Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-11
That Mileage Bill

IL Goes not appear necessary TO take
ourselves TOO seriously in diagnosing the
needs OF legislation in a.. its phases.
Discretion should be Used II all cases
but sense OF hCr,or may not be amiss
occasionally in aiding Us to arrive at
sane conclusions on many serious mat
te-s."
The Governors personal acceptance
Of this very wholesome doctrine should
cause him TO smile broadly whenever
he recalls one Of the chief issues" On
which he rode into power-,he SOCIAL
ed (and nis-called) two cent" mile
age bill 1t came over 10 him from the
Legislature OF 1918, under circur,-
stances presently 10 be stated Did lie
have the right TO sign his approval Of
the til before the expiration Of the
FIST three days Of the present Iegisla-
tive session, thereby completing lis
enactment, into law Il so. he neglected
tina, opportunity. Il rot. he neglected
another opportunity. namely. a word
Of explanation and comment in his
inaugural The wonder IS, not that he
should be content TO let the measure
become q law without his approval,
but that this burning issue Of the
campaign should have So quickly lick
cred out after election, w!,aou, even
sutte-lrs the candle
The question OF real interest. how
ever. IS whether the mileage bill is
law today. or nc, Until ninety days
after the adjournment, ct the present
Legislature II the latter. can the
referendum be invoked. and the Ques-
ton az us adoption be lst, 10 the peo-
pie.
These questions are provoking con-
siderable discussion. and are 70, cas-
iiy answered, our or the whole. Ire
Journal izc.:res TO ,he view tia, he
measure WILL 10, So into effect until
ninety DAYS after adjournment, and
that until hat time the referendum
may Re invoked asa!zs, Il, II the people
SO desire.
On April -, ls.s, the bill having
passed beth branches Of the Legisla
,ure, was duly signed by the presiding
o!Hcers Of the House and Senate, and
se.- % tie Governor. TIE Constitution
CAT. ~. Far, J, Sec- y provides tsss
Every s..i o. Restitution having me
scrce q .sn. 10 wA.ch tie concurrence
>! both houses C-Gy ee necessary. sNee2t
OF a question CO adjournment, which
sh2.. have p2ss51 both houses. shah De
presented to ire Governor. and = re ar-
prove. re shall sign il if cor, ne shall
rel1rE, il with a.s objections 70 ihe
hease in which :. shs- have originated
which sa..! enter TIE oo:sc,tors AZ larse
or Us journals, ard proceed 10 recon-
s4ds- Il !. after scch Reconsideration.
sHo-te.7ds ot ia, house saal agree -
tie oh.ec:io-s~ % TIE o,hsr houSe, BY
which Z shah oe -eco-s.ds-sd. ana. L
APPROVED by twc-ihi-1s - ,1s, house
eeea signed oy the Governor; 81; - a..
sGcA cases tie votes 90 both houses shst.
Be ;aAen ~ yeas ant NAYS. ard IAe
names q the persons voting to- sai
asz.Es. tie 81! Or resolution. shall be ec-
tered OF The journals % both houses re-
spectve,y. !: tae bill CT resolution sAa..
Tot ee returned ~ TIE Governor Within
ave days tSu-Gays excepted after :, s1ai!
:Ae same to-cs ara efec1 as = re had
ssnsa i. unless lie Legislature. by their
,t!o-.@1e2S s7eNe2; rs return. j. Waich
ezss u saEl have such force sr5 eject.
unless returned within three days AFTER
their asxt meeting"
The bill 70. hav.ng oea. presented
20 the Governor c-,.l April y. did the
s6ioar.Een, ot TIE Legislature or
April :. prevent It's return" within
hve days, within the meaning OF the
Constitution: TIE judicial decisions Of
othe- states Cc has ncr been passed
upon by ;Ae Msics ccuy,> are 20 the
eject that it did. a-d the cases further
hold tina, the Adjournment" which
prevents return Is final adjourn
ne1t oa.y. TIE reason for this is tha, .
mere recess, though for more than
ave days, would &c, p-eysr, the Gov
amor from returning bill within tie
time limit. fer Us delivery 70 the
Presi6en, o. Secretary % the Senate
O. Speaker or Clerk 81 the House, as
tie case miga, be. would % su:f-
eient delivery into the custody O. the
proper body. 81, after al adjournment
sine die, such delivery would be in
e5ee,ual. the Legislature having Hnai-
in the clause unless returned within
three days after their mex, meeting
the words their Eek, meeting mean
the next legislative session, whether
special or regular. after > dnal aS-
adjournment.
Right here the interesting, though
10; row important. question arises as
to whs,he- Governor Curtis EiSas have
si,he- vetoed or approved the bill be-
fore the expiration Of the first three
days Of the present session. n other
words. cs. s bill presented TO oae
Governor be vetoed Or approved by
his successor, under the Constitutional.
provision above cite5s !, seems ves-
scrss!y clear tbs, Governor Curtis had
such s right Cldsr the Constitution.
Gever1cr Es:1es term % oEcs ex-
p;red ~ -.er:ga. a. IRE first lesisla-
tive day. BIZ, tie provision cited ex-
press,y SLOWS the ErS1 three ses-s,z-
.sye Says for veto o. arcroyss and N