The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-29
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
The Senate Takes One View and
the House Another.
BETWEEN THEM THE BANGOR PRO-
JECT FALLS TO THE GROUND.
A Long and ProitIess Debate--Senator
Peakes Thanks God the Newspapers
Don't Run the Legislature--Other
Inane Remarks,


Don't Run the Legislature--other
Inane Remarks,
Especial to the Press.1
AUGUSTA, March 2s.-The Senate to-
day again defeated the Bangor hospital
scheme and adopted Senator Hersey's
resolve for g commission to consider the
whole matter, but the appropriation is
cut down to $4,000, no part of which
can be spent in additions at the present
hospital. The commission is to report to
the next legislature whether in it's opin-
ion new hospital should be built at
Bangor. Senator Swanton's resolve for
the erection of new buildings at Augusta
if an emergency should arise requiring
them, was discarded. The Bangor forces
under lead of Mr., Thatcher, fought as
long as there was ray of hope visible to
them, and long after the ray had disap-
peared from the vision of other people.
Senator Peakes said during the debate
that newspapers didn't run the legisla-
ture, and thanked God that they didn't.
Some people have been so unkind as to
remark that the state might get along
just as well if the newspapers did man
age the general court.
Senator Hersey was the first to speak
on his resolve. He went over the histo-
ry of the hospital question since 1889.
The board of trustees of the insane hos
pital he considered the only source to
which this legislature must look for in
formation on the subject. He believed
that the reports of these trustees had
had much to do with the action of the
Senate regarding the Eastern insane hes
pital question Speaking OF the consld-
erations which now exist, he said the
last state election was fought out largely
on the line of taxation.
Our Democratic friends will find it very
difficult to raise any issue on the general
expenditures this session. It has been
talked that the Senate had not a proper
sympathy for the insane. No governor
has spoken more feelingly than our
Governor in his inaugural address. In
1889 it was believed that a new hospital
should be erected. How many who
came here this year firmly believing in
the need of a second institution have
been met with another opinion against
second Institution. There is such a
divergence of opinion concerning the
need, of a second institution that he be-
lieved that a commission of five should
be appointed to investigate and settle the
matter to the satisfaction of all and re-
port to the next legislature. By the
terms of this resolve not dollar is ap-
propriated for a new building at Bangor.
There is money for the necessary repairs
on the present hospital. He was sorry
that the committee on insane hospital
did not report in favor of lighting the
present hospital by electricity.
He certainly hoped the resolve should
receive passage.
DIR. Grindle offered an amendment to
4he effect that no part of this $4,000
shall be appropriated for new buildings
at Augusta.
Mr.. Hersey said that as far as he was
concerned he accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Swanton thought it unwise when
it had been shown that an overcrowded
condition of the hospital existed, that no
provisions should be made to relieve
that coalition.
DR.. Smith said that he had honestly
favored new hospital at Bangor and
believed that it was needed. With the
difference in opinion as to the policy of
adding to the old hospital or building a
new hospital at Bangor, he thought that
to appropriate money for the present
hospital would have a tendency to de-
eide the question in favor of one hospi-
tai. He did not believe in the matter
being decided in that way and for that
reason he objected to an addition to the
present plant.
Senator Allan said that there was an
evident purpose to add pavilion after
pavilion to the present hospital till it
would become impossible to have an
other hospital. He did not believe they
should construct any new buildings
across the river.
Mr.. Swanton said he offered his reso-
luton because the other resolve did not
meet his views. He was willing to ac-
cept the issue laid down by the gentle
man from Hancock He did not believe
this state needed another hospital. The
statistics of population and insane indi-
Gated that no new hospital will be
needed.
Mr.. Peakes said he thanked God the
newspapers didn't run this legislature.
He believed that if new hospital is to
be built that it should be built in Ban
gor. But he wanted to know whether
such a hospital is needed, and he didn't
want the next legislature to come here
so mucn ID The Qark DIS GnlS LEGISLATURE
did. The reports of the trustees and
superintendent hadn't agreed concerning
the condition of the hospital. We need
a commission to investigate the matter.
He could see no harm from the amend
ment of the gertlemau of Hancock. He
prayed the matter might be settled.
Mr.. Thatcher said that he opposed
this measure IN toto becausehe considered
it subterfuge asking additions to the
hospital. It didn't mean that it simply
provided a junketing trip for the five
commissioners. The investigation of the
question proposed in the resolve had was
the expenditure of money for the old
hospital. Bricks could be had in Ban
gor for $6.75 on the ground. The hos
pital if built in Bangor would cost 20 per
cent less than in Augusta. He hoped
the Senate wonld not pass this measure.
He threw himself on the magnanimity
of this Senate, our forces are scattered,
our people are much dissatisfied. He
hoped the Senate would consider the
amendment he would offer as a substi-
tute. Mr.. Thatcher's amendment ap-
propriated 100000 for the Bangor hos
pital.
Sana+or Swanton'S amandmant was