Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-20

ture passing il. This article further
provides that upon written petition Of
not less than 10000 electors. addressed
I" the Governor. and fled in the Office
OF the secretary of state within 90
days after adjournment of LcciSaturc.
requesting an act be referred to the
people. such act shall not take effect
until ratified by a majority vote at Il
general or special election.
The Constitution REQUIRES that each
petition shall contain tho original sig
natures of the petitioners verified AS
10 the authenticity of the signatures by
one of the petitioners certified thereon.
ana shall be accompanied by the cert
itcate Of the clerk of shc city. town or
plantation III which the pct TONERS re-
SIDE, that their names appear on the
Young nSt OF his city. town or planta-
ton as qualified to vote for governor.
The Justices of TIL" supreme iudiciaI
court have. on two recent occasions. in
answer to questions by the Governor.
discussed the law applicable to refer
rhdum petitions and laid down certain
definite rules to he followed in count
!ng the names appearing thereon.
The first series of questions and
answers appear on tho INN ynI,uuo
81 the Maine reports, pages 557-J75.
ihcSe questions were p~ropoundcd by
Governor Curtis and related to potj-
IONS ask ng for a reference of an act
passed by the Legislature of 1915. en-
llticd An Act to Divide tho Town of
ri Slol ana 10 incorporate the Town of
south Bristol" The second series az
qucstlofS were ~propoundcd by Your.
f-AcellehcN ana relate to the pctitious
now nidcr consideration. asking fo,. n
reference To these acts passcd in 1o11.
an act providing for a State paue,.
An a"t to create the office Of cn,-
missioner OF inland fisheries and game
ana 10 abolish the Office of commission
CTS OF inland fisheries and game.
An act to provide a police co,,
mission for the city of Lewiston ,,.,
70 promote the efficiency of ,,o ,n1aa
department thereof. "
an act to create 4, cnn,,
sea and shore fisheries
ms latter series of limestone
answers have not Vet boon n,,, @"i
the reports fH'itSA'u IN
'"' " in these two c,.o- di-
,I;n. i,."''H every phase Of the law an
,.,1o. -. ~ 'H' referendum, and the
ro' 'dlu down by the court arc nos
f,u '''h'' These rules must no
n"o" ny th' Governor in tho conn,
~ vi names on petitions. No discro
y - alioWed him. To quote fro,,, 81.
Unanioi' 10y Maine, page SGT. .rho
r.D'''ion OF the Constitution is cxn1ici,
r ~ mandatory In our opiniou d..
uo''ihoT IS authorized to co,,nt a..
'o oilS on such petitions as ,n,
-. WIN tne requirements of tho ra
Stitution." ~ uie Ion
81. 'u'te again from the same ns,o
IS clear, We think, that in n,aa9'
warrant the counting of tbo ,,,a -
" pe.Itloil' 1t must not only no G,oa =!
."e ounce OF the secretary of St,,n u'
~ ~ days after the recess
legislature. but when filed
.on,aih the verificatiou of tbo ,,
n.y. lhe signatures by the oatb -,
tHe petitioners, and be accom-
' ny the certificate of tho citr
-" VI plantation clerk that Tho p,,o
.ppai Oh inc voting list as n,arfo,
- Governor. A petition van,
e '''Ncr OF these Constitutional 49,
quie"eiitS is not a petition within ~
ai""s OF section II of tho ano,L
iieh'' "A paper that is moi a.
'utiohaI petition within tho an d,y. ~.
y ne made so afterWards by ,d1-
uaF or circulars. To do en- ,,a..t1
~ IN erect to extend the Constitunauat
unit of ninety DAYS,
Among the rules laid dou,, M
court are these: -"
The names should NOT no
on a petition, the sirn,t,roa Nounteu
~ "ot Serlled as TO authenticity by
,h VI some ono of the petitioners
m 'Each separate paper is
,on petllon and usually contains
~ 9isiidtures or less, on lines mum.
oered from ! to 100.
q petition cannot be verified bv
pe'son VINO is not a signer of that nor
'icuiar petition. The names on surb
petltioh should not be counted
"a petltlon which is verified nv ~,
pel"oh VINO circulated it but did mo,
sish IL IS not a legal petition and the
names on it should not he counted
"A petltloner can legally sign b,,.
one petition. His name sho1ld y.
counted only on the one boarirr ~.
earliest date. liz
oniy those names can be counted
"hich are included in the clerks corti.
hcate as being on the voting liz.
"a person VINO has signed one ne,i-
'ion cannot afterwards legally siv,
ana verify another. His right IA 40,
a. d petitloner ceases when he nlaccs
ms signature on h first petition. His
name cannot be counted on any srb-
sequeht petition, and it follows tina, bo
uahnot verify a subsequent petition.
ne names on the later petition sbou1d
not be counted.
me names should not be counted on
" petition on which the verifying pc
'Hloners name is not included in the
clerks certificate as being on IN. vot-
ing list.
Inc names should not be counted nm
Continued on PAGE Peal 4,