The Portland daily press., 1901-02-21
rsrEcrAL TO THE rnrss.1


Augusta, February e0.-Mr. Haskell
OF windham, In the House this morning.
made the speech OF the session thus far In
the amount Of attention and comment
which it has caused. MIR. Haskell was
speaking In support of his motion to IN
definitely postpone the resolve appropri-
ating 5000 annually for the Maine Eye
and Ear Inflrmary. He based bis motion
upon two grounds-one that the institu-
tion is already largely ENDOWED; the 9th
er. that its management is open to
criticism and censuFe, and In support OF
this latter contention, Mr.. Haskell told
some stories which rald the close atten-
tion or his listeners. Inc matter came
up after a debate on the general academy
bill and many members had left the
House, but there were no departures after
it became apparent what was the nature
OF the spseoh being made by the young
man from Windham. When MIR. Haskell
finished his remarks, ne was loudly ap.
plauded.
Then there was a series or appeals to
have the matter sent back to the commit
tee on finance. Mr.. Beal of the commit
tee, shouted that the making OF the
charges In this way seemed to him al
most an insult to the committee. Mr..
Randall OF Portland called attention to
the fact that Governor Hill is president
of the infirmary corporation, ana Mr.
Chase Of Portland appealed for fair play.
The House voted to reoommit the re-
solve and the committee Will probably
advertise another hearing.
1t was nearly noon when the matter
came up by assignment and Mr.. Haskell
took the floor. MIR. Haskell spoke as fol-
lows:
MIR. HASKELL'S SPEECH.
Thus far during the session l have re-
Trained from srespassing upon the time
OF the House with any extended remarks.
l therefore trust the privilege will be
generously accorded me of explaining my
position relative to this resolve appropri-
ating the sum Of ten thousand dollars to
the Maine Eye and Ear IndTmary. In do
ing 80 1 do not want q single member of
this House to understand that am OPP
posed to or am In any way trying to be
little the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary as
an institution. Far be 1t from me to do
IL the slightest injury or injustice. i be-
lisve that under proper management 1t is
capable of comforting greater benefits up
on the poor and unfortunate than any
other institution in the whole state, but its
endowment has become so large, its man
agement has become so execrable and the
methods OF treatment and care Of patients
have become so questionable, that she peo-
pie Of Western Maine must emphatically
protest against any further appropriation
by the state.
Now MIR. Speaker this institution WAS
incorporated in 1856, under the general
law for the formation OF corporations,
and Is located In the city of Portland. In
1856 1t applied to the legislature OF this
state for assistance and received an ap-
preparation OF tive thousand dollars for
two years. It continued to receive this
amount till 1898 when 1T asked for and re-
oeiyed an appropriation OF i've thousand
dollars year for the next two years.
since that time 1t has received that
amount from the state up to the present
time amounting to more than fifty
thousand dollars. In the meantime 1t
has received many thousands OF dollars
from the city OF Portland from various
bsquests and donations besides the very
generous gift to which l wish to now call
your attention.
In 1894 one of Portland's wealthiest
ana philanthropio citizens died leaving q
will by which the Maine Eye ana Ear In
Urinary was bequeathsd two-thirds OF the
residue of his estate after payment Of car
tain other bequests. A legal problem con-