Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-01
HOUSE..


Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Wednesday, February 2Sth, 1917.
The House met according to ADJOURN
ment and was called to order by the
Speaker.
g. PRAYER by the Rev. Mr.. Hatch OF Au-
I gusta.
Journal of previous session read ana
approved.
Vim concurrence.
From the Senate: An Act to incor-
iporate the York Beach Chamber OF
Commerce.
In the House, this bill was received
under suspension of the rules and re-
Iferred to the committee on legal at
fairs.
H In the Senate, referred to the next
Legislature. in inconvenience.
On motion by Mr.. Barnes of Houlton
"athe House voted to recede and concur
with the Senate in referring the bill
to the next Legislature.
Oh, From the Senate: An Act to incor-
b, porate the Peat Powder Producing
Company.
r In the House, this bill was received
under a suspension Of the rules and re-
.ferred to the Committee on Legal At
fairs.
a. In the Senate, the bill was referred
q to the next Legislature in nom concur
renee.
Mr.. BUTTON of Bingham: Mr..
Speaker, I think 1t would be wiser in
matters that we do not approve Of in
this Legislature to move their indefin-
lite postponement. rather than refer
them 10 the next Legislature. and 7
= would move that this matter be in
% definitely postponed.
-' The SPEAKER: The Chair would
inform the gentleman from Bingham,
Mr.. Dutton. that the only action COM
petent Cor the House is either to insist
or to recede and concur.
Mr.. DUTTON: I move that we insist
. on our action.
The SPEAKER: A motion to insist
would carry with it the force that the
bill must be accepted and referred to
= the committee on legal affairs, there
fore the motion is not in order
bAt\Eo Oh fOultOn. Mr.
Speaker. our attention has been called
by the mentor of the present Legisla-
4 ture to rule that we adopted January
Is. 1917. which reads in part that all
such petitions and bills presented after
that date, be referred to the next Leeis-
lature:" and. if in order. 1 move that
we recede and Concur with the Senate
The SPEAKER: The motion is in
order.
Mr.. COLE Of Eliot: Mr. Speaker. I
believe 1t IS unwise for this Legisla-
ture to stand arbitrarily upon any rule
understand that there must be some
limit to the time of private legislation.
and l understand that the House and
senate must act together. concurrent
~ in matters: hut know there are &C.
casions when 1t becomes almost abso-
iutely necessary for some member Of
the House or Senate to put in bill for
- private legislation after the time limit
mas expired. In my own experience in
ms Legislature, there came to me two
years ago request from a section OF
the state to pat in bill to form a
% hehting district. That came along the
last weeks in March. Now here were
the circumstances. There had been
hsnts provided by the town for q
summer resort-a part Of the town. At
the annual meeting in March. which
came the second or third Monday. the
Town voted down an appropriation for
lights. Unless those people could GET
to the Legislature and get a lighting
district. two or three thousand people
at a summer resort would heye been
entirely without lights for the summer
months. The business of that locality
would have been practically killed.
lawlessness would have abounded and
injustice would have been done. Under
suspension Of the rules, ] introduced
/. a bill. lighting district was formed.
and those people were served. That is
one illustration Of what has happened
In my own experience, and 1 have
known Of many others. Two, or four,
years ago, a Request was made to a
town in this State Of some money for
n public library. 1t did not get into
the LEGISLATURE in time to be acted up
on within the limit Of time allowed
and a bill was allowed to be introduced
In order that Il might be accepted ac-
cording to Its provisions. Now II that