Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-11-21

tunity if you so desired TO inspect these
petitions for yourself, haven't YOU?
Mr.. Brown: Certainly. what c&Ild We
have done, summoned on this particular
question l am raising? The attorney gem
eral knows Of any proposition Of law ne
is entitled TO be forewarned and fore
armed on any proposition the state at
tempts TO prove. He knows that himself
as an attorney. / can't read the secret
minds Of the attorney general or any Of
his detectives.
The Governor: I think I will ask
the attorney General to state the stat
us Of this specification
Attorney Generals Statement
The Attorney General: ! consider
this situation to be an investigation by
the Governor made public as manner
Of fair dealing TO all the parties at in
terest II is not a legal contest be-
tween remonstrants and complainants.
They are given opportunity TO be heard
personally or by counsel. He is max
ing an invest CATION of the petitions,
finally giving a public hearing that all
those who have any evidence bearing
upon it, for OF against may appear and
be heard. II is not charge against
petitioners or in favor Of remOnstrants,
and there is no need of specification.
ii would lie impossible TO present them.
All the citizens Of the State may pre-
sent any charge. II was advert sed in
every paper that they might come and
be heard, and nave advised the Gov
ernor that il j. not trial He is not
acting in a judicial capacity He can
not as the executive. 1t is for the pur
pose Of giving the people Of the State
a full opportunity to be heard that this
hearing is held. and !. : merely for
assistance to him in making il al the
end his fina! determination and con-
clusion as to these referendum petit
tions.
Mr.. Brown: May | ask question Of
the distinguished attorney general. and
that is this: If this is not a legal
hearing and if legal procedure is not
to be presented here what authority
and what right has the State Of Maine
to summon witnesses and pay those
whom they see fl and not pay others
who have been summoned to this
chamber? Why should it be that sum
mons We're sent out some saving You
shall appear here and fail not under
penalty" and others merely say You
may appear here if you see fit" Fees
presented in one case and no fees pre-
sented in another. If this is not a legal
hearing why should anyone be present? :?
The Attorney General That has not
been stated There is a difference be-
tween hearing being legal and being a
judicial inquiry The opinion of the
justices said that special notice should
be given to verifying petitioners and
certifying clerks whose ccrtification
and certificates We're called in ques-
/ ton. They We're not summoned as
witnesses; they were given notice Ger
in clerks AID certain OF! e ndiv dual
have been summoned here as witness
IS y hearing may he by county
commissioner; il might he by Board
, OF state Assessors or various parties.
, and witnesses may be summoned and
their fees paid. The question of
! why this individual or that were
T paid and the other has not not been
r does not seem to me to be important.
except to the individual If he does
rot get his pay. if he has properly at
tended, and he has hope perhaps
those hopes will be realized or moi
That is between him and the State or
whoever summoned him.
MI. Brown: | accept that opinion
, as being correct that witnesses bavo
+ been summoned here and paid ana
others have been summoned and no,
paid.
Inc attorney general: Undoubted-
) iy will be paid.
Mr. NJ.
as to why these yarious summon,
mere IN these various forms? Some
were summoned that they might an
pear If they saw fit
Inc Attorney general: / couldn't
teIi You. did not draw thnm.
, MI brown: l will call upon who
ever mas them to produce the comics
ci 'hese various summons so tbe,,
may De made a matter Of record
me attorney general: I might saw
ior your information, Of course COMICS
were made by the Secretary of state
"hen they first came in; not the no
tltion but just the names on tba,,
whether there are additional comics
or those names l do not know bu,
: that Is all that were made to nv
knowledge, and they do not inc,rdo
: INC Verihcation or certifcation unon
the petitions at all; simply l;st 81
names. 't VI
MI Brown: AS understand ,bs
matter.-if 1 am incorrect T wish - ~
oorfecteo'-I have understood that
: Iopies OF the names on all these net,-
tions where the questions were r. ha
ihVestgated have been written o,+
ana town clerks and city clerks hara
peen summoned to show wbetbar :.
,.o. nose names are upon the cbecl-
r lists In the various towns and ci,tor
ana they have been here and boro
coihpared their original lists Win
'hese lists. That is matter tb.+ ~
5 come to my attention and wish 80
l oe informed whether that is corroo.
or not coFrect
5 Inc attorney general: That ,s r.h,,
lney came here. because the origira :,
, petitions according to nv advice couIa
, NOT De properly taken out Of tho Saa
ietary OF States office at tho So.
rouse think that it is correo. 49,
TO other copies of those nati.in .'s''
: nave oeen made unless simply for nso
!" examination. which would he =
personal matter with anyone wo,r,i,,