Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-30

Mr. LegeJoy replied as follows:
Mr.. President and senator's | thank YOU
most earnestly and sincerely, and assare
you that | appreciate not only this gift, hui
also your kindly attention TO Biz, and hops
this mas bear me in coming years.
On molten Of Mr.. IIersey of Oxford tbs
Senate then adjourned until three O'Clock
sfteraoon Session.
Resolve relating 10 constitutional amend.
meot prohibiting appropriations for sac.
tarlan institutions came from the House
Mr.. Serlers Of Cumberland There h8,
been no matter before the Legislature ,hi.
winter that has been petiuoned for 50 ex
tensiyely as this resolve There are thou
sands throughout the entire State that have
put in their petitions here for the passage
of this resolve. Ii seems To be time wher
it is proper for this resolve 10 pass. 4 large
number of states have already adopted d
similar amendment, aud il Is part Of thei,
constitution. This matter would not have
been supported a ii has been had it not
been the wish of the people TO have thi.
measure pass. | hope the Senate ~ill pass
this resolve.
Mr.. Libby of Andr0seoggin certainly do
not feel ike supporting this resolve. In the
first place. am NOT aware that there is any
such great public demand for it as has been
represented by the senator from Cunber-
land in fact do not know that there has
been any public demand. have reason to
believe that it has been agitated by people
who have an interest IN the matter by EN-
plosment or Otherwise. This matter has
been delayed until the closing moments of
the Legislature before beng presented
| believe that the constitution of the
State of Maine As it now stands is all that
is necessary and all that is desired in the
way of protection 50 far as the appropria-
tion of money for sectarlan institutions is
concerned.
Mr.. Libby then went On to show that the
public moneys were well protected and no,
Liable 10 be diverted into wrong channels.
being entirely under control of the people
through the Legislature, ans: said he did
not see how the passage of this resolve
would materially alter this state of affairs
as the Legislature would still have TO be the
court to decide which were sectarian insti-
| tutons.
He believed that this was a direct blow
aimed at the academies and institutions of
learning in the State of Maine. He believed
that these academies were entitled to come
to the Legislatures for aid, and when they
came they should be heard. lie believed
that this would be a bad piece of legislation
TO adopt and concluded by saying that he
! hoped that the matter would be Indefinitely
! postponed.
MIR. Sciders replied to the senator from
Androscorgln, and explained that he hal
done what he could to bring the matter
earlier before the Legislature. He said
that there was not Il sectaran school in the
State that was not abunlantly able to sup
port itself, and he thought it would he bet
ter for them to be thrown on their own
resources. He thought that people from all
parts of the State desired this measure, and
members of all denominations. He said he
thought that il was fair to submit the gues-
ton to the people, and said he had no fear
in doing so
lie believed that the opportunities for
education of the youth of the State would
be just As good if this amendment was to
pass and ii would remove from our legisla-
tive bodies one of the contentious that were
always coming up.
Mr.. Spcar of hennebec | am sorry that
this amendment li! not come in here ear
lier in the session, IN order that it might be
considered at more length than is now pos
sible nevertheless have felt it my duty
to place before the Senate some of my OBJ
lctions to this measure.
The arguments which have been pre-
sented to this Legislature this winter are
not those which are now presented sub
nit that this resolve is not fair thing to
submit to the people of Maine. | believe
that an amendment should come from the
people and not from a foreign corporation
as this one has come.
tinI that this amendment is presented
by a corporation from the city of New
York, and | hnl further that some rich
man who had pr Juices against the Roman
Catholics has presented this measure. |
say to YOU, gentlemen. that this measure is
not a voluntary act on the part of the peo-
pie of Maine. There is not single
reason given in the preamble of one of
these petitions why the petitioners desire
this amendment to the constitution. | say
to you, gentlemen that thIs measure has
been supported here by a paid lobby. |
object to seeing the school system of Maine
stricken down. | object to seeing the
academies which have furnished the means
| of higher education to so many men in
Maine stricken down in any such way.
This matter has been presented here with
ont voice from the people at all.
4 The constitution is stronger than the
statute Law, and it should be amended only
! when both houses deem it necessary, and in
what way should it be amended: Should
not some reason he given, The senator
1 from Cumberland has sad that if money IS
to he given to one it should be given to all,
but the constitution prohibits that. In
/ Article it Is provided that money shall
only be granted to schools which shall be
under the restraint of the Legislature, AMI
that appropriations shall only be granted
WHEN judged necessary.
1 After some further remarks during which
/ Mr. Spear pointed out that this amendmen nj
was opposed 20 the Interpretation put upon
the constitution by the trainers of it, he
concluded by saying that if the Senate
wished to strike the academies of Maine
out of existence they should vote for the
resolve.
! Mr.. Swanton replied to the senator from
! kennehec and denied that there was lobby
pushing this measure. He pointed out
that Judge Symonds had perfect right TO
receive paw for his services as counsel be-
fore the committee as any other lawyer had.
| lie said that this measure was being push ed
by Name league. and claimed that the
I ftDTIt DI NiHtilt Silbutl nave an tuIit
to vote on this matter.
Mr. Spear rcplic,l that he dill not make
statements that he could not make good,
and he stated that man in Augusta had
been offered pay TO come mp 10 the State
lI0us, and work for the measure.
Mr.. lIerrick of oxford SAID that he dill
not wish to discuss the merits of the pru-
posed amendment, but he thought the mat
L.
merely whether or not the peoplr
of the Stato should have an opportunity OF
voting upon tIis matter. He said he hal 81
much confidence III the people of Nam
that he should vote to refer this matter t,
them; he thought they desired TO be heard
on this nattar.
! On the question OF passing the resolve t'
be engros The vote was a tie. | yotin.
on each side. The vote was;
Ye,-cotip. oook t,rindIc Herrick, Holman
Iack-on. Mnlet, aeider., swan'on. Thatcher
Nay-Anan, Clark, Her4om. iiiI. Libby, Lyons
Maso, Nick rSnR. spear, S90hord. WinSlow 9'-
Ab-en;- Ames bradford Ue ring. iiausr
not yatiug-lir-ey.
Paired Wairrhop-e. yea Foak-, nay.
The committee of conference on au a.
amenda,nry of chap. l5I of the Pnbls
Laws If 1857, relating to imprisonment 70
: debt, reported in a new draft unler Sam
| title, and the same vas read twice an,
passed TO be engrossed.
Resolve on the pay roll Of the Senate va
read twice and passeti 10 be- engrosse,l.
: Resolve on the payroll of the House Va
read twice and passed to be engrossed.
= Resolve for the p-yment of the co7tiu
gent expenses of the Legislature was rea
twice aud passed 10 be engrossed.
= On motion af Mr.. TIersey of oxford
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