Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-05

taxpayers for money? The efforts of q GER
| tain orpspization in the State in favor of thit
bill, had been wonderful. Their energy and
childish fanaticism were remarkable. He
made this statement advisedly, for he hoped
to demonstrate that the bill would establish a
worthless institution.
| Mr.. NJ. then proceeded to quote from re-
1 ports of similar institution in Connecticut
to the one proposed here. That commenced
with an appropriation of S2SOO per year,
| which soon grew to $4,000 annually, besides
an appropriation of $4,000 for building.
Well NAV that wealthy State with its enOr-
nous revenues feel itself able to do this
thing, but were Senators ready to launch this
burden upon Maine, even provided i,
would do all its friends claim for it:
No matter if Senators had been instructed
to vote for the bill by conventions which had
passed resolutions to that effect introduced
by some moon-struck Granger. The Changers
do not compose the whole of the State. moi
quite all of the farmers. There are few
farmers not Changers, and few Changers
who are not farmers. He would not be
dragoonel into voting for any measure
which did not meet with his appreciation. If
his constituents unanimously instructed him
to support the bill he would resign and
90 home. He again reverted to
the Connecticut institution which, he
said, had been experimenting for seven years.
and what had it amounted to? No doubt il
had saved the farmers from being cheated by
dealers in fertilizers. This was in its favor
But that day had gone by. The competition
in fertilizers had now become so great that
dealers could not afford to sell spurious ar
ticle, and no such law for the protec-
ton of farmers is now needed. Again
referring to the results of the COnnec-
ticut institution, he said they are compelled
by law to publish bulletins of their exp ri
ments and the results obtained Those bull
letins are published in the papers of that
State, but so far as he had been able to learn
not one had ever been published here, GER
tainlv none of any value. Why was this
Because up to this time they had learned
nothing ct value. He also quoted from
Prof Clark of the Massachusetts insti
tuition to show that it takes ter
years to establish one agricultural fact of
general value He warned Senator'S that they
should not infiict upon the people an institu
ton of such doubtful utility People are
sensitive in regard to taxation. Times are
hard and growing harder. and if we wish t.
maintain republican supremacy in Maine We
must trim carefully our sails 1t is only
few years ago since the people arose ir
|
old republican party. mainly on the GROUND
of extravaganza. Let US remember tina
oppressive and unjust taxation cost Charles
the First his head and George the Third ht
brightest jewel in his crown.
| Mr.. Parkhurst did not propose to discus
the question at length, for he did not feel il
necessary to do so. He thought he knew
something of the intelligence of the Senate
and how a majority of it felt towards the bill
He would not reply to anything that had been
said in regard to the order of the Patrons OF
Husbaudry. but pass by in silent contempt the
illusions to that order The last speaker had
said the State saved eleven thousand dollars
by not passing this bill two years ago, anc
the State is in that much. The farmers dc
not share in this feeling. He represented a
farming section and he knew something o.
their feelings and wishes in regard to this
matter. The farmers feel that they have los
two years work of ststion which would be
of untold benefit to them.
1t had been said that the farmers must pay
the most of this expense. But they ask fol-
it. They are here with petitions from thir
teen or fourteen cOunries. Petitions in it.
favor have come from several agricultural
societies. and from the State Board of Agri
culture. The Changers. in convention a
Houlton, at which about 10, 900 of the hes
farmers in the State were represented, alst
passed resolutions asking the legislature fo
such law.
From the report of II of the Connection
institution he found that they started with al
annual appropriation of $1,000, which wa
afterwood increased to 5000. As to TIN
matter of building. in this State the insttu
ton would be connected with the Agricultur
al College where all the exp riments will b
made, and no building will have to be erected
But was the fact that Connecticut had in
creased her appropriation, any argumen
against this bill? If that State could afford thi
institution, could not the great State of Main
appropriate small sum for similar purpose
He did not think it policy to run behind sis
ter States in such matters. The speaker thel
took up the reports of the Connecticut insttu
ton and of the institutions of other State
and proceeded to show the work whicl
was being done and its great benefit to thu
farming interest. He also gave brief his
tory of the establishment of the Massachusetts
institution All chat the farmers of Main'
now ask of the legislature is the establish
ment of this Station which he believed
would be success and give that full salts
faction which its friends antcp tied.
Mr.. Young inquired whether the Senate
from Aroostook presumed that the petitioner
understood that the project would call for tn
interest upon Sl25,000 annually.
Mr. Parkhurst replied that the expens
had been talked over and fully considered.
Mr. Lebroke briefly explained the cause o
: the defeat of the bill two years ago L
was brought up at a late day OF thu
session. and under a mistaken idea as t
appropriations, and without full deliberatiOI
it was voted down. And in his experience il
legislation there never had been so mucl
feeling and disappointment at the defeat o
any legislation in this State as at that. HI
regarded agriculture as the bed rock of com
merce and of the accumulations of wealth il
all parts of the world. All wealth come
from the land, and is produced BY the com
bined agencies of capital and labor. Deteri
grafton of the soil in Asia has depopulat
ed that country BY the millions Mil
lions have died Of starvation because o
this impoverishment of the soil Ohio wher
first titled, produced from forty to sixt,
bushels of wheat to the acre, and one hun
drei bushels of corn to the acre was not AZ
unusual crop; and it is a matter of astoni III
ment to consid r the mighty civil navies of the
world that have been conveying the crops o
the West across the water We rejoice tina
we are receiving such large returns. Bat
there is coming day of reckoning Ohio il
already feeling this drain upon her soil a.
are many other of the western states, ant