Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-05

Monday. Sept. . 10 ths day On
which the voters Of Maine wfii ree.
lister their wishes on the i've pro-
posed Constitutional amendments.
The indications are that all win Be
adopted by the people, opposition to
but one having been It ell marked
and that so-sar - We can Judge,
having almost wholly disappeared.
Each Of the proposed amendments
are OF vital interest to every person
in the State. Otherwise they would
not have been submitted by the Leg
tslature for our consideration. That
they are not all fully understood by
all - not strange, because people are
too prone to leave such matters Ter
legislative action and not examine
carefully into their Own connection
Herewith, interests In and duty to.
ward 1t - now . case where the
situation II up to the voters they
must give the nnaI verdict.
Governor Mflliken. in discussing
the proposed amendments. gives the
following valuable Information re.
gardins their intent and purposes:
! nnd that there u a general lack
OF Information regarding The five Con-
stttuttona1 amendments which are to
be voted on neat Monday.
The first Ia the list 10 the 20. called
military law amendment and the ef-
feet Of the proposed change would be
TO bring the methods Of handling the
National Guard into harmony with
the system prevailing ia tho United
States Army and most Of the states.
The second proposed change
would allow . voter who change his
residence within the State less than
three months before an eIectivn 70
! retain his right to vote Ia his E.rrse.
place Of residence until he has &C.
quired the right in his new home.
Under the present law in these ci.-
eumstances the man loses the right
70 vote ~ that election
The third amendment would allow
the use Of the credit Of the State TO
the extent Of &1,1se.C60 for the con.
-structton Of State wharves or State
piers.
The fourth amendment increases
the temporary loan limit from 3so0. :
G%S 10 Ss06y003. When the prcaen.
hntt was fixed, rs years ago. the
total annual expenditure Of the State
was only about $4,000. Now with
an annual budget Of about $1,000. 900
and direct taxes coming In December
the State 10 situated like a town
which. with an annual expenditure
OF $s1o1. could only borrow $500 in
Anticipation Of taxes.
The nth question, the so-caIlsd
Gocd Roads bond issue. 10 fairly well
understood, but the following points
need special emphasis - shown by
questions that have been asked:
Tirst-This amendment to the
Constitution does not Of itself author
he the issuance Of bonds. II onI,
extends TO $4,000, 900 the limit within
which bonds may be issued upon
such conditions az the Legislature
may from time 10 time prescribe.
Second-The provision requiring
equitable distribution Of the proceeds
OF these bonds between the various
counties Of the State remains un-
changed. 80 that as the work Of con-
struction Of roads proceeds each
county may be sure Of receiving its
fair share Of the expenditure.
"Thtrd-The Increase proposed n
not $fo.0o0.0o0 but an increase Of S.
, 100000 up To total Of $4,000, 900.
Provisions for rate Of re-
tirement OF bonds. sinking fund. ETC.,
viii Be contained in the legislation
authorizing the issuance Of the bonds
themselves but such details have no
proper place In a Constitutional
amendment. II