Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-24
CURTIS VETO
Continued From Page one)

1ul legislation, for there is a legisla-
tive rule, which can be suspended only
by two-thirds vote in each branch.
tnat one measure may not be passed
upon twice by the same session Of the
Legislature. If the resolves are all
passed over the Governors veto, the
work OF the nth Legislature will go on
regularly as has the work of former
sessions. but Governor Curtis will be
discounted by his own party in some
measure, for in order to pass resolves
over his veto in the Senate at least
four Democrats must vote with II Re-
publicans each time. If the vetoes
are not overriden and the Governor
holds to his promise to veto all re-
solves similar to those vetoed Tues
day. none Of the resolves finally passed
during the next 10 days or two weeks
will be successful. while those to be
finally passed during the closing days
coming within the $125,0O0 limit the
Governor has arbitrarily fixed in his
own mind-will be successful. which
will be discriminating without consid-
Grafton.
Would Diseredit Governor
If the Democrats Of the Senate give
their votes to help override the Gov
ernor's vetoes, their party head will be
discredited; if they do not give enough
votes to override the vetoes. the Dem
ocratic party as whole will become
more or less unpopular in those sec
tions Of the State where resolves final
ly passed would give benefit If not
vetoed. In short, Democratic Senators
must how choose between refusal to
line up with the Curtis methods and
run the risk of feeling the sting Of
the Curtis whip, or they must consent
to the program as outlined and by
their negative action render futile
much of the legislation for the benefit
Of the State which is the business Of
the present Legislature. The veto
message Of Tuesday morning proposes
political suicide; the question before
the Senate this morning is. Shall the
veto fever enfeeble Governor Curtis
alone or will the contagicn be allowed
to affect all the other members of the
party at present responsible for legis
lative action and thereby affect dis
astrously the health Of Maine Democ-
racy as a whole?
Republican Attitude
Senator Conant of Waldo, on the pend
ing question to pass the resolves over
the Governors veto, tabled the docu-
ments in the case for action this MORN
ing. When the matter is brought up
this morning in the Senate, the Repub-
lean Senators will have nothing to wor-
ry about: their duty to the State is plain
enough and they will vote to give to
the people Of Dresden and Whitefield
the aid which the Legislature has al
ready decided is their just due; but
Democratic senators will perhaps be I'M
easy and with good cause, for they will
have to choose between supporting Gov
ernor Curtis as legislative dictator and
supporting the Legislature in its efforts
to perform its duty to Maine, denying
to Governor Curtis the unprecedented
privilege Of fixing the amounts to be
raised for given purposes and thereby
the sum of appropriations for the aid
of Maine towns and the projects which
tho Legislature may deem proper.
Resolves for $721 900
Resolves proposing appropriations to
the amount OF $721,O0O for ways and
bridges have been introduced at this SEES
sion. Tic committee on ways and
bridges hes reported Ought to pass"
on resolves carrying appropriations to
the total of So, 600 and fought not to pass
on resolves carrying appropriations to
the total Of 81 ,0OW. In former years the
Legislature acting on the committee re-
ports has decided the appropriations to
pass on resolves carrying appropriations
to the total Of ST. co., In former years the
be granted and then the appropriation
bill has included these amounts and rails
ed the necessary funds. Governor Curtis
PROPOSES to dictate that the Legislature
shall not grant appropriations totalling
over sl25, 200: no matter how much a
given section may need an appropriation
Governor Curtis would not sign a re-
solve granting it unless 1t happened to
fit conveniently into this arbitrary sum
Of $l25,0OO and thus discrimination
would not result through the indifference
or oterzealousness Of the committee on
rgays and bridges and the voting bodies
OF the two branches of the Legislature
but through the adaptabiiity of certain
sums to a puzzle in mathematics Two
measures alone call for S250,000 not likely
to be appropriated. One resolve calls
for $4,000 for the Portland-South Port
land bridge; Governor Curtis in his mes
sage says in substance that this resolve
must not be granted no matter how
much merritt thbrs may be in it, because
he has made up his mind that sHS.OO
is all the State can spend for ways and
bridges. This is an entirely new system
NJ aNrpxSnri ion. II is the new curtis
system: will it find favor in the eyes
of the Legislature and in the eyes OF
Maine citizshs?
QUINN ESVYNNJTO