Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-15
Baxter Amendment to
Oxford Power Measure Is
Ruled Not Germane
Representative Tries to Prevent Transmission
of Electrical Current Out of State But Bows
to Sentiment of House-The Senate Kills His
Amendment to Washington Power Bill

The extra half hour added to the House
and Senate sessions by meeting at $50 A.
M. instead of TO- as has been the CUSTOM
aided materially in disposing OF business
in both branches on Wednesday. and
large amount was disposed Of.
Both House and Senate accepted the IN
vitation to attend the preparedness meet
ing next Friday in Portland.
Each branch was the scene Of interest
ing incidents in connection with the rou-
tine business and the large number or
spectators. especially in the House. were
we'll entertained.
IN THE HOUSE.
The Peonage bill was assigned to next
Thursday.
The bill authorizing the Oxford Electric
CO. to extend its lines to Hebron and to
purchase the electrical equipment and
franchise of the Hebron Academy was
taken I'D and Rep. Baxter offered his
amendment, preventing the company
from transmitting electrical current out
of the State, etc, which brought on
lively debate and discussion of an hours
duration.
Speaker Bonney ruled the amendment
not germane to the bill, from which KEEP
Baxter appealed. The discussion took
somewhat wide range and went through
the water and electrical questions, points
of order and Interruptions, until the SEN
timent of the House as shown led Rep
Baxter to withdraw the appeal, saying
he would take up the matter at another
time. He also withdrew his amendment
and the entire House joined in applause
at this method of cutting the knot.
The Speaker later stated that the Chair
would regret exceedingly to be obliged to
remind any individual member of certain
elementary rules which forbid PERSONAL
ties in debate In ruling out an amend
ment it is entirely a question with the
Chair as to whether it Is germane to the
particular bill and not affecting the
merits of the bill or the individual opin-
ions and belief Of the Chair or the mem
ber The Chair rules and the House de-
cides whether he is right.
Discussion arose over the proposed act
repeating the law requiring notice of quit
ting work or discharge of employee. The
majority report, ought not to pass, was
adopted.
Rep, Rounds of Portland announced an
other of his Investigations into the much
heralded Democratic surplus left in the
State treasury and had found that it
was very much wanting. For instance,
certain permanent funds called fer to-
tai of 1855 2919 which absolutely could
not be found, because 1t didn't exist.
Again. the automobile fund was an
nounced as having about sl65,50. but OF
that $4,000 was to be used in 1917 and
about $4,000 in 1918, nearly cleaning Iii,
that fund. He warned the House that
they couldn't keep on appropriating
money, without increasing the tax rate,
and that they are not in the fine financial
condition they thought they were when
they came here.
Rep. Rounds then proceeded to move
the passage to be engrossed of the resolve
in favor of State hospitals for mainte-
nance and other purposes.
Rep Hutchins of Mexico had amended
the act relating to the terms of court in
oxford county. SO as to abolish the
March term. the February term to meet
on the second Tuesday at Rumford and
the May term on the second Tuesday at
Paris, with grand jury sessions at each.