the Governor. He has found
something in it that does not meet
with his approval. | should like to
hear from some of the members of
the legal affairs committee in regard
to that bill, and perhaps they can en-
Tighten the Senate better than l can.
Mr.. MOREY of Androscoggin. Mr.
President, the bill does seem to have
many Objectionable features. AS the
chairman of the legal affairs commit