Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-19
18th lines. the words 'profit or. Amend
ment adopted and bill passed to be en-
crossed as amended.
PASSED TO NE ENACTED.

crossed as amended.
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
/ An act to amend section 1902, of chapter
| II, Of the Revised Statutes of 1883. reiat-
| ing to the title of the State superintend-
ent of schools.
| An act to fix the compensation of the
sheriff of the county of Franklin.
An act to incorporate the Franklin.
Somerset & Kennebec Railway Co.
An act to provide for the retirement OF
members of the fire department of the
city of Portland upon half pay.
An act to repeal chapter SSO, of the Fri
vate and Special Laws of 1865 and chap
! ter 65. of the Private and Special Laws
of 1878, relating to Swetts pond, Field $
pond and Brewer pond, in Orrington.
Resolve in aid of Wiscasset bridge.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
| On motion by Mr.. Savage of Andro-
scoggin, bill an act to incorporate the
York Sewer Co., tableo by him pending
second reading. was taken from the table.
| read the. second time and passed to be
engrosSed.
Bill an act to amend chapter PA. of the
Private and Special Laws of 1883, entitled
IAN act to incorporate the PenobScot
River Dam and Improvement Co.. as
amended by chapter a. of the Private and
Special Laws of 1887. and by chapter 49,.
of the Private and Special Laws of 1889.
and by chapter $40. of the Private and
Special Laws of 1893 tabled by Mr. Saw
age pending second reading, on his mo-
ton was taken from the table, read the
second time and passed to be engrossed
as amended.
TABLED.
Bill an act authorizing the insurance
commissioner to revoke the license of an
insurance agent or broker. came up on
its second reading, and on motion by Mr..
Engel was tabled pending second reading.
SOLDIERS HOME IN MAINE.
Resolve in favor of the Soldiers Home
| in Maine.
This resolve. tabled by Mr.. Billings of
Waldo pending concurrent action with
the House in the indefinite pOStpOnement
| of the same, came up by special assign
ment
| Mr.. Morrill, of Cumberland, moved to
non-concur with the House. The Senate
so voted and the vote was doubted by Mr..
Walls of Knox.
Mr. Morrill, Mr.. President. this resolve
| in favor of the Soldiers Home in Maine,
| calls for our careful consideration. When
| 1t came before the pension committee,
we each one of us had the same preju-
| dice against it that exists in the minds
| of some of the G. A. r. members at the
present time, and it arises from falling
out between the Statn and National Re-
| lief Corps When the wives fall out it
makes their husbands disagree so they
| lose sight of the real issue in the case.
The committee advertised hearing and
| listened to the evidence in favor of the
| Home, but no one appeared in opposition.
lie committee nau desire TO see the
place where the present Home is located,
so they went to Newport and found ii to
| be about 212 miles from Newport Depot
| on the Dexter Railroad. and it was the
unanimous opinion Of the com1nittee that
| it was very suitable place for such a
purpose. with good land for gardening,
good drainage. and as fine scenery as is
| seldom seen in Maine.
There seems to be only two things to
be considered in this case-humanity and
| finance Now I say that there are cases
| where some of the Old soldiers and their
wives and children are not receiving the
care and attention that is their due and
in accordance with the law of the State
| The. amounts furnished some of them
would not be very acceptable to the av-
erage member of the Maine Legislature
were they to be put in their places. 1t is
perfectly natural to try and keep down
| the pauper bills, and that desire some
| times goes too far for the actual necessi-
ties of those in want. This Home is not
extreme cases. This is a large State and
more extreme cases of poverty brought
| on by old age and infrmity will be found
| than We may imagine. There will be no
| one obliged to go unless he chooses so
there will be no compulsion about it. as
| some have stated. 1t does seem to me
that it places the old soldier in a position
that was not contemplated in 1861 to 1865
that when he grew old he should go to
a National Home without his wife, or live
| with her in a destitute home as is too
| often furnished. Beside the soldier and
his wife. the crippled helpless sons and
| several towns and cities. often at quite
| an expense. There is one young lady in
the Home at Newport who has to be
| wheeled about in her chair. and cannot
| walk. or feed herself.
| l tell you, gentlemen. these affairs are
worthy of our consideration. Old age.
disease. poverty. bring changes of mind,
| less friends and cooler ones.
| at Low he E,,a f,1
II only two per cent. of the old soldiers.
| their wives. dependent children and aged
| mothers so to this home, there will be
quite goodly number. | noticed in the
| history of the Wisconsin State Home that
| they commenced on the cottage plan with
| Il few houses. and have since largely in
| creased the number and all are well filed,
SO II appears to be satisfactory in that
| state All the states but six have a State
| lone so they have the help of the Unitel
| States government to the extent of $500
per year for each soldier or sailor sup
| ported in these homes. According to the
| inspectors report on State Homesit costs
| $2oO Tor each two persons supported. Each
| soldier or sailor in most cases. turns in
two-thirds of his United States pension,
ana to that should be added his State
| pension. Soldiers or sailors poor enough
| to be admitted to this home would not be
| drawing less than six dollars at the pre-
sent time. | know this plant will cost
something now for house rent. if proper
| is too late to re-establsh this home, Per-
maps it is little late but it will be quite
number of years before the last old
soldier and his wife and dependent chill
| dren will pass over the river
was glad to hear the young men in
the House state that if the c. A. r.
wanted this State Home it would be their
pleasure to vote for it. l have never had
any fear of falling into the hands of the
young men of the State and would not
fear to appear before Legislature com
posed wholly of men under 80 years of
age who remember nothing of the war
and ask for help for myself or comrades
or those dependent upon me for support
Now how is it with the G. A. r. men and
soldiers that are-not G. A. R. men? AS
near as can be ascertained less than one
half of the old soldiers in this State be-
long to the G. "A. r. There does seem to
be difference in opinion. The vote of
the House shows that but it does seem
as though some of the G. A. r. men in
the House after thinking the matter over
must have changed their minds by this
time. And suppose one half of the G, A
X: men were opposed. how would it be
with the soldiers not belonging to the
posts? AS rule they are the poorest half
have either been expelled for non-pay.
ment of dues or are too poor to join any
post. Now among this class will be found
the men that will be looking for this aci
, to pass. but have no chance to expires.
their views as the posts do 1 have
|, noticed that moor men sign fbaSa rat;tiort