Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-26

And j think the State cannot afford Il,
lose the opportunity. He saws il Is a
great deal of money: well. this is a
very great state. AS Speaker Reed
once remarked, when somebody criti-
cised him when they had the first half
billion dollar Congress. We'll" be
sail. this is more than q half-biliiop
dollar country" And it reminds me Of
the lady who went to dry goods stor,
to purchase some hosiery and ths.
clerk laid some out and she asked the
price. He said ~ She said, Aren't
those rather high?" He said. yes
but YOU are a very tall woman" That
is the case of this State. And we have
great many interests, and / think the
State can Well afford to make this an
preparation.
Mr.. THOMPSON of China. Mr.
Speaker. do not propose to make j
speech on this matter. bur / WOULD ask
who is paying these bills? The peoDie
OF the State And we have been fnll
that the people in the rural sections
OF the State of Maine, and the home
builders of the State of Maine. are nav
ing more than their proportional part
of the bills of the State. Do YOU real
lie the fact that the manufacturers
and the railroads and the hotels that
will mainly be benefited by the pas
sage of this resolve, are not paying the
bills on the value of their property us
the farmers in the homes Of the State;
and if we ask the people of the State Of
Maine, today, who have to pay the
hil1C topcp resolutions J,a.tJ
would pass them or not, you know we'll
what their answer would be to that
question. Therefore, l hope the ma
jority report will not prevail.
Mr.. LITTLEFIELD of Rockland: MI,
Speaker, l had no idea whatever of
saying anything in relation to this
question or any other question in re
lation to appropriations. | had no idea
that there would be divided opinion
in the committee on appropriations in
relation to this matter. This Legisla-
ture at its previous session appointed
prominent and able business men of
this State. men of standing throughout
the whole country. as commissioners
to represent this State to the ST. Louis
Exposition. Those commissioners have
been to st. Louis and through
their influence and their standing
they have obtained one Of the best
lots upon the grounds at st.
Louis. They propose to erect
building. if they are furnished the
money with which to do it, that will be
typical of the State of Maina. a building
that will not he expensive but unique
Now gentlemen, we are in the position
If We turn down the report of the major
ity of this committee, we are in the posi-
ton of appointing a commission. starting
them on their way and making arrange
ments for matter of this kind, and then
saying that they shall have no money with
which to carry out those arrangements. If
there is any gentleman here that noticed
the newspapers at the time Of the Buffalo
Exposition. or that was there in the early
that the people Of the State If Maine were
exposition, because the State had not even
money enough to furnish a
room in the New England building for a
for the people Of the State. |
Now, ! submit that is not a proper adver-
tscnient of the State of Maine to do the i
same thing at the ST Louis Exposition,
;tltet appointing tI1PSe commissioners, the
personnel of this commission being guar
antee to this legislature and to the State
of Maine that the money appropriated will
he properly expended. 1t is for the in
terest of everybody in the State of Maine |
they 60 to the exposition or not, |
and this building will be d headquarters
for the people of the State Of Maine that
go there. There will be ladies there to
attend the families and the children tina |
may go and to make it a meeting place for
the state of Maine as well as an advertise
rent for the State. 1t is for the benefit
of everybody in the State of Maine. If it |
attracts people to our State, it furnishes a
home market for the products of all Of our
farms for the products that are consumed
by the people coming into the State from
outside. 1t is not simply for the hotels OF
the summer resorts or railroads. Tho ho- |
tells have to get their supplies from some |
W hcre An the gentlemen who are inter |
eSted in hotels will have to subscribe per
i'll order to carry out the purpose |
of the commission. The appropriation
that we shall make is 81 indication of the |
public interest. and the gentlemen who |
are on this commission Will see that suffi- |
Gent is raised outside to make a creditahle |
at that exposition for the |
State of Maine, and | submit III regard to '