Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-03-25
Notes from the Legislature.
PRESIDENTIAL SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN
GETS LARGE VOTE.

Perhaps the most important thing
done by the legislature during the past
week, in general interest, was the pas
sage by the house of the bill giving
women the right to vote for presidential
electors. This bill was passed in the
senate the preceding week, after amend.
ments submitting IL to referendum Of
the voters had been defeated. On Tues
day it was considered in the house, and
after q somewhat lengthy debate the
referendum amendments were defea ed.
On account of the lateness of the hour
the bill then went over to Wednesday,
when after some further debate the bill
was passed by vote Of IS to "a, on 3
roll call.
Only second in interest TO the suffrage
question was Governor Milliken's veto
Of the "Washburn BILL" 80 called, and
Its passage over the veto. This bill was
an outcome of the difference of opinion
between the governor and the ways and
bridges committee, which led to the
governors "pork barrel" message of
some weeks since, and was designed as
possible way of smoothing ont the diff
ferences. Changes in the road laws
were made by the bill, the pith being the
setting aside of one-sixIh of the highway
mill tax TO be expended under special
resolves passed by the legislature for the
Improvement of third-clsss roads.
A rather long message from the gov
ernor accompanied his veto of the bill.
IL may be stated briefly that the governor
does not approve the method of distri-
button by special resolves as provided
By the bill, and that be thinks the with
drswal of the amount required from the
highway fund this year would interfere
with the state receiving the large amount
of federal aid for highways which will
be available for road building this year.
Wednesday morning the vote on the
veto was taken in the house, and the bill
was passed over the veto, l2S TO IS.
The bill was immediately sent to the
senate, which passed it over the veto,
% to 8.
On Thursday after q spirited debate,
the bill requiring registration of resident
hunters received it's first and second
readings in the house, after an amend
ment had been made exempting IRON
the operation of the law q man who
hunts on land owned or leased by him,
on which be is actually domiciled, and
which is used only for agricultural pur-
poses. There was q spirited debate of
some length, participated in by sdyo-
Gates and opponents of the measure, and
q motion to indefinitely postpone was
defeated on rioG uoce vote, without q
roll call. Only the volume of sound in
dictated the strength of the two sides
but this was sufficient so that the speak
er's announcement of the result was not
doubted.
Governor Milliken's second veto mes.
sage was received in the house Thurs
day, on the resolve permitting Michael
Burns to bring suit against the state for
expenses sustained by him in defending
himself against prosecution. This 10 an
historic case, originating about . gener-
alton ago, and which has since appeared
in successive legislatures. Michael |
Burns, as will doubtless be remembered, |
was engaged in the business of selling |
liquor in the original package, by means |
Of the loophole between state and fed |
eral control Of the traffic. Efforts to |
convict him IN the state courts finally
resulted in failure, and he has sought
through the years to recover his expense
incurred. The judiciary committee re-
ported favorsbly on the resolve permit
ting him to bring suit, and the resolve
went through until II encountered the
governors veto. The veto was sustained
In the house by good vote.
Prospects of adjourning before the 9th
Of April are very poor, in spite Of the
"short session" talk which persisted
even through several weeks. IL Ia an
old story repeated.
One Of the plesssntest social affairs of
the session was the entertainment given
at the state house Wednesday evening
by the Portland delegation. Moving
pictures were shown 10 the house, two
orchestrss furnished music throughout
the evening for entertainment and for
and a buffet lunch Of salads,
coffee, ice cream and cake, with punch,
was served. Three huodIed or more in
vited guests were present, and the Port
land delegation received many compli-
mems on the fne entertainment given.