Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-09
And Then the Adjournment!

lime \. Nj. Sunday morning, Ills
p. NJ. Saturday, Legislative time.
The Barnes resolve comes into the
Senate indefinitely postponed.
Senator Deeripg-I move that we ad-
here.
A moment later Sen. Deering asked
if it was too late to ask for a commit
tee OF conference and the President
ruled that it was out Of order, as he
never appointed committee Of confer
ence after l o'clock.
Sen. Higgins Of Penobscot moved the
sending Of a message to the House an
nouncing that the Senate was ready to
adjourn without day. Sen. Higgins
delivered the message and returned
and a moment later Rep. Besse of
Clinton appeared in the Senate cham
Der announcing that the House was
ready to adjourn without date.
A joint committee to wait upon the
Governor was raised consisting Of Sens
Burleigh of Aroostook, Deering Of
York and Bartlett of Kennebec, the
House Joining Reps. Buzzell of Bel
fast. Barnes Of Houlton and Packard
Of Newburgh.
Secretary Ball transmitted the list
Of acts and resolves signed by the
: Governor. 514 acts and 119 resolves and
the customary statement that the Gov
ernor had no further communication to
make.
The Presidents gavel was presented
to President Bailey on motion Of Sen.
Burleigh of Aroostook and at 3.1S A.
NJ. on motion of Sen. Merrill of Som
erset the Senate adjourned without day.
In the House
The so-called loan shark bill, the act
providing for loans of $500 or less and
fixing the rate, of interest, was laid
aside by Rep. Anderson Of Portland
when 1t came up for enactment, he
moving indefinite postponement Spirit
ed discussion followed, Rep. Anderson
claiming that the bill if passed would
be an octopus and meant making q
monopoly of the money business of the
State. Rep. Rounds said it would put
the entire loan business in the hands
Of the loan sharks. Rep. Garcelon pro-
tested any attempt to kill the bill at
this late hour. Rep. Harrington hoped
the motion would be withdrawn. A
vote OF expression being taken by the
House, Rep Anderson withdrew his mo-
ton and the act was finally passed. And
the House clock hands were also turned
back.
The sharDest fight Of the evening
arose when the Barnes resolve to have
the Public Utilities Commission inves-
tigate the water powers of the State,
known as the Barnes resolve. came up
fnr oofs
this resolve came in late, was never
referred to any committee, had no
hearings. was amended practically after
the mock session began. and he moved
its indefinite postponement. He at
tackled the resolve in somewhat
lengthy speech. being answered by Rep.
Barnes. who insisted that now. If ever.
was the time to take a step forward in
the direction Of securing information
as to our undcveloped water powers.
An interesting tangle arose over the
presence of quorum and the results
OF several expression votes with final
vote OF that nature resulting 90 to is in
favor of Rep. Hutchins' motion. This
was followed by viva voce vote in
definitely postponing the bill. The
House clock also then suffered another
reverse
The Governor made his final COM
munication. announcing he had signed
514 acts and 119 resolves. On motion
of Rep. Newcomb the gavel was pre-
scented to the Speaker, and on motion
by Rep. Baxter, the Speakers chair
was presented to the same gentleman.
At l1.26 2. NJ. House clock time, and
3.19 A. NJ. Sunday. actual time, the
House adjourned sine die. on motion of
Rep. Rounds of Portland.