The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-01-30
Accommodation FROM
OUR Representative
Interesting Comments on Pending
Legislation

TO the Inhabitants of Skowhegan.
wish all of you could find as
much enjoyment and interest in the
present session of the Maine Legis-
lature as | do. There is just one
thing that | miss: the opportunity
TO sit down often and talk the whole
program over with those who sent
me here. ! greatly miss the friend
ly visits which we're of daily and
hourly occurrence at the selectmens
rooms before l took on the duties
which compel me to pass SO much
time at the State Capitol. As these
heart TO heart talks and friendly con-
ferences are at present more or less
out OF the question l am writing this
letter as the best substitute l know
Of for them.
There are an average of one-hun
dred matters introduced every day at
the legislative session. Many of these
concern a part OF the people of Maine
only sometimes a very small part)
Many others have so little prospect
Of a passage that time need not be
wasted on them. Still other laws are
so obviously just as to call for no
division OF opinion and very little
study But there are few measures
of very vital importance to everyone
in Maine and few more which con-
cern intimately my own constituents
about which l wish with all my heart
you could be thoroughly informed.
Will you be patient with me while |
say lust a word concerning them?
First let us look into the proposed
change regarding the choice OF road
commissioners. Up to a few years
ago, you know, we used to vote for
the commissioner the way we did for
selectmen, town treasurer, school
committee, etc. Nobody even pro-
posed to choose the selectmen or the
treasurer by any other method. But
somebody got the idea that the peo-
pie, for some unknown reason, while
capable of picking out good material
for the office of selectmen, were apt
to blunder when it came TO the choice
of a road commissioner. So the leg
islature changed the law and provid-
ed that the commissioners should be
appointed by the selectmen. Now,
in many places, and Skowhegan
among the number, this has led to
some disappointment and dissatisfac-
ton | and my associates have tried
as hard as they have in any town to
apply our best judgment to this ap-
pointment Perhaps we have salts
fed the majority, but large and Wig
orour minority, at least, have pro-
tested loudly and some have question
ed our motives in no uncertain terms.
Many other towns have had similar
experiences. What possible argu
ment can there be against permitting
the voters of any community (and
the present bill leaves it optional
with them to choose their road com
missioner by popular vote? What do
you. people of Skowhegan, think about
it? am thoroughly desirous of
your friendly counsel.
Another measure, and this by the
way, is one about which | do not think
there should be a difference of opinion
is the anti-lobby bill'. This act
puts no restrictions on any citizen
who at his own expense. and not
under pay from anyone else, goes to
the capitol to appear at committee
hearings or to otherwise promote or
oppose pending legislation Such
participation by the voters at large
should be encouraged in every way
and this measure would have a ten
dency in that direction. The anti
lobby bill however does limit in a
certain degree, the activity of the pro
fessional lobbyist He can come to
Augusta as freely as ever anu Hdhe
his influence felt as vigorously as mis-
inclinations and capabilities may al
low. but he must make a record so
that the Legislators may know and so
that you and I and the public will
know who sends him there and how
much he is paid for his services.
The good people of Skowhegan sent
me to Augusta anG rely upon me to
carry out their wishes there. | have
served previously as member of the
House and have been as much of a
student of legislative matters, per
hape. as the average man. but I meet
in the corridors OF the State House
and on the trains going and coming
from Augusta men whose natural tai
ents, education and training far over
match mine, as they must overmatch
those of the average legislator. They
are members of the third House,
the professional, paid lobby. The
gentleman from Aroostook' or a
member from Skowhegan or Palmyra