Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-07

Mr.. BARNES Of HouIton: Mr.
Speaker and gentlemen Of the House,
have you heard any reason why>1he
tried and tested processes Of 100
years should be burshed aside? Is
this all the argument that can be
advanced? Speaking as one mem
Der Of the judiciary committee, / will
venture the assertion to you that
this is all the argument that can be
advanced. for not even SO much as
this was presented to the commit
tee. Is it so that the Legislature OF
Maine has no duties to perform! Is
il so that when We are selected We
are sent here to organize and ad-
journ? Is it go that since the in
i:latiye and referendum, the Legls-
lature is an unnecessary expense ana
should be abolished? Is II 50 that
the la US and regulations OF the State
Of Maine shall eHlanate from the peo-
Die and that the Legislature mas no
duty: Gentlemen, NY study OF the
history Of this country. and free re-
pu,llics on the face Of the earth.
has not led TO any sch conclusion. Not
To 60 into il further than IS necessary,
men UPON the earth has shown me thai
America was conceived, founded, Or
sanized and established, NOT as a pure
democracy. but as representative &C.
rcocracy, representative government
and that the people in the units as trey
are grouped together by the state select
men who are their representatives, 10
suggest, modify, prcmulsate and enact
laws: and when. in the course Of human
events il seemed wise for the state OF
Maine TO adopt Ire referendum il was
not that il took from the representa-
lives Of the people any Of their duties,
but that your constituents and my con-
g:ituents sent Us mere to seriously con-
der, 10 receive evidence. 20 weigh the
evidence. 70 ponder over suggestions. 70
hear the public as II wishes 10 - heaTa.
and. if nothing more. 20 recommend 70
the State OF Maine enactment OF certain
laws: and the people retain 10 them
selves as they properly should. the
right to mar. the stamp OF their ap-
prevail or their disap3roral. il you
please. upon certain OF our actions But
would arr man rise here to say that
OF the 80 different matters that come
befor. the LEGISLATURE. It IS now tie
provisions Of the constitution cf the
state O. Maine that The people Of Maine
shall pass upon them all? 1t is absurd
Does any man appeal 70 your sound
Judgment when he suggests that the
people back home do not wish Us 70 re-
ceive ev;denc 20 hear complaints. to
listen 70 suggestions and notifications
OF law. and 70 express cu- opln! ions
Such. ! conceive, is the duty Of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES all the evidenc e
that II can to base its judgment. and IL
is let for our constituents. and our
selves with our constituents. reviewing
the work OF the Legislature within the
- DAYS after the passage Of the act
= determine whether or not y the
Judgment Of 1onr7 more or less they
think il is wise 10 reconsider and ap-
prove. or disa pprove. the acts Of the
legislature Voting. as ! do. repre-
sent!rg the town IF HouIton in IT. seat
here. do not prescribe laws for the
state ot Maine. state what IS my
sound Judgment as 10 the best policy
Of tire State Of Maine along the Ines
suggested. and il is duty that il is not
manly 10 shirk What think YOU Of a
man who comes down bert and lodges
his vote by .'unning out into the CORR
dor when the roll IS 70 be called What
think you Of the man who cones down
here and never has any opinion, but
saws let the peopl- decide it, All:
representative government then becomes
a farce. The committee on judiciary
asked and invited evidence as 70 the
advisa hiitv Of changing the consti:u-
ton Of the state. which for these three
generations has served US fairly veil
One member from ore county alone
could ba found who suggested that
there WIS demand for i. and a. t'at
tire he was rot certain that the de-
nnand was widespread throughout his
whole country. Vow c'hers mav dis
c1ss the ACCESSIBILITY yossflv Of cert
ing SECRETARY If st7'e l~ the whole
-eopla. We want an administrative r.
f"er in or great secretary OF statAsFio
downstairs. We want = cond man. .'or
treasurer we want man who can give
4 good I1on1. and will enca re such az
sistarce as Will expedite the wori. n
the state You viii pardon RE If sug-
gcst that in the Office ~ the attorney
general Of one o. the SOVEREIGN states
% -h- t'nitAl States g America we
want = master r1ind, troro1chiv train
cd. s',i'le3 IT, determining What under
the statutes Of this country Is the
proper course for the DEPARTMENTS to
pursue who appeal To him for decisions
We want a man interested above all
things in that on task set before him
AS member Of the bar 7 am proud of
tho rren who have served as attorneys
general Of the state It is not
an Office 10 be placed at auction.
for the man TO take who will bid the
! loves sum, as years go they used TO
bid eff paUpcrs 70 be boarded. over
the State Of Maine there are probat-
| " 1000 attorneys. who if they could
be elected by the people, would
grasp for this high and honorable
office. and because. forsooth, it pays
a salary that is more than the ay-
erage attorney earns. But Maine has
| had every time, so far as | know.
| men in the office Of attorney general
who forfeited sums Of money that
f., would look large TO many a humble
practitioner Of the Bar in order that
they might enjoy this honorable pre-
, ferment and election to the Office Of
! attorney general. Nov what is sug-
/ gested? 1t Is suggested that our
| system is wrong. 1t is suggested that
| every voter in Maine. every man over
Il years Of age. shall himself have "a
/ in h.