Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-07

Wells Ogunquit matter, Senators
Thombs, Spencer and Clement.
Mr.. BAXTER of Sagadahoc: Mr..
President, l move we reconsider the
vote whereby we created a confer
ence committee on this Wells Ogun-
QUIT matter.
Mr.. THOMBS Of Penobscot: Mr..
President and fellow Senator's, I am
sorry that this matter should get
back to a stage where it seems
necessary to talk about it further
until We have had a committee of
conference and exhausted all means
Of reaching an agreement between
the two Houses.
I trust that this Senate will follow
the action that it took the other day.
What reason is there, Senators, why
or attitude than we took the other
day? The matter so far as I know
was fully discussed, and l hope that
it was decided upon it's merits. And
for one, l cannot see any reason why
the Senate now should change it's
position. Since that time we have
taken from the files a bill that had
been reported adversely, the report
accepted in both branches of this
Legislature, and now we have re
versed our action in that matter. I
wonder what there is about legisla
tive work, what the method of pro-
cedure is, or what has occurred that
should cause any Senator to change
his mind from the latter part of last
week up to the present time / am
aware that the Senate was not unan-
imous on the matter at that time,
but I cannot, gentlemen of the Sen
ate, believe that any Senator who
went on record at that time with re-
spedt to this proposition is going to
allow himself to be wheedled into
changing his position.
l want to say to you agar, that 1t
is a matter of considerable impor-
lance to that town down there. The
matter had a full, fair and impartial
hearing and there was this commit
tee report, and l hope, fellow Sem
ators, that you will-not sustain the
committee report, perhaps-but that
you will be consistent with the ac-
ton you took the other day.
Are the proceedings of this Senate
going to be marked by inconsistent
cies from day TO day? l hope not.
And until somebody has shown to me
some proper reason for reversing my
attitude, I for one am going to be
consistent and abide by the decision
that have made, and I trust, gentle
; Sc t,@ -
reconsider this vote, but that you will
allow this committee of conference
with the hope that some equitable and
fair arrangement may be made
whereby this matter can be adjusted
in this Legislature.
Mr.. SPENCER. of York: Mr.. Presi-
dent and fellow Senator's l think that
the motion of Senator Baxter is en-
inently fair, and as you all know the
other day the vote was very close,
with three members absent. 1t turned
on one vote whether it should be in
definitely postponed or otherwise.
And so l think that at this time this
is the proper place to introduce a
motion of this kind, that all the mem
bers who are practically present this
morning might be able to express
their opinion upon it, and if it is pos
sible at this time to dispose of a mat
ter which is of local nature, which
has, as Senator Thombs has already
said, been threshed out both in the
committee, in the Senate and in the
House, and with the results that we
all know, it should be settled at this
time if possible, and it will remove
some of the work which is before us
at this stage of the session, and l
hope that the motion of the Senator
from Sagadahoc will prevail
Mr.. THOMBS: Mr.. President and
Senators, will you allow me to make
just this statement.
The Senator says that this will dis
pose of some of the work 1t is true.
But, gentlemen of the Senate, we are
here to do the work of the Senasa in
a proper manner even though it take
us into next week or the week there
after 1 do not believe that that ar
gument should or can have any
weight with any Senator.
The PRESIDENT: The vote was
that a committee be appointed, and
the motion of Senator Baxter is that
we reconsider the vote authorizing
the appointment of a committee Of
conference.
A viva voce vote was had and the
same being doubted a rising vote was
had and seven senators voting for the
motion and 16 opposed, the motion
was lost.
The PRESIDENT: Through mad
vertence, without having in mind how
the senator voted, the Chair appoint
ed Senator Spencer as q member of
the conference committee on the
Wells-Ogunquit matter Under the
rules, the Chair can only appoint a
committee that represents the senti-
ment of the Senate. With the perfect
consent of Senator Spencer to whom
that was explained, and who has kind
ly acquiesced in it, a substitute for
his name will be appointed later. The
other senators will remain on the
committee
Communication from the Secretary of
State
To the Secretary of the Senate of the
Eightieth Legislature of the State
of Maine: