Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-31


are correct. But in this expectation he was
mistakcn and he therefore had investigated
for himself. 1t would be noticed that the
committee voted unanimously for the several
| reductions vet he found several of them
voting against reduction in the counties from
which they come, which caused little sus-
picon in his mind. The committee had in
vcStigatcd for nearly four weeks, yet four of
| them in the House voted against that investi-
CATION. 1t all came back To the point that
every man must investigate for himself and
use his own Judgment. The Speaker then
! gave statistics in connection with the running
of the office of Secretary of State for differ
ent years. The committee wish to run that
office in 1879 for S3f0O, when the democrats
in 1886 had 81, $50 with which to run it, and
| the republicans in 1879, SG0S0 He believed
that the adoption of the report of the COM
mittce would so cripple that department
that it would be n disgrace to the Leg
slaturc; and he believed there are men
who manipulate to reduce the salaries of
members of the greenback party to so low
that it will become almost Il disgrace. For
one he was willing to vote that every officer
shall have a compensation sufficient to keep
| him hOnorably in his office.
Mr.. DICKEy of Fort Kent. believed in Civ
ing fair compensation. He spoke of the
! large amount of business to be transacted
| this year in the office of Secretary of State.
especially in connection with the State valu-
alton. 4 large amount of clerk hire would
! he necessary. He did not wish to see the eff
fccncy of the office crippled. No man
would do such thing in his business. He
hoped the amendment would be adopted.
! Mr.. WEEKS of Augusta, stated that the
! Secretary before the war had 5000 per wear
and Iees. bringing the salary up to from four
/ m nj hmm oil InI JI.
the amendment would prevail.
Mr.. BRowS of Bangor, regretted the poit-
! ical turn that had been given to the subject,
some thing which had not been thought of III
committee. He was receiving letters every
day from prominent men in regard to the re-
port. and none had said that the salaries had
been fixed too high or too low.
They had stated that in the main they re-
| gard them correct. He spoke of the diff
culties attending report in detail of all the
/ investigation made. In reference to the mat
ter of clerks in the office of Secretary of State
the committee fixed that matter precisely as
the present Secretary of State desired, carry
ing out his wishes. as he Brown understood
/ it. In respect to the salary of the Governor.
/ it was Il matter that all could see without in
cstlgation. His idea in committee was $500.
! Opinions differed. And rs II sort of c0mpro.
mise it was fixed at 5000. Ifhis convictions
could have been carried out he would have
put it back to $500 where it was before the
war. lie had voted with the majority in the
House, and he did not regret it.
Mr.. ANDREWS of Cornish. by leave of the
House, again spoke in behalf of his amend
ment. The gentleman (Brown) wished to 20
back to the salaries az they were before the
war. He (Andrcws) desired to know WHY
the Secretary of States Office was expected
to he run for $1,000 less than il cost to run il
1 in 1856.
! Mr.. PICKARD Of Bangor. was willing to let
the chairman of the committee MIR. Brown
engineer the bill through. He thought menu
bers of the House had sufficient intelligence
to vote without being instructed much If
mistakes were made they would correct them
selves.
Mr.. JoSEs of Lewiston, was in favor of
fixing some definite sum.
Mr.. LAMsoS of Freedom, said it should
not be expected that bill would be reported
without some wrong. 1t seemed to him if
! there was to be reform, some path should be
followed that would lead to that conclusion
| If the bill was to be amen led so that the first
! principle is lost sight of, there were members
present who would know not how to act. He
wanted TO see the first man appointed to any
official position that would shrink from ac-
crpting it in consequence of the salary as
signed him by the Legislature.
Mr.. MorLroS of Scarboro. spoke of the
Importance of the office and said if the work
in it was not done well it would be a disgrace
to the whole State. He inquired of those
who had investigated whether $1,000 was suf-
fcent to do the clerical work in the office
Mr.. ANpREws of Cornish had serious
doubts whether the sum was sufficient
Mr.. BRowS of Bangor, replied that it was
! fixed by the committee as the Secretary of
State desired it, and he hoped the House
would stand to the $1,000.
The amendment was lost by a vote of 81 to
! -.
Mr.. WEEKS of Augusta. rose to question
of privilege. The gentleman who remarked
that the Secretary of State said $1,000 would
be sufficient for clerk hire. labored under a
mistake, as the gentleman (Gove) said he
never had any conversation with him Brown
| about it.
The question then was on the adoption of
the amendment offered by Mr.. Dickey, so
that the numbers of clerks in the office of
Secretary of State and their compensation
shall be regulated by the Governor and Coun-
ell.
| Mr.. DICKEY spoke in favor of its adoption
Mr.. HARRINGTON of Frycburg, moved to
amend the amendment so that the sum paid
shall not exceed $500, which was accepted
by Mr.. DIcKEY.
Mr.. Brown of Bangor, rose to question
of privilege He had stated that the chair
man on the part of the Senate of the Civil
Service Committee had informed him that the
matter in relation to clerks was adjusted as
the Secretary of State directed. The chair
man had Just stated to him that it was adjust
cd under the direction of the deputy secretary,
who had been in the Office and knew all about
| it.
Mr.. MouLroN of Scarboro'. called attention
to chap. - of the resolves of 1872, which pro-
vide for the same thing that the amendment
contemplatcs.
Mr.. BRowN said that was what had led to
! this extravaganza. The desire of the COM
mittee is to take it ont of the hands of the
Governor and Council.
Mr.. IVES of Castinc, warned gentlemen
that they must not trespass too much on the
patience of the House by too much discussion
Mr.. LOCKE of Portland. could not believe
that the House would limit the compensation