The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-13
THE STATE HOUSE RESOLVE PASSED.
Augusta Gets Her Share OF the Pro-
ceeds of the Combine.
Mr.. Libby's Powerful and Eloquent
Speech In Opposition.
The Best Of the Argument with Us;
the Votes with Augusta:

AUGUSTA, March 12.-The long-awaited
debate on the resolve to repair the old State
House drew large number of spectators to
the Senate chamber this forenoon. The
chamber was crowded, every available space,
even to the small areas of elbow room be-
tween the chairs OF the Senators, being oc-
cupied. Augusta citizens, especially the
ladies OF Augusta, were numerous portion
OF this throng. Members of the lower
House were also present in large numbers to
hear Senator Libby's speech ard the expect
ed reply from Senator Heath. The debate
was worthy the assemblage. 1t was battle
of giants between the only two men in the
Senate capable of such contest Senator
Libby's speech dealt largely in statistics,
but even the figures, usually so uninteresting,
became under his application OF them of
such interest as to hold the attention or his
audience throughout. In point of dignity
logic and force Mr.. Libby's speech has not
had its equal in the Senate for long time.
Senator Heath's reply was worthy his abili-
ties and long experience, and wherever he
failed to meet Mr.. Libby's argument. he
failed not through lack of ability and adroit-
ness. but because of his cause. Senator
Libby began the debate, speaking as follows:
Mr.. Libby's Speech.
Mr. President:
This resolve is probably the most import
ant matter to be acted upon at this session.
1t involves the expenditure of $15O,000 with
in the next two years, and renders necessary
that amount of additional taxation in the
end
Aside from all question of the propriety of
foreclosing at this time any further consider
alton of change in the location of the seat
of government and of the erection of new
State House which is involved In the pas
sage of this resolve, this matter addresses
itself also to the deliberative judgment of
the legislature as a financial question, one
that involves consideration of what is de-
manded by wise and economical adminis-
tration of the government, for / assume that
the legislature does not lose sight of the
fact that appropriations means taxation and
that all expenditures of the government
must ultimately come out of the pockets of
the people.
1t therefore becomes us as we near the end
of the session to review the appropriations
already mede and see where we stand. With
the resolve in favor Of the Lewiston hospi-
tai. this is left as the only matter of import
ance, involving appropriation of money still
to be acted on. Ifit passes, it completes the
long list of extraordinary appropriations
granted by the legislature. The amounts
appropriated for the next two years are so
large that they may we'll excite attention,
for they will confer upon this legislature the
invidious distinction of being all things con-
sidered, one of the most, If not the most ex-
travagant of any in the history of the
State.
Take the figures as we find them and see
what they show. Including the few pend
ing resolves, the appropriations for 1889 and
1890 will amount to the large sum of $2,S15,-
.2S, but these figures, large as they are,
do not disclose the whole situation. Their
true import will appear when we compare
them with the appropriations of other years,
and analyze the items. No payment on the
principal of the public debt win be made in
the year 1889; and only $4,000 in the year
est on the public debt amounted In these
two years to the comparatively small sum of
$685. 900, leaving the total appropriations of
those years, exclusive of payments on ac-
count of the public debt as So, ass, ,949.09 or
an average of 81, ,229, ,974.54 for each Of those
years.
Let us compare these appropriations with
the annual expenditures of the last six years
and see where we stand. Excluding pay
ments on account of public debt they run as
follows: