Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-07
GOV. HAINES Will
APPOINT WHEN HE
GETS ALL READY
His Emphatic Reply to Cues
tions Concerning the Rumor
About Judge Spear and Sem
ator Hersey

Governor Haines was at his Mount
Vernon farm, Tuesday, when called to
the phone by Kennebec Journal
representative, and asked about that
Judge Spear and Senator Hersey
story
Some folks think that job is going
to be bartered sold or jockeyed off,
but it isn't" declared Governor
Haines vehemently.
The rumor that he was to appoint
Judge Spear to the Utilities Commits
sion and thus rob Governor elect Cur
tbs of a chance to appoint another
member of the Supreme court, was re-
peated.
Some of the politicians would like
td fix up a deal to take care of some
OF their friends and they are staring
all sorts of stories, but they are not
true. When | get ready TO appoint
the third member of the Utilities
Board I'll do it. Just now I'm up
here in Mt. Vernon harvesting my
crops and I'm having a good time do
ing it. I'll appoint the man bye and
bye and then you'll all know all about
ii
Governor Haines was told that a
Boston paper had put into print the
story that has been going from lip to
/ lip throughout Maine for two weeks.
There is no evidence anywhere that
Judge Spear has been getting letters
of endorsement. In fact friends say
that he has done nothing and has not
been approached by the Governor or
anyone representing him. Judge
Spear is attending strictly to his du-
ties as an efficient associate justice of
the Maine Supreme Court and not do
ing any talking.
The color" for this Judge Spear
story is found in the fact that when a
governor appoints an associate jus
tice of the Supreme Court, he APP
points for period of seven years.
There isn't any such thing as an I'M
expired term Therefore if Judge
/ Spear was appointed to the Public
Utilities Board he would be sure of a
position for several years longer and
some man, presumably, according to
the dopesters, a Republican would be
! appointed to the Supreme bench. The
| gossip had Senator Ira G.. Hersey
slated for the place.
The Governor and Council will not
meet again in regular session until
! Oct. % and men around Augusta who
/ have watched Governor Haines' meth
| DDS, do not expect him to name the
| third member of the Utilities Com
mission until about seven days before
that meeting. or just in time for con-
firmation. At the meeting Sept. 20,
Governor Haines issued his proclama-
ton declaring that the people had
adopted the Public Utilities Commits
sion law. 1t must go into force 80
days after that date, or Oct. 80, the
next day after the next Council meet
| ing
In the meantime, Hon. William B.
| Shelton of Lewiston, and Hon. Samuel
w. Gould of Skowhegan, the two men
who have already been designated as
men whom Governor Haines will ap-
point when the time comes, are being
showered with endorsements for the
minor positions within the gift of the
beard The two places that are at
tracing the most attention are clerk
and assistant clerk. Everyone con-
| cedes that George f. Giddings of Au-
|
road Commission for years as assis-
| tant clerk and then as clerk, will get
the place as clerk. This place pays
| $500 a year and carries considerable
responsibility. Among the promi-
nent candidates for the position of as
sistant clerk, which pays $500 a year,
are Gardner K. Heath of Augusta,
who was assistant clerk of the House
of Representatives in 1918; l.. Ernest
Thornton of Houlton, who was assis-
| tant secretary of the Senate in 1913;
Roy F. Leach of Penobscot, who was
| postmaster of the House of Repre-
sentatives in 1913 and Rev. M. S. Hill
of Bangor, who was clerk to several
committees during the same session.
| These two jobs are attracting the
most attention, because /. they are
named in the law, but there are 9TH
ers just as good that the general
public doesn't hear SO much about
For instance there are one or two in
spectors' jobs with liberal salaries
attached. These men will go about
the State inspecting the railroad prop
| critics. Then there will be several
others, the nature Of which will not be
| determined until the Board is organ
lied, but all will furnish salaries large
enough to keep the wolf from the
| door.
| Among the other interesting rumors
| in connection with the Public Utilities
| Commission is one that the present
| Council will refuse to confirm some OF
1 the suggested appointments. A real
| interesting story is going ting rounds
to the effect that ex-Contl, yssman