Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-26
Maine LEGISLATURE
Continued from Page Two
Mr.. HARRINGTON Of Augusta: \

Mr. HARRINGTON of Augusta: Mr.
speaker, as ! understand the duty of this
committee on reference of bills is sim
ply to facilitate the business of the Leg
isiature and their reference to one COM
mittee or another is simply as a matter
OF suggestion. and that this House is
not bound in any way by such reference;
that 1t can refer as it pleases 1t seems
TO me a rather dangerous precedent, or
might be such. if this committee of ref
erence can absolutely. as a matter of
ruling. say where a certain bill shall 60
Particularly when it would take a two
thirds vote to overcome it. | believe
! this House has an absolute right to refer
as 1t pleases, notwithstanding the sugges-
sion by the committee of reference
Mr.. BARNES of Houlton: Mr.. Speak
er' | think my brother. Mr.. Harrington
OF Augusta. will agree. after a little
more consideration. that the ruling of
the Chair is correct relative to the
standing of a report of the Committee
OF Reference; but that matter suggest
ed by the gentleman from Somerset
! tMr. sawyer is of rather more import
ance to us than even supporting the
Speakers ruling at this time. and I
4 wish simply to suggest that doubtless
! relative to the salaries of some of the
county officials from each of the 16
counties of the State, there may be re-
quests for increase. and that while
many measures are properly referable
to the county delegations, vet we are
reasonably sure. having heard many of
| these resolves already read. that many
of similar nature will be introduced
IN the House at this session. and that
I II ~ fair. proper and entirely reason
able that these accumulate in the hands
! OF the Committee on Salaries and Fees
1 uh'll they have reason to believe they
1 are all in. when they will give each
matter full and careful consideration
doubtless comforting with the delega-
tons from the different countless and
IN due time probably recommending, as
AT the last session when these matters
were considered in any amount a bill
F covering each and all of them, so that
request for rise in salary from any
section of the State may receive from
the Committee on Salaries and Fees full
consideration. and none be specially
handled by the county delegation. am
sure if these matters are to be left to
the county delegation from any one
county. that the most of us will feel
like having ours referred to our county
delegations. and uniformity in salaries
In the State probably cannot be reached
by being handled by Is different COM
mittees. I hope that the ruling of the
Chair will be sustained and, while I
have no personal feeling about it what
tion that perhaps we can do the bust
ness of the whole State better through
the Committee on Salaries and Fees
than by reference to the 16 county dele
cations.
The SPEAKER: The Chair wishes to
make clear this ruling. 1t is the opn-
ion of the Chair that Joint Rule II.
which defines the duties of the Com
+ mittec of Reference. is mandatory in
its effect on the two houses. Therefore,
the effect of motion from the floor
To make a different disposition of bill
or resolve would be, in effect, a sus-
pension of Rule IL, and hence, under
Joint Rule 16, it would require a two
4 thirds vote.
Mr.. BAXTER of Portland: Mr.. Speak
! or. as a member of the Committee on
Reference of Bills. l would like to say
that that committee makes it a point
to accede to any request of a member
yin regard to referring a bill where there
is any good reason for it. 1t seems to
me in this particular case. however
that all the bills asking for increase
of salaries should be referred to the
Committee of Salaries and Fees. l do
not think l eXaggerate when I say that
we already have referred IS or 20 such
bills to the Committee on Salaries and
Fees. and l think the House would find
itself in hopeless confusion should it
begin to refer all these bills to the
various county delegations. There are
bills which may well be referred to the
delegations from cities and counties, but
! feet that the question Of salaries
should in every case be taken UP by
the appropriate committees.
Mr.. SAWYER Of Madison: Mr.. Speak,
er it certainly was not my intention to
take the time of the House in this mat
ter anu l had no idea Of doing so; but
since the bill was introduced and came
into my hands, have had a commune.
cation from parties interested. and they
desired me to make the motion I have
made l have inquired in regard to the
custom Of procedure in such matters.
and I was instructed to make the mo-
ton; and. if It be in order. would
move that this matter lie upon the table
until hear from my constituents
Mr.. Sawyer then withdrew his motion
relating to the salary Of the Judge of
probate for the county Of Somerset re-
ferring the bill to the Somerset delega-
ton.
On motion by Mr.. Sawyer. the mat
ter was then laid on the table pend
Ing reference to a committee.
Orders
Mr.. Rounds of Portland presented the
following order:
Ordered, That the Superintendent Of
Buildings be instructed to procure forth
with suitable weather strips for the win
dows of the Hall of the House Of Rep