Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-17

Mr.. WEEKs of Augusta, raised the point
that the amendment was not in order, the
question being upon concurrence or non
concurrence with the Senate. and the Speaker
sustained the point.
Mr. SPArLDINe of Richmond, suggested
division of the question. first to recede and
/ then concur. A vote To reccdc would bring
the order before the House for amendments.
lie believed that the gentlemen composing the
various committees were actnated by precisely
! the same motives and desires that actuatc
every other member of the House; that they
are not supposed to use the money of the
/ State for pleasure excursions. or to waste it
in any manner. If the order or something
similar did not pass. then the only informa-
/ ton that could be obtained in regard To the
various institutions. is that conveyed by the
various trustees. and upon thar the legiSla-
turc must act. II this matter was going to
/ be left to them. then leave II all to them.
! and the legislature not bother themselves
about it. He was in favor of the order. 80
/ that if the committees thought it necessary to
! investigate or see if the reports of trustees
were correct. they could do 50, giving relia-
bic information on which the legislature
could act He hoped the House would re-
! e. de and concur.
Mr.. BRowN of Bangor, insisted on "A ruling
upon the point he had raised. Th" House
!
indefinitely p0stponing the order and there
/ by parliamentary usage. the matter ended.
Mr.. WILSON of Thomaston, after stating
/ the parliamentary condition of the order.
said it was small matter and had better rake
some practical course without the raising of
tcchncalitics. Technical rules are matter
| of necessity. and ii is sometimes necessary to
enforce them. But as q general rule he had
never seen any good grow out of their en-
forccmcnt. If the amendment of the gentle
man from Bangor (Pickard) was a good one.
why not adopt it? He did not quite concur
with him. however He thought pleasure
trips of committees should he done away
with. II they were to 90 this year. let them
make a business trip of it. coming back laden
down with facts. If any were 10 go. he was
| for the whole going if they wished to. The
question Yesterday was nicely balanced. 90 To
/ -. lie said to-day. as he said yesterday.
/ that if the committees would go ont and come
back laden down with facts for the House to
act upon. he was willing for them to go nj the
expense of the State But he was entirely
opposed to such trips as had been taken in
certain cases heretofore.
Mr.. YorNG of Brunswick. was a member
of the Committee on Finance last year. that
visited the Maine General Hospital and gave
a brief account of the lahors of the commit
tee and the di>agrceable experiences in visit
ing that institution. There was not parti-
Gle of fun in it. He was not disposed 10 sd
nit that committees were going to make jun
ketiug excursions" Many members of the
House had never had an opportunity of cx-
aiming the institutions to which they are
called upon 10 make large appropriations. and
it seemed to him they are hardly fit to act I'M
less they have an opportunity of Witnessing
their operations. He agreed with the gentle
] H.
who went the better it would be. He did not
understand that the legislature desired now
to appoint investigating committees to 20 and
stay week.
Mr. BRowy of Bangor, was perfectly will
ing to compromise on the amendment offered
bv his colleague tPickard.) But he saw be-
fore him determination on the part of the
minority. who were voted down yesterday, to
carry point. He believed he was right yes
terdav and saw no reason to change his vote.
We started out with view to retrenchment
and economy 1t should begin in small mat
tiers as well as large If we first waive one
matter and then another, when we adjourn
we have gone into extravagances and voted
money from the treasury, not dollar OF
which is there.
Mr.. DICKEY of TT. Kent, related visit TO
the Reform School several years ago through
which several abuses in the institution were
corrected. 1t is in the interests of humanity,
| he said. that these visits are made. Let the
committees make perfect and thorough eX-
animation and report to the House. Nothing
equal to ii could he done by the State for the
cause of humanitv or for the interest of the
State. He would go as far as any member
for rctrenchment; but it will be no retrench-
ment where humanity is at stake. Let the
down-trodden and the criminal and the for
saken in the hospital, he was alont to say be
cared for Let MS look out first for them and
the people will look out for us. Applause.
Mr.. WALLACE of Belfast, read from the
Treasurer report to show the financial coDdi-
ton of the State. An effort had been made
to restrict expenses in a measure by cutting
! off jack-knivcs and a certain amount of sta
| tionary: and the result showed who voted.
and on which side they voted. and who ap-
paudcd that vote. The result OF that vote
was to keep along the old rIts Of jack-kniyes
and stationary. He was willing to vote mon
ey that would give proper r.port from our
State institutions; but he wished the order
amended that it shall not he bject to abu Sc.
Mr.. FARRINGToN of Frveburg differed with
the gentleman from Bangor Brown rs to
the matter being properly before the House.
and stated the question As he understood il.
| He thought the proper course 10 take was to
recede and concur with the Senate Then. If
the House desired, it could direct or restrict
| the committees.
Mr.. IVES of Castine, had voted against the
order under a misrepresentation. from ntor-
nation received from one source and another.
that these visits were very largely matters Of
form, not much less than excursions of pleas
ure. But he had received further light on the
subject and he favored the order.
Mr.. LOCKE of Portland. said there had been
an attempt TO force opinions down men $
threats. And when gentlemen on the floor of
the House expressed their opinions honestly
and candidly, the fist of the opposition is
! doubled up in their face and they are threat
encd. That had been done here this morning.
and he thought it an outrage upon the right
that each member has to express his opinions.
He had felt indignant when he saw what he
did. And any man who would undertake to
cast the imputation upon the minority that
they simply want to carry a point and make
that as an excuse for the majority to vote
against them, thereby admits the weakness Of
his argument and that he is simply struggling
to hold the majority of the House with him.
The minority of the House simply asks for
what is right. We cannot act ntelligently
unon these various institutions unless we