The Portland daily press., 1901-02-13

breaker. We make the modest request
that this shall stop.
senator Virgin asked a number of lues-
lions to ascertain why it was thought
more law was necessary. DIR. kneeland
admitted of courss that the present law
Is not enforced but, he said, that II be had
a shaky building he snould put prop
under It.
"Couldn't you get the same result II
the present law was enforcedl Couldn't
you complain TO the county attorney
and stop the excursions9'
~ understand that In this state a
somewhat parallel law, the liquor law,
is not enforced
"Do you mean that complaint would
not be acted upon?"
Mr. Berry-"say yes; Dr. Kneeland."
DIR. Kneeland--"Mr. Berry tells me 60
say yes.
Senator Virgin read letter from the
Rev. John Carroll Perkins of Portland,
protesting against the bill.
DIR. Kneslanu read letter from the
Rt. Kew. Bishop Goldman In favor of the
measure.
Representative Chass-Do you think
the passage OF this bill would divert the
travel to the electrics .shioh give lower
rates than the railroads.
DR. knesland did not think 30, In re-
ply to a question rs 60 whether the bill
would deprive the poor man of his holi-
day, Dr. kneeland said that there was no
objection to the poor man enjoying the
air ana sunshine in proper way.
Then MIR. Berry stated that he would
call upon the representatives Of different
cate the measure. After e E, Davis OF
Augusta, representing the Free BAptIsts,
Rad said few words, Rev. MIR. Garfield
of Dover, speaking for the Universalists,
said that the argument that the Sunday
excursion is needed for the poor man does
not apply In Maine because when man
has walked to train and tramped
around at his destination he has done as
much walking as would be required to
take him beyond tn limits of the largest
towns where he might enjoy himself In
the pure afr under the broad sky. A rail-
road excursion is not q go0d way for
sunday recreation. The excursionists are
put In old, worn and Ill ventilated cars
They are pulled and hauled, trod upon
AMI sworn at and a man is LETT TO sweat
and rume and get along with his temper
as best he may. Ii that is recreation
should spell it "work"
Senator Virgin and Mr. Chase asked
number of questions about ths old cars
mentioned by Mr.. Garfield,
az neVer saw the old cars OF which you
speak," said Senator Virgin.
81 cannot answer for that said Mr..
Garfield.
Mr.. Virgin pressed the question and
MIR. Garfield In the course of his replies
caused laugh when ha said that he
could not speak from experience. He did
not travel on sunday exoursions.
Senator Virgin then said that he was
not asking these questions to be funny.
was on one OF the Grand Trunk exour-
sIons which have been mentioned, ne
said. / went because was called TO Ok
ford county. and 1t was duty to go. II
found the conditions there much as they
have been described. There was rowdyism
and drunkenness. want to know what
measures of restriction is necessary. This
bill has its opponents as we'll as propo-
nents; am asking these questions for
and l desire proper answers.
Mr.. Caniield-Candor Is commsndabIe.
Then Representative Chase took up the
subject of the old Gals mentioned by Mr..
Garfield. who admitted that he had no
knowledge OF Sunday excursions in
Maine The discussion was out short,
however, by Senator White, who said he
railroads did not uss their best cars for
excursions.
Rev. Mir. Frost OF Bangor, representing
the East Maine Methodist conference,
was the next speaker. MIR. Frost t5ld how
Sunday excursions originated in Maine
at the request OF gentlemen interested in
the campmeetings at Old Orchard and
Richmond. Continuing. MIR. Frost said
that the trouble with the existing law is !
that 1t is too indefinite. Our railroad |
people. he said, feel that they are law
breakers because the law is not definite |
enough. Our railroad magnatss are noble |
men. They have consoienoes and they re-
speet their oonsciences, but they cannot |
respaot themselves as long as TINS law Is
as indefinite as 1t is today.
MIR Frost in reply to q question, said |
that the bill did not attempt to cut OF /
regular trains lie thought that now
Iuch trains would, perhaps be regarded |
rs ne oes saIy, but he did not seem to
avor q proposition to incorporate In the
aw provision legalizlng the running of
sunday trains except in the manner pro-
lib tied by the bill,
Representative Foster Of Oakland, who
Introduced the bill, spoke briefly for the
representing the Baptist church.
Then Rev. MIR. Berry, representing the
Maine Conference, spoke briefly. Mr..
Berry said that SO far as poor people are
there is plenty or pure air
without going to Old Orchard and Bar
darber for 1t. L have yet co hear that
abroad corporations are benevolent TO
he poor.
Mr.. Carleton OF the cemmittee-What
would you say MIR. Berry, TO case like
his: When the white squadron was in
harbor just after its return
rnm tina vfctnrfps nj the Spauieh