Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-18


gentlemen, do not let your feelings
salary and not efficiency.
The SPEAKER: The question is
on the motion to reconsider the mo-
ton of the gentleman from Eliot
whereby this bill was to be specially
assigned for next Wednesday. All
those in favor of reconsideration will
indicate it by saying. aye, contrary
minded, no.
A viva voce vote being taken, the
motion to reconsider prevailed.
On motion by Mr. Smith of Show
hogan, the bill was referred to the
joint committee of public health and
salaries and fees.
The SPEAKER: Mr.. Winter of
Auburn presents House Amendment
B to the order relating to the codi-
fication and grouping of the various
enactments creating and governing
the State administrative and execu-
tive departments. as follows:
House Amendment 3.
Amend House order relating to spe-
cial committee on state departments
words: 1.-The Speaker of the House
ex-officio" and changing the word
three in the third line to -four" so
that the first part of the order shall
read as follows:
Ordered, the Senate concurring,
that q joint special committee, con-
sisting of four members on the part
of the House to be named by the
Speaker, and the President of the
Senate. ex-officio. and two members
upon the part of the Senate, to be
named by the President of the SEN
ate, be appointed to formulate, etc
The amendment merely relieves the
Speaker of the House of the duty of
serving on this committee. Is it the
pleasure of the House to adopt
House Amendment r TO the Winter
order:
Thereupon the amendment was
adopted, and on motion by Mr. Win
ter of Auburn, the order as amended
by House Amendment A and House
Amendment B received passage, and
was sent up for concurrence.
Mr.. Rounds of Portland presented
out of order the following order:
Ordered, the Senate concurring,
that a joint special committee con-
sisting of five members of the House
and two members of the Senate. be
appointed to investigate the expendi-
ture of money under the State High
way Commission, the Board of Char
tiles and Corrections and the Depart
ment of Health. The committee is
hereby empowered to summon wit
nesses, take testimony. compel the
production of books and records, ad-
minister oaths to witnesses, punish
for contempt and employ all neces-
sary assistance. The attorney gem
eral shall act as counsel for said COM
mittee and it is further ordered that
that committee shall proceed imme-
diately with it's Investigations, and
report their findings to this Legis-
lature by bill or otherwise.
The SPEAKER: The Chair in
quires of the gentleman from Port
land (Mr. Rounds) how far back the
investigation Of expenditure is to ex-
tend?
Mr., ROUNDS; Two years.
The SPEAKER: The order then
will read: TO investigate the ex-
penditure of money since January 1,
1919"
Mr.. BUZZELL of Belfast: Mr..
Speaker, I do not wish to get in the
way OF any order or orders that viii
give this House any light or infor-
nation; but it does seem to me that
we are piling one order on top of an
other, and that one order, in a great
measure, would give us the same in
formation as asked for in another.
Now we have just passed one order,
with one or two amendments at
tached to it. calling for a compre-
henSive-that is a large word-com-
prehensive grouping and codificat ton.
and there are several other large
words in connection with even the
heading OF that order. 1t goes far
and then farther 1t does a great
deal if it is properly carried out, and
now here comes an investigation COW
ering a period Of two years. As I
understand it. You can go down into
the Highway Commission office, and
you can ask for information regard
ing the building of even a small
bridge in any county in the State of
Maine. a button will be pressed. and
that information will be laid before
you in a short time. Now wonder
just how much of this order business
is spectacular! wonder Just how
much OF it is for the best good of
ourselves--for the information of this
House. Is it better to have that in
formation as whole under an order.
or do you want an investiga ton? IL
we are going to have an investiga :
ton, let us have it. Let us proceed
orderly and proceed as we should.
under proper conditions. under rules
and regulations that will amount to
something. ] have been wondering
just how. much vacation or recess
committee would amount to. After
we get through with this Legislature.
the most of us are going to return
home, and see how we'll we can de-
vote ourselves to getting money
enough to pay the bills we have con-
tracted while here at Augusta. I'm
der those conditions, would an in
yestigation amount to very much?
VINO wants to serve on these COM
mittees? Why not look at it lust
as it is? 1t is all very we'll to talk
about sky parlor or a garage
up here on the hill, orEsome bridge
bill down here in the southeast
corner of the State, and call for an
investigation by an order. This is
going to require time, thought and
m