Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-18


a single person who is In need of accom-
modations at am insane asylum who is
not able to get them in the asylum
across the river.
think it is time that we econpmized
little 1t has been sand that We have
this institution and We should fnish IT
up. l am getting very tired or the argu-
in on an institution. it Becomes the duty
OF the State Immediately to rush forward
and complete the work. believe we
should apply to this institution the same
reasons and the same principles that We
apply in our common, ordinary. every
day business. If we start in as individ-
uals to build building. and hard times
come on and there Is no immediate me-
cessity for that building to be completed.
we wait until such time as we can COM
plete 1t. That seems to me to be the con-
dition of the State at the present time.
Unless you find that there is an actual
necessity for the construction OF this
building at the present time. we ask you
TO let this matter stand over for the next
two years. Since the debate or Feb. ~ l
believe that the necessity for this build.
ing, on account Of the large number OF
demented people throughout the State.
has not been urged at all. So Tar as l
sions. the whole subject seems to have
turned on another point The whole
fight seems to have been to retain the
commission and then secure an appropri-
Now l submit to you that there are two
propositions to consider: First. Is there
any necessity for the completion OF this
hospital at the present Tune: ana. sec
ondiy. is it not WISE If there is no neces-
sity that the work should be completed
at the present time. that 1t should wait
until such a time when the finances of
the State are in better condition than
they are now?
Mr.. Dickey of Fort Kent: There seems
to be the most fault found with these
commissions. l have read that man
was a fool to build his house on the sand:
and if a man builds a house for a GER
tain purpose and doesn't build 1t to suit
that purpose. he comes as near being
fool as the man who. in the olden time.
built his house on the sand. L recollect
when this hospital was built across the
riyer / lived here at that time. They
hatl an engineer who never saw an In
sane hospital in his life; and they nave
been at work on this hospital from the
time it began until now, erecting and re-
erecting. and changing and re-changing.
and now it is really not a fit building for
the purpose for which it was designed.
Now when we passed the resolve in 1898.
we authorized the Governor to appoint
commission. The first man that he Sc
lected was Mr.. Little of Portland; a man
] have known for 40 years. He had
charge OF building the Eye and Ear In
Urinary in Portland, and you may ask all
the best engineers you can find, and they
will tell you that there never was brick
laid in that building but what was laid
correctly. and that all the work was done
in the most thorough manner. IT Is said
that this commission charged some S46o
for travelling over the State and eXainin-
ing buildings and finding out what was
necessary to be done. Well, it is a very
small sum and it has been well expended.
l do not find a very large bill for these
commissioners in the two years. three of
them, in this whole matter. The truth
is that they will save the state thousands
and thousands of dollars by their know
lnltr yxrIi nh pain pa O.
around and examining various hospitals
and getting the opinions of various ex-
perts US to what is wanted. l do not
have much faith in the kind of sympathy
expressed by the gentleman from fresque
Isle (Mr. SMITH. who claims to have SO
much sympathy for these people and yet
he is not willing to provide for any place
tb take care of them. We have it upon
the eieafest proof possible that another
hospital Is wanted. The peaple don't. find
any fault BECAUSE the state tax IL q little
higher for the purpose OF taking care OF
these people. 1t seems to me that the
thing to do. is to give this hospital this
resolve and have that work finished. This
commission has started that hospital in
u way to suit the purpose for which it
was designed, and they will have the
finest hospital. when it is completed that
there Is In the United States. And that
is just what Maine wants and she wants
it now, and hope that this resolve will
pass.
Mr.. Winsow of Portland: 1 believe it
- d. eorTcct pdtUetple LHdl men are sup
posed to be innocent until they are
proved to be guilty. and have not heard
any remarks on this question that proved
these commissioners to be guilty of any
tnisdemeanor. l have heard assertions,
put they are not proof In February.
when this matter was before the House.
was iabering. with great many other
gentlemen, under what believe Ia be a
MISREPRESENTATION concerning the work of
the commission. Some time has elapsed
since we had this matter before us. ana
nave talked with the commissioners and
with DR.. Sanborn, who was appointed to
labor with them. and | am compelled to
stats as candid man that I could come
70 but she conclusion after talking with
those gentiemeH, tho conclusion that they
have made no mistakes and have given d
good account for their services, Another
gentleman who was with me at the time
of my talk with the commissioners said
that new light had come to him concern
ing this matter. I asked the question of
tho chairman of the commission: why
esufd YOU not take this matter in charge,
peing In Possession of the necessary in
formation. and GO 81 With the Wark2
He said that Mr.. Bird "a member OF the
commission and merchant in the city
OF Rockland, was a man accustomed to
making large contracts. and that many
vessels went from Rockland carrying
freight, aHa that Mr.. Bird had taken adj
vantage WI a great aaaHy cases and maze
contracts with the master OF some vessel
to bring back the material needed for the
construction of the hospital at Bangor;
ana Tue CHAIRMAN told me that they have
fe~. stared in Bangor, $4,000 worth of ce-
fnstft that was bFnqght from Baltimore
ana winch cannot be purchased today,
in the open market. for the price they
paid for It.. SO might go on and state
fact after fact that came to my know.
Ledge after the interview with these gem
tlemeh, ! certainly accept their state
ment am driven to enc OF two cmelu-
sions: | must either say that those men
are honest and their word is entitled to
credit, or must say that they are con-
suhaMatp rascals. and will not do that
ANA bei.e~e from my Investigations
mat these commissioners have acted
wisely and we'll, and that It is safe for
thls Legislature to entrust this work to
them to carry it on to a successful COM
psftion; and | am in favor of granting
this appropriation
Mr. Wheideh OF Portland; Two years
ago stood on the rioer of this House
and opposed with whatever vigor | pos
sessed the resolve appropriating $500
for the insane hospital at Bangor. / have
carefully considered the matter since that
tlms. and have not seen any new light
opposed II then MS being ihexpedient
and say now that, taking into consid-
GRAFTON the finances of the State. taking
lnto consideration the general business of
the State, it is inexpedient for us at this