Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-14
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from page ~


Act to repeal Chapter 495, Private and
Special Laws of 1898.
BY Mr.. Wilson of Washington: Bill,
An Act to correct an error, and to re-
peal an act approved, Feb. IL, 1903, re-
lating to migratory fish.
Public Charities and State eene.
gsma s,- ficiaries.
ny Mr.. Clark of Hancock: Petition Of
Board of Health of town of Eden, in
favor of the act providing for State
Laboratory and Hygiene.
za4a Temperance.
Petition of Fred A. Alden of Union,
and AZ others, in favor of resubmission.
Taxation.
BY Mr.. Staples of Knox: Bill, An Act
to tax railroads according to- their
cash value.
At this point the President resumed
the chair.
Report Of Committees.
Mr.. Bryant of the committee on APP
preparations and financial affairs. on
Resolve in favor of Matthias Culnan of
Belfast, reported same ought to pass.
Pending question, the acceptance Of
the report.
MR. MORSE of Waldo: Mr.. Presi-
dent, hope this report will not pre-
vail. The resolve came before the
committee on pensions, accompanied
by the only evidence which has ac-
companied any resolve for any pension
claims that, at the capital here, while
a member of Company II, First
Militia of Maine, he received sun
stroke, and was Frustrated by heat.
At some previous Legislature he has
received pension of "a a month. He
is entirely unable to perform manual
labor. He has no people in this coun-
try-no friends or relatives; but when
he came here, came three brothers
four of them came from Ireland over
here just prior to the breaking out of
the great Rebellion. The three
brothers, older than he, went into the
service. Two of them died in the SER
vice, the other died about a year and
a half after the war closed, as l am
informed. This man went into the
militia, and came here and received
the sunstroke. Capt. Sanborn, who
was at that time captain of his COM
pany, has filed his affidavit in his
claim. Two of his comrades, members
of the company to which he belonged,
have testified to it. Three reputable
physicians in the city of Belfast have
also given this man affidavits, show
ing that by reason of this prostration
from the heat, or sunstroke he Is to-
tally disabled for the performance of
manual labor. Now, l suggest, gentle
men of the Senate, that this array OF
evidence, setting forth the condition of
this mans disability in the service of
i
ton from this Senate; and when we
take into consideration the fact that
these patriotic men who came here
without any motive except that of
good government, went into the SER
vice for this country, and gave up
their lives for the support of that flag
we all love, ! suggest, gentlemen, that
It behooves us, as patriotic citizens,
to not overlook such service. If there
has been any crime committed in re-
lation to this matter. it was commit
ted by the former Legislature which
saw fit to give this man a pension of
81 n month. On that 81 a month this
man subsists, today. He pays $1.50 for
room, in which he stays, lives, ex-
lists: and the remainder of that money
furnishes him support. People of Bel
fast, good citizens, have come to me,
and said: In the name of common
sense. if you can relieve this man so
that the city will not have him to sup
port, do so. He is worthy of it.
know this man, met him casually on
the street: and. ever since it was
known to him that / should probably
come here, this winter. every time ]
go into the city. this man makes his
way to me and at one time handed his
name to me on slip of paper, say
ing: THAT is my name. l hope you
will be able to assist me when you
get over to the Legislature. l am only
getting 81 a month; and l haven't a
dollar, and have no means outside OF
this pension" My sympathy goes out
to such a man as this. l hope the
time will never come when l shall for-
get the service rendered by such mer
as this, and his family for this State
and for our country generally; and
gentlemen. / suggest that after having
carefully considered this matter be-
fore the committee on pensions We
recommend that this pension be in
creased 81 a month.
MIR. STAPLES of Knox: Are there
two reports from the committee?
MIR. MORSE of Waldo: The re-
mort of the committee on pensions is II
favor of it. This has been to the com
mittee on appropriations and finan-
cial affairs and they have reported
fought not to pass" and it is on tina
report that / make my remarks.
MIR. STAPLES of Knox: Mr. Presi'
dent. / feel constrained to say few
words in regard to this man that live:
in the city of Belfast. l know moth
ing about this bill, except it's intro
duction into this body, until this morn
ing. I happen to be acquainted will
that man.. as Belfast was my forme
home, and I know the circumstances
/ know that it is a worthy object
am surprised at the finance committee
refusing this small pittance to a maj
who received an injury in the service
of the State. an injury that has inca
FACILITATED him for life for any service
and when we contemplate for mo
ment that thousands and thousands o
dollars that we are throwing into tn
air for less worthy objects than this
hot a not