The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-07
NAMES soLoNs.
Their Pay Only SI5O Session aud
Railroad Purses


Lewiston Cor. Boston Advertiser
1t may interest some of the literally
paid Massachusetts, solons to know that
tnelr brothers in Maine receive only $50
Tor a session that usually continues three
nfcnthS. That compensation and a mod
crate mileage constitute the total recon-
pehSe Tor giving up business and spending
NEST OF the winter in Augusta in affairs
OF the state. If 1t were possible to OBJ
tain subsistence at Augusta during those
three months at the reasonable terms
that prevail there during the other
months of the two years then the sit11a-
ton would not be so bad But the notes
and the boarding houses intend to and
they do make hay while the Legislative
sun shines. For instance, you and L, tran
SlenlS, may go to the principal Augusta
notes during the session of the legiSia-
tUre and secure the best accommodations
they are reserved for transients-for 81 a
Gay. But legislators boarding there for
the session don't get any kind of a room
for less than $18 a week, and from that
up to $50. The price for few choice
rooms in one of the largest hotels in
the city is even fancier. 1t may be said
that usually these rooms are occupied by
men who are present during the session
In the interests of certain large corpora
tons. The price Of the choice rooms is
too large, generally, for the most affiuent
Maine legislator
Even the wealthy men of the house and
senate grow nervous about this time in
March. This has accounted for the rush
o. business this week. There have been
two session a. day, and the bills acts and
resolutions have geen ground through at
headlong speed. The legislators We're de-
termined to wind things up and go home
They themselves realize that even though
no especial harm may be done by this
nnal stampede of legislation, yet it is not
the proper way Of doing business. Too
great opportunity for chicanery is per-
mitted.
Many times IN Maine legislators on
getting home and reading the laws that
n olxa how hHa
tOniShed to discover certain acts on the
books. They might have heard of such leg
1slat1on as being proposed, but they had
not the least idea that the law had been
enacted. So, too. others have been amaz-
ed to discover the real application of GER
tain bits of legislation. The thing sounded
all right when enacted but the workings
of it have proved all wrong.
The Maine legislature that has just adj
journed considered various schemes for
improving, the financial condition OF
Somehow or other their thoughtfulness
for the future didn't beac results For
instance, 1t has been the custom in the
past for the railroads Of the state to give
each legislator a three months pass in
order that he might get home over Sun
day after his Wearying duties at tho
capital. 1t has been claimed that the
tender of this transportation was in no
sense bride, but merely an act of good
viii on the part of quasi-pllblic. corpor-
attons in consideration Of the fact that
Inc lSSlSIdlOIS VI MdlIe are IIlSulIcleHCIV
remUnerated. Some people nave MAIN
tanned that any legislator with a pass
in his pocket couldn't act with candor
and UprightneSS in any matter in which
the railroads were concerned This talk
is made by people outside of the legisla-
ture. and the sentiment sec ms to be that
such people should remain outside if
their conscience is in such shape that
they cannot understand how another can
resist the petty temptation of a three
months pass. The account of the matter
is, the pass business as at present -
ranged in the Maine legislature is ac-
cepted as matter Of course. and no
pasteboard is asked to do or expected to
obligate himself to do one act Of par
TALLY in behalf of a railroad.
The Maine lawmakers had a pretty
good chance to declare themselves on the
pass question within a week Or so.
In the first place they considered tbs
bill providing that no railroad should
and postal, clerks, etc.
This bill was advocated bv Herbert NJ
Heath, of Augusta q prominent after
ney and president of ore of the largest
electric railroads in Maine. The legisla-
tors turned the bill down.
Then the proposition was put forward
that the Maine lawmakers should re-
ceive the sum of $500 for the session,
mileage 10th ways sufficient for opa trip
to Augusta and return, and should be-
debarred from accepting any pass or free
ticket over q railroad. The legislators
tt rned down that proposition. j. was
argued that IT. didn't seem the light tins
TO raise the expenses of the state wfen
the treasury was having hard work tS
stand the drains on it. 1t seems best to
allow the railroads to tug the Solon3
hack and forth for nothing.