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

measure now pending. The commits
tee. AFTER due consideration. unani-
mously voted Ought to pass": and
Tor US before the measure had hard
~ reached our desk to disregard an
honest attempt in tRis direction is al
together unfair. unjhst. inconceivable
and unreasonable; and at this time.
Mr. Speaker. move that the bill he
recommftted to a joint committee of
public health and salaries and fees.
where our distinguished representa-
tive from Portland ,{Mr. Roundsl NAV
be able to give the matter fair con-
sldsration as he is always willing to
Mr.. ROUNDS Of Portland: Mr..
Speaker, is there not a motion before
the House?
The SPEAKER: The motion before
the House is the motion of the gen
tieman from Portland, (Mr. Rounds).
that the bill be indefinitely post
poned.
Mr.. SMITH: When that motion is
put I would like the yea and nay vote.
| The SPEAKER: The gentleman
from Skowhegan, Mr.. Smith, calls for
the yeas and nays on the motion of
the gentleman from Portland (Mr.
Rounds) for the indefinite postpone
ment of the bill. The demand for a
yea and nay vote requires the assent
OF one fifth of the members present,
as the Chair remembers the rules.
The first step then is to ascertain
whether or not a fifth of the members
present require that the vote. be TAX
en- by the yeas and nays. All those
in favor of the yea and nay vote on
this proposition will rise and the mon
itors will return the count.
A division was had and a sufficient
number arose.
The SPEAKER: More than one fifth
Of the House having assented to a
yea and nay vote, the clerk will call
the roll.
Mr.. COLE OF Eliot: Mr. Speaker, I
do not know how other members of
this Legislature may feel on this
matter, but it has had no discussion
publicly here. 1t seems to me that
the most of us are entirely in the
Fdark, and if it is question of State
wide Importance which affects every
mother, every child, and certainly ev-
cry taxpayer, there should be suffi-
cient discussion on the floor of this
House. in order that every man may
intelligently understand. not only
what the bill means in its present form
but the changes which are being made
NH j- 10 he
future by the Department of Health.
1t is a broad measure, taking very
large amount of money from the pock-
cts Of the people of the State. have
no doubt of it's beneficient results,
but at the same time. it seems to me
that it is worthy Of greater discussion
than it has received in this Legisla-
ture, and for one, before any vote
is taken on it. would like to have the
proponents of the measure at least
give us some reason for it. and the
opponents of the measure, if there
are any, give US some reason for their
position. I think it is only fair to the
members of this Legislature that a
bill of this Importance should have a
full and complete discussion: and 1
move. therefore, that the matter lie
on the table and be specially assigned
for next Wednesday, February %.
The motion prevailed.
Mr.. ROUNDS of Portland- Mr..
Speaker, I think with all due respect
to everybody that this should not be
laid on the table at this time, and l
move that we reconsider the vote and
have some discussion on it here to-
day SO that people when they go home
will have something to talk about
next Saturday.
A viva voce vote being taken, the
motion to reconsider the vote where
by this matter was tabled, and spe-
cially assigned for Wednesday next,
was lost
The viva voce vote being doubted,
Mr.. Rounds Of Portland called for the
yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER: AS many as are in
favor of the yea and nay vote on this
proposition will rise and stand until
counted.
Nineteen arising, the call for the
yeas and nays was not sustained.
Mr. COLE of Eliot: Mr.. Speaker, /
would ask for reinstatement of the
situation.
The SPEAKER: The situation as
the Chair understands it is this:
The bill has been by vote this morn
ing laid upon the table and specially
assigned for discussion on Wednes-
day the 23rd inst. The motion of
the gentleman from Portland (Mr.
Rounds) was to reconsider the action
just taken whereby the measure is
to be considered next Wednesday.
Those who vote in favor Of the pres
ent question vote against the con-
sideration of this matter next
Wednesday and the Chair hopes that
Is perfectly. clear.
Mr.. HOLLEY of No. Arson, Mr..
Speaker, is the question debatable
only on reconsidering the vote, or is
the general question debatable?
The SPEAKER: The question of
the reconsideration OF the vote is de-
batable. -
Mr.. HOLLEY: I see no objection,
Mr.. Speaker, to reconsidering this
vote. I see no reason why this mat
ter now could not be very well re-
committed. to a joint committee. as
suggested by the gentleman from
Skowhegan, Mr.. Smith. 1t strikes
me that when the bill comes back to
us then, we Will have the expert
oniyfion of fweY1fy men instead of