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

Mr.. WEEKS 1t does not saw at what
hospital.
Mr.. STAPLES: / do not ant 10 mis-
construe this matter. | want 70 tan,
about II Just as | understand it ex-
ISIS. understand by talking with the
insane. Officials that they required sos.
900 Tor TINS asylum over the river two
years ago. and that they want $4,000
more for this asylum over the river.
MI WEEKS of Somerset: The sena-
tor means the officials Of the Insane
Asylum, and not the insane officials"
| presume.
MI STAPLES: I thank the senator
from Somerset. | do not know as
ought to thank him. either for / think
some OF them are insane. Gaughtcr)
1 mere IS another approximation to
winch ask to call the attention of this
Legislature. You recollect that five
years ago there was 100000 appropri-
ated Dy the Legislature for the agri-
cultural college up at Orono. The farm
efS were all in love at that time with
inns agricultural college up at Orono:
ana every farmer in the Legislature
nave no doubt, thought that his sons
or daughters We're going to be educat-
ed IN this agricultural college at Oro-
no: and for that purpose 100000 was
appropriated-S20, 900 a year, because
it was an agricultural college: and an
eclipse came over the eyes Of every
farmer who was a member of that
Legislature and who voted for that an
preparation. because it was done for
an agricultural college. But the "agri-
ssttl trtFs ..,lt
TO exist 1t is now the Maine Univer-
Slty-the agricultural part of it was
not high toned enough Now. | advance
as legal proposition, that not being
a contract but that. being a resolve of
inns Legislature. that the Legislature
that passed that 100000 resolve cannot
BIND this Legislature. They cannot
bind II. They are not entitled 10 hat
$4,000. ! advance that as a legal pro-
position To every lawyer in this body.
! looked up the resolve today. and |
found that there was proviso in that
resolve that this 5000 900 should be
paid providing it was used for building
buildings and keeping buildings in re-
pair. | am prepared | will be better
prepared 10 go before the finance com
mittee and show that 800, 900 that has
already been appropriated has not
been used for the purpose which :he
resolve provided 1t should be. | say
that We are under no obligations--a
bad promise is always better broken
than kept: and that $50, 900 should be
swept out. They have got a hundred
thousand dollars. Let me say tight
here-they are going To ask you for
$4,000 more on top Of the $50, 900 that
they are already receiving | deny the
legal right Of that Legislature TO pass
that resolve and bind me, or this Leg
islature in any way. shape or manner.
II was Illegal. They cannot 90
il any more than this Legis-
lature can bind the Legislat-
ure that will convene in this state
OF Maine two years from now. You
are not bound by it. | advance this as
a legal proposition; and | say. in jus
tice to the tax papers Of the State. in
view Of the condition in which we find
ourselves. that $50. 600 should be strick-
en- from the appropriation bill
Now | apprehend. as the senator
very pointedly asked me the question.
How are you going To do it, ! am
going to ask the finance committee, if
YOU will recommit this bill to them. to
see what offices can be abolished: and
if they can be abolished without any
detriment to the State and think this
House and Senate will abolish them
Those that | have spoken of, | sub
nit to your consideration. | DO it be
cause let me say to YOU. | know that
when the Governor Of the State of
Maine made his address. and | have
the most profound respect for the hon
cSty. honor and integrity Of the Gov
ernor Of the State of Maine. and |
know. today. that he stands appalled,
at the enormous appropriations that
are coming into this Legislature. There
are certain things that must be pro-
vided for. Let us cut off all of these
things that are not essential for the
welfare of the people: those that | have
referred to you. the $4,000 for the APP
propriation to the Maine University
you are not bound by In good consci-
ence. they have had enough they
ought not TO have any more: and, if
YOU will examine into the doings Of
that university. how they spent the
hundred thousand dollars that they
have already had, then you will agree
Win me lleN SHpulu iOl nav tiliS
more Take the insurance commission
ers expense account. under $4,000 that
you pay him yearly. | say 10 you, from
my own observation and from my own
knowledge of the workings of that law,
that it is only a detriment to the case
of incendarism, in the examination or
fires. because the towns are jealous OF
this thing. They wont act as long as
YOU have that act upon the Statute
Books. 1t is only $4,000 it is true. but
$4,000 is a good deal. You have got to
commence somewhere. Take the bur
eau of labor statistics. They never fed
a child in the State of Maine. it never
nut clothes on the back of any poor
orphan. ii never does any good. Let
me. right here, call your attention TO
another thing. where | find you can
save several thousand dollars. | would
have the finance committee recommend
that the Maine reports that comes
from the heads of every department. De
cut down one half; and if you do that.
YOU will save several thousand dollars
in that respect. A certain number OF
reports is all right. but where one is
read 40 are not read. as you know
and | know; and the expense of print
ing the reports of the heads of depart
ments of every department in the state
of Maine has grown to such great ex-
font that if should be looked after and