Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-30
Concerning a Special Session.


not see any need of a special session of
the Legislature at the present time
that ought to settle the matter for it is
entirely in his hands and he may he
trusted not to speak without careful
deliberation and a thorough under
standing of the needs and necessities of
the hour. Still a few radical in
dividuals and some papers whose chief
mission on earth is to fuss and fume
honor of the State depend upon an
extra session called at once to build a
navy to protect the coast and to vote
money for the troops. AS matter of
fact there is no financial trouble con
fronting the State. Not all of its
regular military appropriation is yet
expended, and back of that is an
emergency appropriation which can b.
heavily drawn upon. Moreover, the
national government, as the secretary
of war has just notified the Governor.
will pay from it's own funds all abso-
lutely necessary expenses for thu
transportation. sheltering, and in gen
eral for the maintenance of the vol
their enrolment and their muster, or
until they are sworn into the service Of
the United States. also all incidental
expenses of the mastering in; and of
course when the troops are in the United
States service the State is under 10
further expense on their behalf. Even
if there We're need of more money than
the State now has at its disposal, :,
could be procured from other sources
without the additional expense of as
sembins the Legislature. Leading
banking and business men of the state
would place all the funds he needed at
his disposal, and trust the next LcgiS-
lature. whose assembling is not many
months distant. to reimburse them
This was done once in the Civil War by
some loyal and wealthy citizens when
some of the Maine regiments were to
be paid off. and neither the State MOI
the general government had the funds
Immediately Forthcoming.
AS far as the assembling of the
Legislature to provide for coast de
Tense is concerned there is even less
need than in regard to the financial
situation. The general government is |
doing all that is necessary. and more
Our chief harbor is impregnable and
defenses are being prepared for other
exposed points. Two magnificent
cruisers are now patrolns the coast. |
and another fleet is being prepared for
this purpose as We'll as monitors for
harbor defense. Moreover. the danger |
of Spanish attack on Names coast is |
so remote as to make the idea almost |
ridiculous. But the fact that Maine. |
poIutlS oli llle great ocean on winch, |
somewhere thousands Of miles distant.
are Spanish Warships. makes our sea- |
shore patriots timid and even panic |
stricken, and it is right that the ccv- |
eminent should take steps to ailay |
their fears as much as possible |
Though their terror be groundless, it is |
no less real and it causes suffering and |
disturhs business. But it seems abso- |
lutely unnecessary for the State to
construct warships or forts just to help |
ward off these imaginary dangers. If
there was any reasonable ground To APP |
prehend an invasion or an attack by |
Spanish warships or privatecrs the
case would be different.
To call a special session at this time
would give us d rest from the clamDr ,
of those who demand it, and that to |
be sure, would he a blessing to the |
State. But it would serve no other |
useful end. 1t would he an expensive
luxury costing $4,000 or more: would |
greatly Inconvenience most of its mem |
berS at this time of the year; and |
would introduce Il disturbing element |
into State affairs that is entirely UNI
necessary. Neither the financial con- |
dition of the State as regards it's duty |
to the troops, nor the matter of coast |
defense gives sufficient cause for a |
special session at the present time. l. |
these matters become more pressing |
or new reasons arise Governor Powers |
can be depended upon to call Il special |
session which can be done at very short |
notice. AS far as is known no state
has felt compelled to call Il special SEES
sion of its Legislature since the war
scare began. though several which were
already in session passed emergency
appropriations. Governor Powers
is d prudent. level-headed executive
who believes in conducting the affairs !
of the State on busineSsIike and com
mon sense principles. In his hands
Names safety and honor will be as
YlFIi1 l.tf,I Il . l.,