The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-13
THE STATE HOUSE RESOLVE PASSED.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST nAon.l

ihe people OF Portland, as a necessary part
VI tneir case, had demonstrated that this
capitol was unfit. Therefore the city of
Portland could not aft ord to make the change
OIL front that it was making in coming now
ana saying that if capitol could not be To-
Gated In Portland this should not be re
paired Mr.. Heath read from an editorial in
the fREss showing how York and Cumber-
ladd bore third of the State taxes, and that
II those two counties were willing to bear
tnelr share of the cost of new State House
ought the other fourteen to grumble. Mr..
Heath turned this point by asking if the
other fourteen counties wanted to repair this
State House, whether York and Cumberland
ought to object. Speaking very briefly in
regard to the remarkable financial condition
OF the State, Mr.. Heath said that figures gen.
orally did not lie, but it made great deal of
difference who managed these figures. Mr..
Heath then went on to show that II Cumber-
land was the wealthiest county
Ksnnebec was certainly next in wealth. Go
Ing on to defense of the third set
OF figures furnished by the finance commit
tee, Mr.. Heath asked who were the gentle
men who made that report The senator
from Cumberland had said that this third
report was not from the finance Committee.
but mere II was signed "Manley for the COM
mlttee. And who were that committee?
Why, they were men several of whom were
against this appropriation.
MI. Heatn then went on to defend the
third set OF figures furnished by the finance
committee. He explained the methods by
winch the estimates were raised. The first
estimate of the State Treasurer was a con-
servatlvese estimate based on the receipt of
the year before. But there would be an
increase in the revenues in various items
this year, and Mr.. Heath showed how these
estimated increases would increase the rev.
enues. Mr.. Heath said 1t was all right to
bring the taxes of other years into the pres
ent two years. Mr.. Heath then went on to
show that the tax rate of this State was
growing lower and lower, and that a reduce
ton OF half mill would be made in 1890.
III thought that under these circumstances
the people would not complain of tax
alton. Then he went on to show that
some Of the large appropriations of this
session had been for objects of charity,
for pensions, for the insane, for the Gettys-
burg monuments, etc. Mr.. Heath devoted
considerable portion of his speech to en-
larglng upon these subjects, finding here
more pleasing field for his eloquence. no
doubt, than in the discussion of the phenom-
email growth of figures in the three reports
In regard to the States finances. The Ban
gor hospital resolve, was in Mr.. Heatn's
opinion a Just and righteous measure for he
tnought the exigencies Of the situation de-
drew romantic picture Of the Madawaska
| squatters whose claims he described as just,
but who had been waiting At years for the
Justice now given them by this, legislature.
bearing aid to that institution, 1.-THE child of
the State as Mr.. Heath described it. All
OF these appropriations Mr. Heath described
as thoroughly righteous and just.
RAISING to that part OF Mr.. Libby's speech
which referred to the refunding bill, Mr..
Heath said that he (Mr. Health had been
consulting for two weeks with the Attorney
General on the subject of the constitutional
ity of the new bonds, and the Attorney
General had brushed away the objections
Heath also gave it as his opinion as lawyer,
backed by the opinion of the attorney gener-
| al, and by other legal authority that the
issue OF the renewal bonds would be consti-
tutlonai. There would be no faint npon those
bonds that would go into. the market next
November. 1t was true that two years ago
the legislature of 1887 ceased the payment
into the sinking fund. Mr. Heath was sorry
that the exigeDcies of the situation had i'm
PEELED the Senator from Cumberland to at
fault In regard to the management of the
sinking fund. The suggestion in regard to
the sinking fund did not come from the
treasurer at that time, but from the late
.
this policy at length. Hr. Heath said the
sale OF the bonds need not trouble the Sena-
tor from Cumberland Fhere were on the
hoor bankers ready to take these bonds, and
OILY sorry that slight legal, not constitu-
tional, objection had retarded the opening of
the sale of the bonds, which was to have
been at o'clock this afternoon. And those
bankers were ready, not only to take the
ponds, but were ready to pay premium for
them. As to the argument that the premiums
h00dS oould no nSa fnr
penses, Mr. Heath referred to the example
OF William Caldwell to show that premiums
on bonds were long ago covered back into
the treasury, and that the Governor and
Heath submitted that this administration
would have the right to cover back into
the treasury the proceeds of the prem
lnm on the bonds, and use It for
current curs expenses. Whether it would be
there would be money enough without it.
In closing Mr.. Heath said he hoped that
this question would be argued on its general
merits. He did not see why he should have
raised the cry that Portland had not been
argued her case, and the verdict had been
rendered against her by the people. Should
she now complain? If the House would
pardon him he would refer to an old story Of
lawyer had the right for "a hours to damn
the court and jury. but after that he must
hold his peace. Continuing Mr.. Heath said
ne failed to- know of an instance where
Portland had not been treated courteously
He had heard that in a private gathering In
Portland where Senators were present the
people of Augusta had been denounced as
vampires.
Now what about the origin of this move
ment? 1t was said that it had started in
the legislature. Ii he remembered rightly
the PORTLAND PRESS, a powerful, enter-
prising, able, independent, cou rageous news
paper had started this moveme nt. And the
members had given their opinions not
seriously, but suoposing that the question
was not one OF serious moment had given
their opinions. This was how it rad start
ed, 1t had not started from the legislature
but from Portland.
Mr.. Heath reviewed the history of pre-
yious attempts to move the Capital to Port
land. This is Mr.. Heath's 10Th year on the
floors OF this legislature, either as member
or as an officer. and he recalled the fact that
you would not find since 1864 vote on the
journals OF either House on the question of
repairs. Portland had always. stood in the
way Of these repairs. Now. after all these
years ought Portland to continue this policy?
Before the vote Mr.. Libby offered this
amendment:
Competition as to plans for the work shall be
open 10 all architects who reside in the Slate,
and contracts for the work shall be awarded to
the lowest bidder
III. hodtu UppOStu ILLS dIHeuuIDenL. lie
said that, to use the language of the old poet,
he distrusted the Greeks even when they
came bearing gifts. This amendment was
put on, he thought, to embarrass the course
of the bill. He hoped it would be voted
down. The Governor and commissioners
could be trusted to see that the contracts
were properly awarded.
Mr. Libby advocated the amendment. He
asked If there was anything improper in
providing ordinary business principles should
be followed in the letting of this work? Was
there anything unfair in providing that
architects of the State of Maine, not men
imported from Massachusetts,, should COM
pete with plans for this work? Was there
anything unfair in submitting the work on |
his according to ordinary business methods,
20 the workmen of this State. Did the Sena- |
sor from Augusta mean to take the position |
that this Senate should be against the incor- |
,oration of an amendment to secure this |
work to the competition of the architects |
Ind mechanics of MaineP He hardly |
thought the Senate would take such posi- |
ion.
The Senate did, however. This is the vote,
veas being for the amendment and nays
lgainst it.