The Portland daily press., 1889-02-23
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL.
~ ..sss,.5
Judge Symonds's Address at the
Legislative Nearing.

The following is the full text of the ad
dress Of Judge Symonds' at the legislative
hearing:
REMARKS OF JUDGE sYMoNDs.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Com
mittee-I do not claim to appear before you
this evening in any other capacity than in
the simple right of citizen of Maine, inter-
ested in the question under discussion.
shall speak for myself, and | hope that Il
appear. may at least escape the misfortune
Of injuring 1t. Because whatever / say
should affect only myself injuriously, If It
affects anybody in that way.
am glad to find that we have one common
point in this discussion; that there is one
starting point from which we may all set
out happily and harmoniously together:-
and that Is that the State of Maine needs and
ought to have new State house. viii not
dwell upon the facts in regard to this pres
ent structure, nor upon its glaring inadequa-
cies and unsuitableness. These facts are quite
as well and perhaps better known to you
than to me, and more impressed upon your
minds than upon mine. 1t Is all a twice
told-tale, an old lesson which the legisla-
tors Of this State have learned year after
year, as they have come up here TO the ses-
sions of the legislature, at the costly sacrifice
OF their own comfort, and at the still
SSs''f es Il their %sRg o%S heas nsanef Il mss sssf be
briefly stated by saying that there Is in this
building neither comfort for people, safety
Tor property, nor convenience for business.
say this Is an old lesson, and has been well
learned. There Is one respect in which it
may yet be taught by an admonition Of more
terrible emphasis than any which we have
yet received. When some sudden confagra-
tlon shall have swept into flames and then
into ashes the vast collections Of documents
and records and valuable books in this build
ing incapable of restoration. which make
part of the history of this State and upo,,
which valuable public interests and important
private rights may depend, then we
snail nave learned TINS lesson In new way.
Now l submit to you, gentlemen Of the
committee. to say nothing about the incon-
veniencies, nothing about the cisc0mfOrts of
this building, that we have faced these per-
lis long enough. And so far, believe, there
Is substantial unanimity of sentiment.
believe, also, that am in the line of a
large concurrence, If not Of a unanimity, of
sentiment, when say that we ought to have
new building and not remodeling or re-
construction Of this. The fact is, we cannot
get satisfactory result for State capitol
by attempting to remodel this building We
shall get a nOndescript affair, which was
never designed by anybody, which has no
unity or harmony OF plan in It; which is un-
satisfactory in all respects. Moreover, do
not believe that any saving of public money
will result from such an attempt. 1t Is the
universal experience Of private persons, con-
tractors and builders, that money is lost
rather than saved in an attempt 10 remodel
and reconstruct old buildings. especially
where the design Is, and where the purpose
ought to be, to produce fine result. capi-
tol building for a State like the State of
Maine. will not dwell upon this at greater
length. believe it will be unwise to attempt
a reconstruction of this building, and that
the almost unanimous sentiment of the pe0-
pie OF this State, Is in favor of having new
building for the State House.
The question may arise whether the State
ffs.. Ill. l..
to expend for the construction of a new CAPT.
tol Well, gentlemen Of the committee,
believe that the State can afford 1t, and that
the State Of Maine will be willing to bear a
continuance Of the present rate Of taxation
SO far as may be necessary for the purpose of
reaching this result. In addition to that ii
Is by no means probable that any large in
crease OF taxation, or even continuance of
the present rate for a long time, will be
necessary in order to reach this result. The
State Is saving large amount of money, as
understand, by refunding its debt at lower
rate Of interest, and by continuing the pres
ent rate of taxation this will result in sur
plus revenue. Besides, there Is a large fund
that many, and / think most of us count
among the reasonable certainties, to be re-
ceived before long time by the State from
the Federal government. In addition to that
any municipality to which by the action of
this Legislature the capital shall be removed
will undoubtedly contribute TO some extent,
and 1t Is already ascertained that the city in
which l am interested in this respect is pre-
pared to contribute somewhat generously,
thereby reducing the amount of expenditure
that must be borne by the State.
In view of these facts. believe 1t Will be
more according TO the will and pleasure of
the people of this State TO expend what
money Is necessary to build a new Capitol
now, than to delay longer | am no advo-
cate of wasteful or extravagant expenditure
Of public or private money. l believe in
strict economy in public expenditures. But
thiuk the great rule of economy is to con-
fine the expenditure OF public money to legi-
innate public purposes. IL we can succeed
In establishing that rule to exercise the ut
most caution 10 see that public money Is only
expended for legitimate public purposes. we
are not In great danger Of running into ex
| travagance. So long as our towns and cities
confined themselves to strictly municipal
expenditures, we did not hear of insolvent
towns or towns burdened by indebtedness
But when the attempt was made and was
successful to use moneys raised by taxation
for business enterprises, or for building rail-
roads, then our municipalities fell into
trouble. NOW II we can once confine our
selves strictly to legitimate purposes in the
use OF public money, the very fact that we
exercise that caution to keep within the legal
lines, will tend to keep us economical,
even within the limits Of legitimate public
expenditures. believe In expending public
money not Wastefully, but llberally, for legl-
Innate public uses; for those things which