Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-31

an amendment, or substitute
Whereas, The lands or scrip granted by Con-
Cress to this State for College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts are reported to have been sold at
prices far below those obtained by some other
states for similar land or scrip, be it
Ordered, That committee of seven on the part
of this House with such as the Senate may join,
be appointed for the purpose of investigating said
sales, and that said committee have power to send
for persons and papers, and administer oaths, and
report to this legislature.
Mr.. POWERS remarked that it would be seen
that his amendments provided that the committee
shall be a Joint one, customary in such
cases, and that it got at the matter without casting
. reflections.
MIR. PORTER withdrew his amendment offered
yesterday, and the substitute offered by MIR. Pow
ERS was accepted by Mr.. BASS.
Mr.. PORTER did not wish it understood by the
amendment he had offered yesterday that he was
opposed to investigation. Having had scat IN
the other end of the capitol at the time some of
the scrip sold. and having had something to
do with 1t, he desired the fullest investigation.
Mr.. ANDERSON remarked that he supposed that
no one had any idea that the gentleman Porter
in offering his amendment, had any objection TO
the investigation. Aud as the gentleman from
lloulton Powers seemed to think yesterday that
there was great obtuseness on the part of some
gentlemen in understanding his Powers position,
ne Anderson wished TO say that from his Pow
ers early remarks, (Which he Anderson really
hoped would be published, as they were made up
on the question when first brought before the
House, that the expenses OF these investigations
were such that 1t was questionable whether they
ought to have any more of them, and the same
gentleman coming i'll this morning and presented
this order Of those conversions even
greater than that of saul of Tarsus
The substitute offered by Mr. Powers was given
passage, and the Speaker appointed as the Com
mitee the part Of the House, Messrs. Bass
shepherd, Powers, HAYNES, Pike, Anderson, and
kimbal
On motion of Mr.. PoHERs, the order relating
to changing the seat of government from Augusta
to Portland, was taken from the table, and the
same gentleman moved to rccede and concur.
MI PORTER remarked that he was in the chair
the other day when the resolve was given pas
sage, and it was solemn an occasion as he had
ever seen in the House, notwithstanding the
: speeches of some Of the members of the Senate
accusing the House Of perpetra,ing joke. If
the House proposed to recede and concur, thereby
admitting that the assertions OF the Senate were
true, then be nothing left for members TO do
bat to be provided with "caps and bells" a, testers
The Chair Mr. kcesan occupying that position
Inquired If the gentleman made that notion
Mr. PORTER replied that he would not in the
present state of the resolve.
Nh BASS opposed the motion to rccede and con-
; cur. After the unanmity wiki wh.cl the 'esolu
ton had been passed, he thought that IN lion to
adhere would be more proper.
Mr. HAYNES did not know bat that az this stage
he might be allowed to say something in regard to
4 the matter There was a bare possibility that
n if d member from Augusta should say ANYTHING
D about it, his motive might be con raed a. hcing
= selfish one Gentlemen had said the subject
a very solemn when passed upon the ether day
lie took an opposite view of the in that res
poet. He had thought it very comica matter
and ne had not thought of sufficient Importance
to say anything about it. On the part OF himself
and the citizens of Augusta, he said, we d, in
: deed find great deal OF pleasure IN the presence
/ of the members of the Legislature OF Name in
! Augusta during the winter. do not doubt that
we derive great benefit from our intercourse with
such distinguished, accomplished and cultivated
gentlemen. And on that ground, ave would like
to meet them here in the future" But the repre-
sentatiyes from Augusta, he said, understand that
they are here under their oath to support the true
interests of the State, and the interests of Augusta
only so far as her interests form a component part
of the interests of the State They not selfish
enough to claim that the capital ought not TO go
where it shall be for the interests and welfare Of
the Commonwealth. Wherever the members of
the Legislature found the society OF the people Of
Augusta disagleeabe, her citizens would regret it
yerv much. Yet they would offer no resistance TO
their going. lie did not deny that Portland would
Ike to have the Legislature there He would no.
20 so far to say that Portland does not need the
benefit which it might derive from the presence Of
the members of the Legislature in their midst
Mr. ANDERSON felt very much relieved. As
of the representatives of Portland, lie had felt
{ oppression when this matter was forced upon the
House the other day by unanimous vote, the gen.
teman from Augusta [IIaynesl voting in favor of
L
Port land delegationl surprise. They had shud-
dered with horror to think what was coming upon
them that Portland had got to provide all the
paraphernala that is about these beautiful halls,
splendid rooms fine hotels, and more than ALL the
elegant society which was afforded gentlemen
here, that come to Augusta. Portland was under
great mountain of responsibility, he might say,
in thinking what was coming upon the city. But
the gentleman Haynes had relieved them in
very great measure. The gentleman had flung at
the House his sneering remarks in regard to the
benefits which were received from the presence of
the Legislature in Augusta, a remark unnecessary
for the members were all about the average class
of men to be found all over the State: they came
here to do their work, and when it was ACCOM-
plished they went home about their business. 1t
was unnecessary to speak Of Portland, because she
had taken no active measures on the question. The
order was not at the solicitation Of Portland nor
any Of her representatives and he did not believe
they knew anything about 1t before its introduce
ton by an eastern gentleman. 1t therefore seemed
to him unnecessary that the gentleman lHaynesl
should make any sneering remarks in regard to
that. If the people who meet here believed it to be
for the interests of the State to have their capital
at Portland Lewiston Augusta, or Bangor, II was
their right and duty to make such change, with
out regard TO the special interest of any section.
There were reasons why he did not choose TO 90
into the merits of the question Things might be
said which he thought would meet with response
from many members, in regard TO the advantages
of a change TO some other place from Augusta.
lie tnOuyut tuere were reasons LOT Cnaue III Tue
interests of the State in the accommodation of the
members, and for the general well being of all.
He would not have said anything upon the matter
but he did not like TO hear sneering remarks made
upon the members, nor upon the town which he
4 represented by the gentleman from Augusta,
[liaynesl. Members had to bear good deal.
When the matter was seriously opened for discus
sion, as to whether the capital shall be removed
from Augusta. gentlemen might find that it would
be no locality that would claim precedence, but
that there would be a general fire along the line
that might surprise the gentlemen from Augusta
[IIayneG in regard to the feeling of members Of
the House on the subject
+ Mr. HAYNES confessed to great surprise at the
tone and direction, and character Of the remarks Of
the gentlemen, for he had not supposed that the
language which he had used could by any ossible
means be construed into an expression of con-
tempt of the people of Portland. lie had not
thought the matter of the resolve intended as
serious, and had thought that the House, this
morning would correct what it had done in mo-
mcnt OF haste, and under a misapprehension, and
under condition of good feeling. His remark
in reference to the benefit TO Portland from the
presence Of the legislature, was intended to be q
joke. SO far as he personally concerned, il he
should be in the future member Of the legisa-