The Portland daily press., 1895-02-07
Especial to the PRESSJ


Augusta. Februry e.-Bangor men are
smiling again because their pet measure
went through the House this morning more
than two to one. As yesterday they were
said to be sure of only sixty votes. today's
roll call showed that they might have
counted in all the doubtful list and some
of those placed in the opposition. The
opponents of the Bangor resolve failed to
hold strength which had been attributed to
them. The first contest of the winter in the
House was Witnessed by a large number OF
spectators, including many ladies.
Routine business kept the House busy IN
til quarter past eleven. Then when the
Speaker announced orders of the day, Mr..
Plummer of Dexter. at once took the floor.
He said that there were three measures be-
fore the legislature in relation to the in
sane. One was the resolve appropr1ating
$4,000 for barns. piggery, ETC.. at the
present hospital, another approprlating
100000 for the Augusta hospital and
third asking S150.O00 for the erection of
buildings at Bangor. Mr.. Plummer told the
touching story of Bahgor's confidence in
the success of what he called their
measure But his confidence. he said. re-
ceived a shock when on the 22nd of January
Augusta hospital came in and was more
seriously disturbed when the resolve appro-
priating Sl0o.000 to be expended at Augusta
was introduced. The Bangor men had sup
posed that their measure. which had
ceived support from all over the state was
to have the passive aid of their old feos on
the Kennebec but they now found that the
clans of the Kennebeo were gathering.
<l,a Of
pense and argued that buildings could be
built in Bangor at cost of from Eve to ten
per cent less than in Augusta, owing to
the lower prices of brick and otLer material.
Coal could also be obtained for less in Ban
cor than in Augusta. Another saving
would be found in thu cost of transporting
patients to the hospital from Eastern Maine
if located at Bangor. Mr.. Plunmer said
the story of the building of the new struct-
ure at the present hospital in 1889 had never
been fully old. The building which would
accommodate less than one hundred
patients cost $4,000. and yet the Augusta
people now told the legislature that for
Sl0o,O00 they could provide quarters for
three hundred of the inourable insane. 1t
was a statement calculated if not intended
to mislead.
=.
SO often covered to show the need of new
hospital, pointing to the crowded condition
of the present hospital rehearsing the argu-
men is in favor of smaller institutions.
MIR. WHELDEN OF PORTLAND.
was the principal speak in opposition to
the Bangor plan. and his remarks were
frequently and loudly applauded. Mr..
Whelden said that it had been stated by the
eloquent gentleman from Dexter that this
was question of locality. We admit it. 1t
is question of where 1t is best TO provide
the needed additional accommodations. Mr..
Whelden read the reasons given by the
ajority of the special committee for the
erection of a new hospital at Bangor. We.
are told that the state has bought land at
Bangor. Well. ] believe that it is admitted
that previous legislature did buy some
land il. Bangor. and we have be en- told I'M
der somewhat peculiar circumstances. do
not say whether that is SO or not. But is
the land at Bangor any more valuable, any
better located than thessite of the hospital
at Augusta? We have so acres here. enough
SO far as room is concerned to accommodate
all the insane in New England.
Next we are told that a hospital at Ban
gor will decrease the danger of repetition
of the confagration of 1850. According to
this reasoning the people of Chicago, after
the 81 eat fire, might have moved out to the
broad prairie; according to such an aIgu-
ment a man should build his barn half
mile from his house. and his workshop half
a mile beyond that.
Then we are told that the hospital should
be built at Bangor to accommodate the
eastern section of the state. If the state
is going into the accommodating business
it should build not only at Bangor, but in
every city of the state. But the state is
not going into any such business. 1t knows
no north, no south, no east. NO west. 1t
will provide for all the people.
Mr.. Whelden argued that the appropria-
ton of SIS, COO for each of the next two
years would mean that, if their constituents
sent them back. the legislators would have
to appropriate similar sums for 1897 and
1898, and keep ON until an amount of nearly
if not "a million of dollars had been appro-
priated of the money of the tax payers.
The gentleman on the minority of the
committee had said that they could build
additional acc ommodations at Augusta for
800, 600, and notwithstanding the assertions
of the eloquent gentleman from Dexter. the
truth of the statement of the minority
could be proved. AT Bangor We have land
and air. At Augusta We have a plant with
a system of sewers and other necessities al
ready established. Certainly the insane de-
mand our greatest care and consideration,
but there are other classes of unfortunates
who also make demands upon us, the deaf,
the blind, the widows and orphans, the old
soldiers. the sick and infirm. Bangor has
always been city loyal to the state, but
she is entitled to receive no special con-
sideration.
In conclusion Mr.. Whelden warned the
members against beginning a course of
action that should alter the conservative
financial policy followed by the state for
years.
Mr.. Reynolds of Brooks. spoke briefly for
the majority report. He was folloWe ed by
MIR. GILBERT OF GREEN.
who said that when he came to Augusta, he |
was somewhat in fog concerning this |
question. To begin with, he found special |
commiufee appointed on the Eastern Maine |
Insane hospital but it oco urred to him that |
Y