Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-06
Discuss Election
Laws at Hearing for
Uniform Registration

Inc pTOpo .!tlOn. 10 make UNIFORM
the registration OF women voters
heard by the judiciary Committee
Thursday, develored into a some
what general discussion Of the cleo
ton laws as pertaining to women
There was no actual opposition to
the bill for which Charles 3. Carter
OF Auburn, senator from Androscog-
gin; Mrs. l.. E. Bedell, chairman OF
the Auburn Board of Registration,
and Mrs. George c. Chase, chair
man of the Lewiston Board Of Reg
iStration, were the proponents.
Mr.. Carter explained that it was
desirable that women should be re-
quired to register under their mar
ried surnames. Mrs. Bedcll and Mrs,
Chase agreed, and Mr.. Carter SUBJ
mitted letters obtained by Mrs. Be-
dell from the registration boards at
South Portland, Saro. Bath. East
port, Old Town, Bangor and Gardi-
ner, backing up this contention. The
committee was told that confusion
resulted from the feeling of married
women that they were entitled to
vote even though she was married
and though her maiden name APP
peared on the voting list.
Though the bill specified marriage
and divorce. 1t was suggested 1t
should incorporate change in the
surname due to any course. such as
probate court action. 1t was also
agreed that women married short
ly before election should be pro-
tected by some provision against dis
acknowledgment.
Representative Holmes. Of the
committee, Wasafraid the bill would
disenfranchise many women who did
not appear to register under their
changed name. Mr.. Carter said he
understood the present law to pro-
vide that a women could not Vo.e
except under her true name, and
that her maiden name was not the
correct name after marriage.
J. +. Chaplin Of South Portland
said that the difficulty in his city
was to get returns from the board
of assessors, and that the South
Portland Board actually had refused
to return a list of women. He be-
lieved that the law. requiring a re-
turn on all males over 81 years of
age, should be changed to include
females. Boards in some cities had
volunteered to do this work.
Mrs. Redell said at Auburn that
the Board of Registration compiled
the list and then gave it to the AS
SCISSORS to use.
Delinquent Tax List
A bill to amend the law for the
publishing of corporations delin-
quent in paying franchise taxes also
was presented by Mr.. Carter. Both
he and Frank S. Hoy, business man
ager of the Lewiston Sun, said that
the inclusion of Lewiston, together
with Bangor, Augusta and Portland
now mentioned in the law, would
enable the State to advertise in q
territory of 225,O00. Chairman
Hinc.iley inquired what good it
would do to publish the list in more
than one paper, suggesting the Ken
rebec Journal. the State paper. Mr..
Carter said the publication served a
valuable purpose in the notigcation
OF corporation officers.
Bay Point Village Corp
Judge Walter S. Glidden of Bath
spoke for the bill Incorporating the
Bay Point Village Corporation. He
said it was patterned after the Birch
Point bill, which was working salts
factorily: that it took care of the
road problem: and that no families
would be affected as regards the
lack of school facilities. All that
was asked was the return Of 60 per
cent of the takes levied on the pro-
property, exclusive of the State and
county taxes. At present the Point
has been settled for 20 years, the
permanent cottagers number ~. and
they own a casino, postoffice build
ing, and library. Augustus Pcrow o.
pot "a 1I-.a It'll