Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-05

that we don't want any liquor in the State
of Maine; and still that same State ap-
man can, ii he has any stomach ache
at all, get all the rum he wants.
Now, there is another thing that is in
consistent, and that is the matter of the
State assayer. What is his duty? To GO
round to the different agencies of the
State and see if the liquor is of good quail
ity or not. And we are paying him at the
rate of $500 a year. shall put bill into
this Senate to abolish both of these Off
ces. believe it would be better for tn,
people. l believe we don't need them /
can get along without it, and what a
Democrat can get along without most
from a temperance standpoint. l would
to God there was not a man, woman or
child in the State of Maine that had any
use for it. Let us be consistent, and if we
strike out these two items from this bill
[ tell you the peoplelof the State of Maine
will say Amen to it,
These are my views upon these mat
tiers, and they are important when we
come to the appropriation of over a mil
lion dollars at one time. A large part OF
that bill is legitimate. / believe that We
agree that we should be economical ant
that we should cut off all that we can
and, Mr.. President, l move that this mat
ter be re-committed to the finance com
mittee, that you and |, fellow senator's
may go before that committee having al
eye TO the interests of the tax payers OF
the State of Maine and the interest of al
concerned and commune together and see
if we cannot cut down here and there anG
save the State large amount of money
[ thank you for your attention.
Mr.. BURNS of Cumberland: Mr.. Pres
ident, / think those who were members
Of the Senate two years ago will give the
senator from Knox all due credit for g
good memory as he, has made use of the
same speech which at that time he made
on the same subject. The only trouble
with the senator from Knox is that he is
getting at the matter in the wrong man
her. If he believes that any of the items
are wrong he should put in bills and have
such laws as he deems wrong repeated
and perhaps he can accomplish something
in that way. | do not believe there is
A member present who wishes the State
to violate it's promises or break its con-
tracts. The contract with the State pris
on does not expire until June 18th. If we
appropriate this money now and tho
State
Mr. STAPLES: Will the senator allow
me to correct him? I understand the law
expires February 18th.
Mr.. BURNS: 1t is not the law that YOU
go by, The contract is of June 18th. 1903
Now. If the State makes more favorable
contract than you now have this money
will remain in the treasury SO that we
will be no poorer Not dollar can be
drawn from the treasury but by warrant
signed by the Governor and Council
The State printing is nothing that We
have anything to do with unless we re-
peal the law. The prices for this work.
the lowest at which it has ever
been done in the history of the State, are
fully, definitely and absolutely fixed by
the provisions of the statute. The Gov
ernor and Council and heads of depart
ments might possibly reduce the number
of volumes or their size-that would save
some money.
In The matter of the investigation of
fires the same rule applies Statistics
show that there has been a very mate
rial lessening of incendiary fires since in
vestigation has been carried On by the i'll,
surance commissioner. The same rule ap-
plies to electric lighting and it also APP
plies to the water contract. That is a
contract that runs some three or five
years longer. and [ think there is no one
here who wants the State to break and
violate that contract
AS to the cattle commission, we all
know that is fixed by law. The cattle
commissioners have no discretion whatev
err If they find diseased animal 1t is
their duty to kill it. the animal is APP
praised and the State has got to pay the
bill, so that we can do all the f1ghting
we choose; it won't change the matter at
all. j presume the State of Maine is
obliged to pay all its obligations.
The matter of the militia is also fixed
by law. If We increase in value-lf our
State becomes more prosperous and In
creaseS in value, it will have larger
amount to expend for the militia. If you
want to repeal the law. do So but we
cannot do it here. What Is true OF that
i is true of nearly every item on this bill
| 1t is fixed either by law or by contract
| ami as | have said the only way t.
change it is to repeal it. And | hope the
motion OF thessenator from Knox will not
prevail.
Mr.. STAPLES: Does the senator from
| Cumberland mean to say that the Gov
| ernor and Council can make a contract
| for lighting the Maine State prison with
out authority from this Legislature?
| Mr.. BURNS: / mean to say that the
| contract has been made and does not ex
pire until the 18th of June, 1903: 1t has
| been done whether with or without au-
thority.
| Mr.. STAPLES of Knox. Yes, Mr.. Pres
ident, and your appropriation calls fol-
| $500 for 1903 and 1904
Mr.. BURNS: Well, if you make bet
| ter contract of course that money remains