The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-28
PORTLAND SHOULD Be THE CAPITAL.
So Say the Majority OF the LegisIa-
tive Committee,
But the people Should First Act Up
on ,he Question.
The Peculiar Position Of the Citizens
Of Augusta.
especial to the Press.l

nority reports on the removal OF the State
Capital were made In the Senate this fore.
noon. Senator Libby presented the Ihajori-
ty report, which is as follows:
The undersigned, majority OF the Joint
Select Committee, which was appointed to
consider the expediency of change in the
location of the seat OF government OF t1is
State, and of erecting new otate House,
which shall furnish convenient anu sumclent
accommodations for the legislature ana State
officials, and which was instructed to report
with recommendations. and TO whlch was al
so referred resolutions OF the city OF Ban
gor in favor of change OF the seat OF gov
ernment to that city, and remonstrances OF
port that they have considered the matters
referred to them, and have reacheo the Ioi-
lowing conclusions:
/. Tha a new State House should be
built to meet the wants OF the legislature
and State officials, ana that 1t is inexpedient
to remodel and enlarge the present State
House.
2. That new State House can be built
without making the cost burdensome to the
taxpayers of the State by distributing the
same over series of years, and taking ad-
vantage of the saving Of interest on the
bonded. debt of the State about to be made,
| and. In case the State shall receive from the
| general government, as Is probable, the sum
| due on repayment of war taxes, that little
or no resort to taxation will be necessary In
| its construction.
8. That the seat of government should be
changed to some city more conveniently sit
| uated for the general public and OF greater
resources and accommodations than the
| present capital.
liar advantages as a site for the capital Of
| the State, ON account of its situation, size
and superior facilities of communication by
water and rail.
The citizens Of Portland at the public
hearing given by the committee rendered to
the State valuable lot of land, which as a
site for the Capitol is nnexceled by reason
OF its commanding position, beauty of sur
roundings and. accessibility. They further
rendered guaranty of cash subscriptions to-
wards the cost of a new building OF at least
100000 more, making a total contribution
OF about 100000, and thereby enable the
State to commence forthwith the erection Of
new State House without any draft upon
the State treasury for at least two years.
In view OF the foregoing, the majority OF
the committee believe that it would be ex-
pedient to accept the offer of the city Of
Portland and locate the Capital in that city,
but in view Of the subject and of the fact that
this issue was not before the people at the
time that the members of the present legls-
lature were elected, and in order to give full
time for consideration of the same. recon-
mend that the whole matter be referred to
the next legislature.
CHARLES +. LIBBY,
FREDERICK RoBIE,
j. w. WAKEFIELD,
K. l.. PATTENGALL,
4. X. 0'BRlEN,
GEO. III. WARREN,
Jos. B. PEAKEs,
BENJAMIN +. CHADBoURNE.
The minority report, signed Dy Senators
Nickels and Simpson, expresses the opinion
that the legislation is inexpedient.
The two reports were put upon the table
and Tuesday next at IL o'clock was assigned
for their consideration.
The report of tine majority of the commit
tee accedes to the claim made by those who
have argued the case for Augusta. that the
people should be consulted. The committee
have felt that a subject of so much import
ance should be well considered.
Whether the friends Of Augusta will unite
on this view is matter of doubt. The indi-
cations seem to be that they will not, but
will rather try to defeat the plan (which
they themselves advocated at the public
hearing) Of letting the people consider the
matter, and instead try to rush through the
last days of the session bill to raise large
sum to repair the present Capitol. There
has been no popular demand for repairs
on this building, and the hearings of the
public buildings committee, if any have
been held, have attracted no notice. Hon.
Orville d. Baker of Augusta, and
the Boston architect have been
before that committee and have
explained how the Capitol may be enlarged /;
and last night there was little hearing at
which some Augusta citizens appeared. To-
day elaborate plans of the proposed addi-
tion are on exhibition in the rotunda.
These plans contemplate large apprOpri-
alton by the present legislature, which has
already made larger appropriations than any
other legislature for years. But in spite Of
this fact the Augusta people profess great
confidence that the legislature will vote for
repairs. How they will square this position
with their other argument that the voice of
the people should be awaited, does not yet
appear. Perhaps a Philadelphia lawyer
may be imported to do this branch of the
work for them.
The committee on public buildings, in
their report in regard to the enlargement of
the State House, recommend the addition of
fiIe.proof building on the western side, so
cOnstfucttu as 10 give cOnmOulOuS anu
well lighted hall of representatives, eight
new committee rooms. library room with
capacity for $4,000 volumes and an apart
ment for the Treasurer and Secretary of
State, with vaults. Brigham & SpoffOrd,
the Boston architects, estimate the cost Of
this at S134,000. The committee therefore
recommend the passage Of resolve to ap-
propriate S134, 900 to be expended by a COM
mission of five members, two of whom shall
be members of the Executive Council. The
resolve directs these commissioners to pro-
cure plans and specifications, and proceed to
contract for the work. The members of the
committee who sign this report are Senators
Walker. Nickels and Simpson, and Repre-
sentatives Spofford, Parker and Taylor. The
other members who do not sign are Mr..
Green Of Portland, Mr.. Chadbourne Of Bid
deford, Mr.. Curtis of Perkins, and Mr..
Dame of Eliot The minority win report
| against the proposition.