Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-11

morning 70 an admirable message
from the Governor OF our State tell
ing US 1t Is time to economic, and I
think we all recognize the necessity
for that which the people demand.
know, gentlemen, that this State
at this time is not calling for con-
stitntional convention. 1t would be
very unwise TO plunge the State into
an expenditure that would run from
two to three hundred thousand dol
lars: we cannot do it. and I do not
believe that this Legislature will con-
slider 1t for moment, and I hope
the motion will not prevail.
Mr.. MURCHIE of Calais: Mr..
| Speaker, I want just moment to
men are talking a long ways from
the point. Those who signed the
minority report did not propose and
do not at this time propose to plunge
the State into this expense. If the
gentlemen of the House will read the
! new draft they will see that it is an
| enabling act only, presenting to the
| people of the State at the next regu-
| lar election, which means no addi-
tional expense except the printing of
one Notwithstanding to the people
] at that time the question as to
whether or not they want constitu-
tional convention.
The SPEAKER: Will the gentle
man from Calais, Mr.. Murchie, par
don the Chair while the Chair in
quires for information, the number
of the bill as printed in the new
draft
| Mr.. MURCHIE: / think it is
not printed. Mr.. Speaker.
| Mr. WING: I think it is House
! Doc. No. 30.
Mr.. HINCKLEY: The only thing
know, Mr.. Speaker, in regard to
| that
The SPEAKER: The Chair will
state that the gentleman from Cal
ais, Mr.. Murchie, has the floor.
Mr. MURCHIE: Mr.. Speaker, I
yield to the gentleman from South
Portland, Mr.. Hinckley.
The SPEAKER: The gentleman
from Calais, Mr.. Murchie, L am sure
will pardon the Chair for interfering
| with the flow of his remarks.
Mr.. MURCHIE: I yield to the
gentleman from South Portland, Mr..
Speaker
The SPEAKER: The Chair will feel
Obliged, OF course to enforce the rule
that members may speak twice to
the question, and not more than that
without the consent of the House.
The gentleman from South Portland,
Mr.. Hinckley. has the floor.
Mr. HINCKLEY: Mr.. Speaker, the
1 new draft is something new to me
The matter that was argued before
the committee, and the only matter
that l know of that was argued be-
fore the committee was constitution
al convention for 1922, and the major
ity report of the committee was
ought not to pass" and this is to be
referred to the people as to whether
or not they want to hold such con-
vention. l say now that there is no
demand that has manifested itself on
the part of the people of this State
for constitutional convention, and
the only person, after advertising this
hearing by the judiciary committee in
all the newspapers of the State of
Maiie--the only person who came be-
fore, our committee and advocated it.
was the gentleman who introduced
the measure and member of that
committee, and that was the limit
J of the demand, as far as we could
find out.
Mr.. GARDINER of Gardiner: Mr..
Speaker, hesitate to take. the time
Of this House, because I think my
colleague from Auburn, Mr.. Wing,
has covered the situation, but would
merely suggest one answer to an OBJ
lection that has been raised against
this bill. The proposition Of holding
a constitutional convention does not
imply a change in the fundamental
principles of our government. If there
is governmental unrest, the beA way
to stop that unrest for all time is to
let it be aired thoroughly before a
deliberative body called for that pur-
pose. A definite policy can then be
formed at that time which should
have some quality of endurance A
constitutional convention does not
pre-suppose tinkering with the con-
stitution, but the question of settling
the policy of the State would come
before that body and be set at rest
for a reasonable period.
| Mr.. WINTER of Auburn: Mr.
Speaker, I am sure / do not want to
burden this House with any extend
ed remarks. but this State of ours is
suffering from duplication and re-du-
plication, and there is no question be-
fore the people of the State today
that cannot be settled here before
this Legislature, and for that reason
I hope the motion will not prevail.
The SPEAKER: The question be-
fore the House is on the motion of the
gentleman from Auburn, Mr.. Wing.
that the minority report be accepted,
reporting the bill in a. new draft.
| A viva voce vote being taken,
| The motion was lost.
| On motion by Mr.. Buzzell of Bel
fast, the majority report, reporting
Ought not to pass" was then ac-
cepted.
On motion by Mr.. Maher of Angus
! ia, it was voted to take from the ta-
BILE report of the committee on Judi
ciary on bill an Act to authorize the