Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-01

>S A"i ehei ihotion OF that Senator,
the same was indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. BURNS of Cumberland do
TINS inasmuch as another bill has been
substituted for this.
on motion by Mr.. Virgin Of Cumber-
land, Senate Document No. "a COM
rnunlcatlon from the State treasurer.
reIatlVe to the income of the State for
l'oI ana 1907. was taken from the table
and on the further motion of that
senator, the same was referred to the
committee on financial affairs.
On motion by the same Senator.
Senate Document No. 50, a communities
tion from the State printer. relating to
printing done for the State was taken
from the table: and on his further mo-
tlon the same was referred to the COM
mittee on financial affairs.
on motion by Mr.. Staples of Knox.
House Document No. -, An act to pro
vide in part for the expenditure of
government for the year 1901. was
taken from the table, the same nav
ing been specially assigned for today.
Mr.. STAPLES-Mr President per
maps no dill has come before this BODY
during this session of SO great moment
As this bill Probably no bill will come
before this Senate during this session.
that interests so many people as ioes
this document for an appropriation
for the years 1901 and 1902. The size
of the bill. which is 81. 500. 600. being
100000 more than it was two years
ago, makes it necessary in my mind
for us to consider it carefully: and |
do it from no partisan standpoint.
a SIX Of ha
every Senator in this body. to Vie with
me in devising some means whereby
| these appropriations can be lessened :
because we are appalled, today at the
variety and immense quantity of an
preparations that are being asked for.
by the people that come to this I.ariS-
lature: and il is time for us to throw
away all party prejudice, and stand
up here as men. laboring for the Vel
fare of the people of the State Of
Maine, whether they belong to one
party or another. | beg to say. gentle
men. that it is farthest from my
mind. The remarks that | may make
upon this question have no political
significance whatever. If | belonged
to the majority party in this Senate.
should speak the same as do now;
because when | find that the appro-
priationS ana the debt of this State
since 1871, when we had surplus in
The treasury of several hundred thou
sand dollars. when | find we are debt
today between $700.000 ana $500 600
when | consider that the appropria-
tons already asked for by this Legis-
lature are S26S, 900 in excess of what
they Were two years ago. il is time
that We call Il halt i'll this matter. ana
see whittier We are drifting.
We are already. gentlemen. up to our
constitutional limit; ana | beg leave to
read to YOU a certain section of the
constitution before | go on with my re-
marks. | call your attention to section
IA of article IN. of the constitution.
which reads as follows: The credit of
the State shall not be directly or in
directly loaned in any case. The Legis-
iature shall not create any debt or
debts. liability or liabilities. on behalf
of the State. which shall singly or in
the aggregate. with previous debts and
liabilities hereafter incurred at any
one time. exceed three hundred thou
sand dollars, except to suppress insur-
| rection. to repel invasion, or for the
shall not be construed to refer to any
money that has been or may be de-
posted with this State by the govern
ment of the United States. or to any
| fund which the State shall hold in
trust for any Indian tribe" Now, Mr.
President. and gentlemen, we have al
ready reached that constitutional
| limit: and if that is correct and APP
prehend that every senator within the
| sound of my voice, does not expect nor
wish to exceed that constitutional limit
| Now. the figures that make up that
| debt which has brought us to that con-
| stitutional limit. are as follows:
The Eastern Maine Insane Asylum
has deficit of last year, $4,000; topo-
graphical survey deficit. S30i'.0S'
printing deficit. $15,526.32; temporary
| loan. 5000. 900: interest on debt, $S0,0oo
| which makes 1896, 900 saying nothing
| about the deficit that we find In the
| Maine States prison today OF s2rooo
and the Insane Asylum of So,b40' ana
| the beneficiary deficit of 81, ll6.2O, that
will carry us up beyond the consutu
tional limit. Now, if that be correct
and 7 think | am correct from THESE
| figures because | have taken them
from the State treasury, then say "e
| must call halt. and devise SOME
means whereby we can make the
necessary appropriations No senator
will find me opposing legitimate ap-
propriation | am aware as Wei d.
Won are. that it is necessary TO nave
funds to properly carry Vi
the government. but we mus
crop off needless expense. II theie =
an office that we have created III th'
mast that the people can get ATONE
without, let US cut it down. ie' ;.
abolish it, If there are any eNpeiiu,
lures that we can get along Wltiou'
however meritorious, perhaps ''i'S
| NAV be if we We're not up 10 our con
stit,,tional limit, then | ask you l,
agree with me in this matter anu
know of no other way to do IT, NJ
President, and gentlemen Vi 80,
Senate. after I have gone through VIZ
these appropriations. from my Stun
noint. If YOU think they are "or'ns
let this bill be referred back " ~. "a,
.on,mittee on financial affairs wiz
euch recommendations as you III y wa
wisdom shall dictate.
7 saw we are up to our CONSTITUTE.
-