Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-27

President, I wish to reply through
the Chair to the Senator from Cum
berland, Senator Cram, that any mis-
information that the Senator from
Cumberland, Senator Htnckley. may
have given in regard to the hearing
came from me. I presided at the
hearing. and my impression was
that there was some opposition, and
that the Senator from Cumberland.
Senator Cram, was practically the
only prepayment. If there was no
opposition there I apologize. because
opposition to the bill developed sub
sequently in the committee as is evil
dent by this unanimous report. The
committee on legal affairs gave this
matter most serious consideration.
There are many bills coming before
both the legal committees which are
very meretorfous when viewed from
the point of view of the proponents
and the specific instances to which
they are supposed to apply. or the
specific abuse they are aimed
to correct. But Mr.. President
these are all general statutes, and
therefore the committee in con-
sidering these bill has to perhaps
take an unsympathetic attitude
what the possibilities of the bill may
be: because the test of law Is not
the good it may do in this case or in
that case: it is the evil that 1t is
possible to have done under it. The
Senator from Cumberland, Senator
Cram. has mentioned the instances
where this law would do good. The
members of the committee did not
consider seriously whether they
themselves would be disabled, or
whether relatives or friends would
be unable to attend; we simply
looked at the matter in its general
application. and it was our opinion
unanimously that this law would not
be an improvement on the present
law.
The PRESIDENT: Is the Senate
ready for the question?
Mr.. CLARKE of Hancock: Mr..
President, l would inquire if an
amendment has been offered.
The PRESIDENT: The Chair will
state that none has been offered to
his knowledge.
Mr.. CRAM: No amendment was
offered to this bill.
Mr.. WILSON of Aroostook: Mr..
President. l remember my first ses-
sion of the legislature back in 1919
when the absentee voters law was
before the House. At that time my
distinguished friend. the Senator
from Kennebec, Senator Maher, in
troduced the BILL and at that time he
and l had a little difference over
this same thing, and as 1 recollect it
| trimmed him. ] was rather raw
then, but l believe he will admit that
] put a point over on him. The
question arose as to the ACCESSIBILITY
of this thing, in regard to the expense
placed on the towns by going out into
the country districts perhaps five or
six or seven or eight miles to take
the oath of these voters, and as to
who was to bear the expense, and on
that question was where the whole
thing hinged. | believe the same
conditions would exist today in re-
gard to this law. / know that in my
home town. which Is one Of the dou-
BILE townships, in one direction we
are obliged to travel nine miles from
the polling place to get to the voters,
and in another direction we are
obliged to travel eight miles, and |
know because l happen TO live on
that road, and l cover seven Of those
miles when L go home, and then in
another direction we travel seven
miles. Now the question arises, il
there were many OF those persons
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