Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-06
be granted .nder the general laws, and
again laid on the table on motion of Mr.. Lib
bv


SPECIAL Assessment.
Mr.. Libby called for the special assign
men,, the majority and minority reports oi
the Joint Standing Committee on Remoya
of State Capital.
Mr.. Ryder moved to suspend the rules tC
take up the resolves relating TO q new Insane
Hospital and the extension of the present
institution.
\ The motion TO suspend the rules was lost. q
two-thiris vote being required.
The majority and minority reports of the
Committee on Removal of the State Capital
were then taken from the table.
Mr.. Libby moved that the majority report
/ of reference 10 the next legislature be sc-
eep;ed.
Mr.. Simpson moved to amend the maj jofi;y
report of reference TO the next legislature on
the question of removing the State capital 10
Portland. by substituting the minority report
of legislsti IN inexpedient.
| Mr.. Heath advocated the motion. He
said the proposition 10 remove the capital
originated in mere sensational newspaper
talk of the Portland Press, and without agi-
tation by any other paper or by the people a
special legislative mmittee was appointed.
1t was an impartial committee, especially Oh
the part of the House. Seven gentlemen in
!
were selected to sit in the matter. There
was nothing in the order about Portland, but
| the first move of the committee was to take
an ex x,ursion TO that city where they we're
royalty entertained. with how many bands
or how many companies of militia he did not
know. To say the least they were gen
erously treated, and he had no doubt that
during all the festivities they preserved
that equipoise of mind and impartiality
18th which they started, and returned 10 the
people who appreciated the fact that they
were allowed the boon of public hearing.
Portland monopolized the first hearing, as
they had right to and, aided and assisted
by the generosity of the Maine Central rail
road, coupled with the allurements of free
excursion and lunch, there was a great spon-
taneous, popular demonstration. 1t was that
spontaniety we SO often see in public mat
ter, that has been carefully worked up, and
yet it was spontaneous. 1t was sponta-
neous that il filed every nook and corner
of the State House with its uproarious spon'
taniety, and the people that wanted TO be
be heard in opposition, with some difficulty
were allowed to enter. Sketches were ex-
hibited to the committee, and with reference
TO the expense the distinguished gentlemen
who were called, without particle of ealcu-
iaboui gut>seu that new claee iloi ist
would cost half million dollars.
But an architect from Boston
after careful examination, estimated
that the cost for the same building would be
from nine hundred thousand to a million
dollars. OF this the city of Portland had
offered 500 600 and lot. But he took it
that the State was not in the auction bust
ness that the government is not to be put up
at auction as was the Roman Empire. This
is not the first time Portland has tried TO buy
the State capital. Twenty five years ago
when the heart of the people was set upon
the perpetuity and salvation of the American
Union, and whether there should be a State
of Maine, above the cheers of the people
could be heard the discordant music of
Portland begging for the State capital, offer
ing far more than now. But the people then
decided that it was not for sale.
Mr.. Heath then gave statistics to show the
COZ, of the capitols in the States of Wisconsin,
Ne braska, South Carolina, Iowa and Connec-
ticut, States which at the time of the cree
ton of their buildings compared approximate
ly with Maine in population, wealth and i'm
poi tance, to show that the cost of the
str rictures was much more than the estimates
and from which he claimed it was demon
str .ted that Maine could not build a State
lie use that would be iair average OF the
ST tes he had named short OF million and
liif OF dollars. Continuing he said that
unl "lthin a week the matter OF
exi ense had been mere oagateiie
WIN Portland people but Tor 'he last three
ia. IL had beeh refreshing 10 see that the
20 tland fress has been devoted TO preach
inG economy to the people, and To admon-
ISL ng the legislature that they must oe care
fpf hou tbay Ia the uppu1a'- m
Every single dollar that the State puts INTO
neF capitol must De raised py direct Taxa
ton, for not bond can be issued. True 1t
ha been suggested that we should have the
dir ct tax for that purpose; but that source
ha failed by the defeat OF the pIil IN Con
gr' ss. And even II this should be hnally
OBJ .ined it should go to extnguish the pub
lie iebt IN accordance WIN the manner IN
wi ch 1t had always been looked upon. Out
| slee oil the glft OF foftahu the pufdeh OF
ne" State House must come upon the peo-
pie who have never asked Tor IT, why
sh uld thls pe referred 10 ano'her ieelsia-
tue! The members here were elected TO
| Sc lie every question put before them. II
| tn, people want 1t they VIII ag'tate the mat
ter and come to the next legislature win
petitions
MI LibDy said the report was one OF a
| JOINT select committee appointed IN accord
ance with the JOINT rules, ana he supposed II
was appointed, or should nave been. win
reference to the parliamentary rule that at
least majority should be IN favor OF the
consideration OF the matter embodied IN the
order under winch the committee was Gre
ated. Any other rule would be strange
one, yet the senator from henneoec thought
1t strange that majority OF the committee
should have been favorable to the matter IN
any respect The senator had also ascribed
the inception OF the matter to one newspa-
per, which was certainly very compliment
tary to the Press. But he Mr.. Libby had
been acquainted with the STATE House nearly
twenty years, and during that time there had
not been session of the legislature but
that he had heard complaints on the part OF
| re representatives OF the people who are obhged
to occupy these narrow quarters This dis
content has existed, and the fact
that an un0ifciai inquiry on the par'
OF newspaper reporter should develop the
fact that members apparently they con
suited only their own inclinauons and Judg-
ment, were ready for change ana TO aban
don TINS capitol and seek more convenient
ioealon, certainly speaks volumes Tor the
sentiment winch exists on the subject and
has existed for many years. In the past re-
peated attempts nave been made by Augusts
for the enlargement OF TINS building, and the
fact that they have always tailed means ths'
the pt ople desire something else. lie re-