MAINE AND ITS LEGISLATURE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 4 October 1911, Page 4

MAINE AND ITS LEGISLATURE.

MR. A. MYERS, M.P., EXPLAINS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Auckland, October 3. With reference to the Maine vote Mt. Arthur Myers, M.P., of the woll-knoini brewery firm of Campbell and Ehrcnlried, was interviewed to-day, and he pointed out that there was a good deal of misconception a-s to tho way in which tho Lpifi-slnl'iirc acted in Maine, and he gavo pome interesting information as to tho exact methods on which it works.

The Legislature meets biennially at Allgushi.the Slate capital, and is composed of a Senate of 31 imsnljors and a llouso of Representatives of 151 members, Tim members of each House are elected for a term of two years—ono 'Senator from each senatorial district, and ono (o seven «yst'eni for representatives (one for a population of ISM, and seven for a population of 20,250) from each township. There ia a neiv reapportionment every ten yoaro, counting from 1821.

Every Senator nnd even.' representative must, n.t tho beginning of his term, havo been for livo years a citizen of tho United S at'es for ono year, and a resident of tho State for thrco months prowling his election, as well as a resident oi the actual township or district which no. represents. Every Senator must lxs at least. 25 yeans of age. All revenue Bills must originate in tho ow tasntafira, but to such •/i ,™nato may propose amendments E nil solely to raising revHouse may in either

In September, IMS, a constitutional amendment was adopted providing for tho referendum and initiative by ttio people, and any Bill, proposed in tlio Tegj.slaturo or pnsaed by it, must bo rofeiTed to a, popular vote before becoming law if thera is a referendum petition signed by 10.000 voters. A petition signed by 12,000 votens initiates new legislation.