Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-16

lowed the provisions OF the Massa-
chusetts law.
Harry n. Jones, aviator. who said
that he had been flying since 1911
and that he had earried more pas
sengers than any other man In Amer
ica. said that he favored the enact
ment Of the bin.
constitutional cenvsntion
Charles r. Marble OF Portland.
representing the Retail Merchants'
Association Of Maine, opposed the
oct providing for q Constitutional
convention. He said that the BUSH
ness men Of the State did not feel
that there was need for such con-
vention. There was too much Of this
spirit OF taking apart and trying to
make over abroad in the land for the
good Of all. He regarded this prop
ositfon as very. dangerous. At this
time the public0mind was not in
normal condition and 80 1t would
seem unwise to attempt anything OF
this kind. He feared it would be
taking grave chances of doing seri-
kous injury to the State.
Rep. Wing Of Auburn. author of
the resolve. said 1t was his feeling
that the fundamental, law of the
State should be so that the layman,
the ordinary citizen. could read it
and know what it meant There had
been many changes in the State in
recent years and as a result there
were many grave questions. There
was some question today as to
whether women could hold certain
Offices in the State. He felt, too,
that there was a financial crisis in
the State at this time which made
such convention expedient.
Clerks Of Courts
Judge Sanford M. Fogg Of Augusta
appeared in behalf of the bill pro-
viding for the appointment of clerks
of courts by the judges of the
supreme court. He said that he felt
that this was a measure for the good
OF the State; that it would result in
greater efficiency. He had heard OPP
position to the bill on the ground
that under its provisions political
parties would lose the assistance of
clerks of courts in campaigns. He
did not think that this was true.
Harry r. Virgin of Portland, Walter
L. Gray of South Paris, Charles B.
Carter of Lewiston and Rep. Cram
Of Portland all endorsed the bill
Senator Thompson of Knox county
opposed it. He cited the difference
between Kennebec and Knox coun-
ties. The former had three judges
of the court, while the latter had
none and wanted to know how the
! court would be any better fitted to
judge of a mans capacity in Knox
than the people of that county. This
bill would take away an eighth of the
elective offices Of the State from the
people.
He said that he did not believe in
the sublimity Of the court; the court
made mistakes as the records of the
Maine reports would prove. A judge
picked clerk of courts would be no
better than one picked by the people
and in so far as aiding the court he
couldn't see this, as no two of the
judges had the same method of prac-
tice in court. Judges of probate
were elected and he thought their
| records in Maine were good; the
same were true Of registers Of pro-
! bate.
The clerk of courts, said Sen.
Thompson, are also clerks to the
| county commissioners, why not let
the commissioners have something
to do with picking them?
Dam on Aroostook River
George @. Weeks of Fairfield ap-
peared for the bill giving the Ameri-
! cap Realty Co. authority to erect a
dam on the Aroostook river at Wash
burn. He said it would make safe
booming place for the company. Fl.
r. Virgin, for the B. G. A. r. R., said
that all they desired was that ample
provision be made for the protection
| of their property. He and Mr.. Weeks
were requested by the committee to
so amend the bill as to meet this re-
quest, which they agreed to do.
Pensions for State Employees
Thomas Leigh Of Augusta urged a
favorable report on the bill amending
| the law of 1919 granting q pension to
State employees. He said the bill
changed the provisions from making
the recommendation of a pension op-
| tional with. the heads of State de-
partments to compulsory and also
changed the period of years which
they must have been in the service of
the State from 30 to 25 years. He said
that while there were 10 employees of
the Stste Hospital in Augusta who
might have come under this law, but
two ESQ applied for it. One of these
was an old woman, who had been
theI for more than 80 years and who
S years ago suffered a serious injury
in the hospital. She was forced to
make up a schedule of. how much
money she had saved and any prop
erty which she had, accumulated to
| be given the Governor and Executive
council to help them In determining
how much pension, If any, shor.d be
given here. She made application
shorty after the law became opera
| tive, but it was not until December
last that the pension was grained.
Answering questions by the CON-
mittee, Mr.sLeigh said that he felt
the granting Of the pension should be
compulsory and imperative; also that
he had not given the matter of re-
quiring all employees to pay some
thing out of their salary toward this
pension fund any thought and SO was
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