Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-01

upon the REPRESENTATIONS anu iilau.
the solicitations of the REPRESENTATIVES,
of that city.
What is proposed here: 1t is proposeu
that we shall permit every city ana toWl
in this State to raise their debt limit. ~
is true that this is for one purpose alohe.
But how long will this last: Who IN 'nis
body can assure us that another demand
for another raise will not be made, even
during the present session.
My friend has said that the remon-
strances against this proposed Legislation
have been uniform. / agree that IL Is the
fact that the banks of this State have seen
fit to demonstrate against 1t, and agree
that these remonstrances originated rom
one place and came from the savings IN
situations of Portland.
Mr.. Higgins then went on to explain
the circumstances under which the petit
lions and circumstances were obtained
and presented, and stated that instead OF
40 to vns being represented by the petit
tions he could only find about So He
pointed out the fact that all these petitions
came from the same source, and were
printed from the same type and in the
same form. He said that it did not look
ike a spontaneous action on the part OF
the people of the State, but that all these
petitions originated from one source and
were circulated by the city of Auburn,
and were for the purpose of obtaining
private and special legislation for the
benefit of that city, rather than to satisfy
some great public need. He did not think
it was right to lcgislate for the public at
the request Of only an infinitesimal part
Of the people Of the State. and he repeated
that there was not public demand for this
amendment He pointed out that if this
wele granted there was nothing to prevent
OIL ers from coming and asking that the
doors be thrown open still further to in
Guide sewer systems, electric lighting and
other improvements He stated that if
this resolve We're passed within seven days
Spectators would have erected water
plants, CT set about erecting them, in every
town, city and plantation in the State,
with view to forcing the municipalities
| to purchase them later at advanced figures,
| He acknowledg ed that water was neces-
| sity, but said that there were other things
that were necessities also.
| Continuing he said; I can imagine
| nothing that would be more conducive to
| wildcat speculation in water works than
the passage of this resolve and the adop-
ton of this amendment as proposed.
| 1t is said that the savings banks of
| Portland hold over 81, 500, 900 worth of
water bonds and l believe il. Is it
astonishing that they, realizing what the
depreciation of even one cent would mean,
should take measures to meet this pro
posed legislation? This amendment
means the impairment of every invest
ment in Maine; it means so much less on
bank dividends on stock dividends, on
bond Investments. IT seems to be APP
parent that the passage of this legislation
means very large shrinkage in value on
securities held by the savings banks. But
| it is endeavored to be represented to this
Senate that these banks are but the tools
of water s,ndicates. l think it is hardly
true l think it is one of those uncon-
scious Congregations that we all fall into
occasionally. l know this, that two years
ago. when this very city of Auburn was
seeking to raise money for the purchase
of her water works, these very banks were
the places where the municipal officers of
! that city went for the loan of money.
There was no talk then about the banks
| being the tools of the water syndicates !
1.-THE devil was SICK the devil saint
would be; the devil was well land was
not in pressing need of money! the devil
a saint was he. "
| say that under the circumstances this
proposed change in the constitution is the
most pcrnicious Of anything I have ever
heard suggested during my acquaintance
with the Legislature of Maine. 1t is not
necessary; there is no requirement for it
| The city of Auburn has nos been limited
to her debt limit. How much regard will
| she have for the constitution as amended,
| if she has had mono for it as it stands?
The speaker hen went on to say that
in the petition from Pittsfield the phrase
land for other public improvements, is
found; and that it would be very difficult
to draw the line if this demand was
granted there was no knowing where the
thiug would end. He said that it was
claimed that 400 people had signed these
petitions of these there We're 1850 from
the city of Auburn, and 800 more from
Androscoggin county, leaving only little
more than 5000 from the rest of the state.
He exhibited one OF the petitions and said
that even in their own county of andre
scoggin the promoters of these petitions
had been disappointed in the number who
signed them.
He then continued: l know it is said,
Cannot we trust the people? l repeat that
when there comes up from the people of
this State demand which may be con-
sidcred general, Il demand from all parts
of the State which would seem to be i'm
perative, j shall be one of the very first in
this assembly that will stand up and say;
Let us look into this thing, and see
whether it is right or not, and if it is right,
let us act upon it, But am not one who
will stand here at the request of two cities
and three towns and submit this whole
question to the people of this State. Why
should we? Arc You going to tinker the
constitution Of Maine SO that it will look
like some of the pages of our statute book?
tell you, gentlemen of the Senate, that
this matter is of too sacred a nature to be
tinkercd ut all the time, and l protest
against this attempt, at the request of
small portion of the people, to subject the
citizens of this State to this imposition, if
do not use too hard term, and do not
think do. Look at the constitution of
the United States, if you please, and see
how the demands have become general, al
most unanimous, before an attempt has
Ia, m. \ rh hn Gu.