Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-12

from kennebec proposed yesterday when
proposed to pash the balance of this ap.
pro2riation bill through. This deficiency
item, 1t seems to me, could lay over q few
xeeks without troubling anybody. II
seems TO NE that these men hare received
enough for theis services and merchandise
so they can afford 10 wait until the LeRis-
iArufe can examine these items; and there
fore insist upon the amendment.
T! Mr.. Spear-it seems to me that this
item of deficiency stands on = little ds6sr-
ens basis than some other items. l under
stand that this 10 An item entirely Distinct
from the sl50, 600 expended by the COM
missioaefs, and entirely outside the
| province of the commissioners
t. explain. We find State House
| here. the new part added ready for
! occupancy but entirely unfurnished. Nov,
wish 70 say in justification Of Gen. Har-
ris' cause, ard | presume every senator
here entertsins the came feeling, thss |
know he = q etreful, prudent and honest
mar 49, ! shopii have confidence in any
expenditure ~ he shoufd make. provided
that expenditure Vas necessary, and row il
seems to me when We found the State
| House ready for occupancy, and about 10
| occupy it, it Vas his duty to furnish il so
We could occupy il. II the Legislature had
assembled here on the LIST Of January and
| found these rooms entirely destitute Of fur
niture and fixtures and ali these things
which enable US to use them. most certainly
we could not have occupied these rooms as
we have Nov realizing this and at the
same time knowing that there WAS no ap-
| propristion and no direct authority for
doing this thing. Gen. Harris. As l under
staGd, assumed the responsibility, which he
fel. and knew every legislator here must
| approve. and has furnished these rooms for
which this item OF expense has been in
Cured. Nov have approved thoroughly
of the course which the Senator from
| Somerset has pursued. in inQuiring care
| fully into this expenditure. / agree with
| him that expenditures of government
should be carefully watched although l
| do not want to get q reputation
IS an economist; and after the care
full examisstion which this item has
received at the hands of the finance COM
mittee, | am thoroughly satisfied that the
item is proper one. that the moneys have
been properly expended, and that i; is the
duty OF the State TO pay il. Now know
the Senator from Cumberland has given
great care to this matter, that he has can
vassed every item thoroughly. | know
Furthermore that he has the -ftankuess to
state what he thinks about these items.
whether they are correct or incorrect; and
having that confidence in him and having
this committee appointed for the express
purpose of examining into these accounts
and giving us information, | feel
that it is the duty of the
| Senate, under the circumstances, to
spproye of these items, because ! feel
that we have received ~ much light npon
it as we can receive and that from the com
mittee which has been appointed by the
Legislature to inquire into thcse matters
aud report for our action.
Mr.. Walton-Thc senator from Kepnc-
bee entirely misinterprets me. have not
the least idea or remotest intention of
| throwing any discredit upon anybody.
know that the committee upon financial
! affairs have worked hard to look up this
matter. So far as General Harris is con-
! cerned, if he should come into this Legisla-
| tute and have the document approved
| by him to go on the flles of
this Legislature, would have the
| utmost confidence in it. But il.
seems to me 10 view of the fact that the
fnancisl committee have simply his opinion
upon certain matters, and that certain
articles of furniture and alterations and
| additions which have been made by him,
and a portion at least by the commissioners,
that it should lay FOR while to have the
matter looked into, aud to have il ascer-
tanned whoee duty it was to make alterA.
tions and additions and where the pay was
, to come from; and second to have Gen.
| Harris certify in writiDg-and l shall have
| the fullest confidence in all he tells us
, what is necessary in relation to this matter.
One of the principsl things l object
TO is the loose manner in which
the States money IL disposed of
Now the committee tell US frankly
they have no vouchers from Gen. Harris.
They tell US he tells them, in his opinion,
it is all right. Now have the fullest con-
| fidence in what the committee say and in
what Gen. Harris says; and wha. we want
are the vouchers to show the different ex
penditu,es how, when and in what man
ner they should be paid and | simply ask
to have this struck out for further exsmin
alton SO that i. may go into the next appro-
prisiion bill if i. is matter which should
be paid.
Mr.. Spear-I desi-e to say to the senator
from Somerset that IL | said anything in
my remarks which tended TO show that felt
he reflected upon any cfflcer or committee
! | most certainly witf dcaw such remarks; I
- not intend any such thing; for having
knosn the Senator for long time, know
he would not reflect upon any person in
that way.
Upon motion by Mr.. Walton the question
IVES put to a yea and nay vote resulting AS
follows; Yea Messrs. Chsyia, Grindle,
Msliet. Moore Nutting, Poor. Powers,
| Ryder, SSanton, Thatcher, Wadlin, Wslton,
/ Wilbpr.-l3. Nav. Messrs. Adams, Giles,
Gilmore, Harper, Hunt. Libby of Andros-
coggip, Mayo, MehsD, Nssh, Pettengill
Sherman. Spea., Stewart, Warren-li.
| So the motion was lost.
The bill as amended by amendment a,
passed to be engrosssd.
PASSED TO EE ESAcrED.
| Bill, AL act to authorize Charles l.. Gibbs
10 construct road ard receive tolls there
! from in the counties of Oxford and Cum
bsrland.
On motion Of Mr.. Sherman of Knox,
Adjourned.