Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-25

$50 upon all dealers was discussed in
an informal way. but no decision was
| reached. So was the idea of having the
| State appropriate a sum of money to
/ pay the expenses of policing the State
and discovering violators of the exist
! ing law, but this was thought unwiSe.
The committee on taxation heard the
county commissioners of Aroostook and
| Somerset in favor of the bill to allow
county commissioners to apportion and
| collect the tax on wild lands. The tax
is now collected by the State. There
| was no OPPOSITION to the measure.
| The bill to exempt religious bodies
from the payment of the collateral in
heritance tax was not considered, as no
one appeared either for or against it.
The committee on legal affairs. voted
| ought to pass on the act to extend the
time for the acceptance of the city char
ter of Dexter and extending the charter
of the Dexter Water Co.; on the act to
grant certain powers to the Hancock
| county trustees of public reservations
and on the act amending the charter of
| the Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Co.
| The petition praying for the repeal of the
| law obliging towns to raise cash for the
| support of highways was referred to the
| committee on ways and bridges. Ought
| to pass was also voted on the bill in
cooperating the Sullivan Harbor Water
Co., and on the act to open a second chan
mel in the Mousam. river at kennebunk
The bill to allow cunning on Petit Menan
Point was considered. This is a private
preserve located in Steuben, in Washing
ton county. and is owned by a corp ora
ton. The people in that section want the
privilege of going shooting on the 600
acres owned by the company. but the OPP
Bangor, appeared for the petitioners and
Joseph Williamson of Augusta, repre-
scented the company
Before the committee on sea and shore
fisheries yesterday afternoon Represent
ative Campbell of Cherryfield, spoke in
favor Ola close time on smelts and toni
Gods by WeirS and set nets from April
first to January first for a term of three
years i'm that part of Steuben, Gouldsboro
and Joyes bay which lies above the mar
rows, 50 called. in Steuben bay. Mr..
Campbell stated that all the fishermen in
the locality signed the petition. There
was no opposition.
Representative Twambly. Capt. T. B.
Huff, Capt Enoch Curtis and Capt l.. S.
Sennett all of Kennebunkport, spoke in
favor of an act to permit the catching of
Holsters nine inches in length instead of
1912 inches, as at present They said that
the proposed law would be benefit to the
whole coast snd that the lobster fishermen
| wanted the law.
The committee on claims has voted to-
report ought to pass" on the resolve in
favor of the town of Parkman.
Before the committee on towns, Hon.
Don A. H. Powers of Houlton appeared
in favor of the bill to separate Sheridan
Plantation from the town of Ashland.
Rev. FIR Drulette spoke in opposition.
One of Portland's prominent philan-
thropic ladies was in Augusta, yesterday,
in the interest of the bill to establish a
home for the feeble minded, and advanced
the following in support of the measure:
''No argument is needed to convince
those in charge of county poorhouseS and
those actively engaged in charities that
imbeclity and heredity are the most pro-
lidc of the known sources OF pauperlsm
and crime.
THE average expense of pauper, dur
ing a natural life, to the county is sur
prising, and even alarming. Those who
reach maturity average 50 years; at the
low rate per capita cost OF " weekly. it
has cost the public $1,000; and as they rare
ly reproduce less than two OF their own
character, it readily appears that in two
generations the cost exceeds SIS, 900.
THE presence of a feeble minded wo-
man in community is sure to result in
decentralization which cannot be put in
words Such as these are to be pitied and
protected in every possible manner, not
to be condemned and punished. Society
is also entitled to protection. With these
facts before US the necessity for action
is evident TO every sympathetic mind
comes the question, What can be done for
these poor unfortunates and tie relieve so
cety of the incubus? Custodial care and
constant protection of those not able to
protect themselves IS the most simple and
effectual solution of the problem yet
known. Imbecilty unrestrained propo-
gates and multiplies itself and thus goes
on forever Custodial care prevents this
and by isolation relieves society of an
intolerable burden of pauperism and
crime and at the same time is an i'm
measurable blessing to its recipients.
When placed in an institution especially
prepared for them, the greatest enjoyment
and usefulness of which they are capable
is there found. Their companions are like
themselves and they enjoy one another 5
society. 1t is estimated that $50 feeble
minded women under custodial care pre-
vents the birth of at least 1000 in 10 years.
THE cost of protecting the feebemind-
ed women is nominal the cost of neglect
ing them is appalling. The act of caring
for them is true Christian philanthropy;
the act of neglecting them is barbarous.'