The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-17
AUGUSTA THINKS II A HUGE JOKE.
But the Lawmakers Discuss the
Capital Question Seriously.
a nreadful Calamity Threatened II
the Removal Is Made.
1t Is Said the Present Site Would be
Lost toths State.
rspecal 70 the Press.l

the city to whlcn II ought 70 De removed are
yet topics of intersst that hold their own in
spite of the volume of business that Is be-
ginning to absorb interest. The Augusta
people, who have professed to regard the
agitation as pieceDf fun, are now profess
ing to regard it evn more Of Joke than
ever since the actiol of the Portland Board
of Trade and the City Government. They
say the State canno move the State House
because there is provision that the land
on which 1t is situated will revert to the
heirs of the original owners whenever the
Capital is removed. Some people have been
unkind enough b, say that IL the Capital
should be moved nuther the heirs nor any
body else would cae for the land; but these
people have belonged to that great and envi-
GUS number who want the Capital removed
Portland. Opinions expressed today are as
follows:
Representative W.H. Green, of Portland
81 am earnestly in favor Of moving the Capt.
tai to Portland. From the sentiment here it
looks as If Portland might set it, too, II her
citizens will make the propsr effort. think
they should offer site as an ipducement
and take means 70 acquain the legislature
with the city and its advantages. The State
should move"
Representative F. S. Warren. of Deer Isle
II am strongly in fav,r OF moving the
State Capital. l think it should be moved TO
Portland. think Portlani has better hotel
accommodations and II is agreat commercial
city where we could us, our spare time
prohtably in looking up blsiness questions.
Nearly every legislator las more or less
business in Portland"
Representative Alvin Record. of East
Llvermore-"I hardly think it Is best to
move it. We should chnge this room SO
that it would be suitable for the sittings of
the body. by enlarging the State House. My
individual preference would be to have
capitol in Lewiston or Portland were a
change practicable"
Representative A. E. Perkins, Of Bradley
II am not in favor of moving. II we were
to move my preference would Be Bangor"
Representative b. +. Maxim of Wayne
The people our way could get to Portland
as easily as they could get here; but l guess
most OF them would favor letting 1t remain
here for the present; until the insane are
most unfortunate first"
Representative Moses Hawkins Of Sulli-
van-"l don't know that it Is necessary to
move 1t If it can be fitted up. If it is to be
moved am inclined to think that IL should
90 to Bangor. Aroostook will be some day
an important portion of the State, and a capt.
tol in Portland or Lewiston would be too far
away for them"
Representative Cleon S. Osgood of Hart
ford-"I don't think the State is in a condi-
tion now to build new capitol. A new
State House will be necessary before many
years, but when they build one an expendi-
ture OF at least half a million will be neces-
sary to get such capitol as the State will be
satisfied with. As the site for such capitol
| should, in the present development of the
State. prefer Portland. But regarding pos
,frrE,t fs.o
better place. don't think that money Ike
y to come from the National govern aent
should be used for a capitol. That money
was taken from the people as sort OF { loan
in time of need, and it should be given back
TO them; There are many towns liz Maine
now In debt, have no doubt, on account OF
that tax, and the money would hsip them
very much"
Representative G. L. .Holbrook Of .Starks-
Il should be very mach in favor OF having
peter aecommodsS9hs,d out ebange sn,na 'la'
were to make change should prefer Fort
and as the place..
Representative W. B. Jordan of Waltham
~ should be in favor of moving It to Port
and at the proper 9pe 4 tine q. HarrIngs.-
opinion"
Representative W. Fl. McCabe of Machias
-"If it is to be moved should put it in the
geographical centre of the State I would
have the State erect large hotel there, and
have the State board the legislators and pay
them so much for the session. The members
sh.uld draw their rooms as they do their
seats new. Then there would be no grumb-
ling about board"
Reprepresentative George G.. Clifford of
should be done this
session. II it is to stay here it should be
If 1t isto be moved steps should
be taken at once. My opinion is that Port
land is the best place for the Capital of the
State of Maine. have been in Massachu-
sets great deal and know that Boston
Is the best place for the Capital of that State;
and think the same Of Maine, that Port
land the commercial city. should be the
capital. We ought to do something at once
too"
Representative Fl. B. Crosley of Arrowsic
If Portland will give site and make 1t
an object for the State to move, / should
favor Portland. liked the way the Port
land Board of Trade talked"
Representative b. 4. Curtis Oh ferkins-
My only objection to moving would be the
expense. / should favor Portland were ita
mere question of location"
Representative j. f. Hill Of Augusta-'I
am informed that as soon as the Capital is
vert to the original owners with all the i'm
provements on them, including this State
House. lookIupon this talk of moving as a
little pleasing diversion of your Portland
people. We don't feel any concern here in
Augusta. l think they over estimate in
Portland the advantages of State Capital
to trade. think it has stood in the way of
Augusta from business point of view."
Representative p. s. Heald of Waterville-
81 am not in favor of making any move this
year, because we have other matters of i'm
portance. Whenever it is moved
Waterville or Portland is the proper place
for it,
Representative E. B. Mallett of Freeport-
''It is no use talking of other places for Port
land is the only place for the State Capital.
1t can be reached both by rail and steam. 1t
is also near Boston, and anyone having busi-
ness In the business centre of Maine or of
New England can transact it easily and If
the legislature were In Portland you would
never know it so far as accommodations are
concerned. think that if the citizens of
Portland will take the matter in hand and
act promptly they can get the Capital. 1t is
only a question Of building a new State
House here or removing and building new
one in some other city,"