The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-04-02
At Augusta.

In the Senate, Thursday, on motion
by Mr. Guernsey of Piscataquis, the
Senate non-concurred with the House in
the acceptance of the report of the COM
mittee on claims. ought not to pass on
resolve ia favor of the town of Hartland
II voting in favor of the motion an
eight against the same. On further
motion by the same senator. the resolve
was substituted for the report.
In the House, thursday, the most
important measure considered was the
bill to tax telephone aud telegr Iph com
panies on the business done 10 and from
this State which was indefinitely post
poned. The senate coneurred.
The vote on placing the attorney gen.
erals salary at $4,000 a year to begin
Jan. 1, 1904, was in favor, 81, to 40.
The vote fixing tn salary of the seere
tary of State at the same figures was
also adopted, 10 to AZ
The bill to provide for a representa-.
ton at the st. Louis exposition for
which the majority report granting $40
900 was adopted, was reeonsidered, Fri
day, and indefinitely postponed by vote
of II to 13 Thus Maine will not be re
presented at st. Louis officially.
The Senate went into executive SEES
sion shortly after o'clock, Friday after
noon, to consider the situation. This is
an unusual and almost unprecedented
procedure. This course was agreed
upon at a conference between commit
tees of both houses, which was held in
the Governors room, at which he was
present. The Governor informed the
conference that many measures were
pending appropriating money for bridges
and the like which would make a large
drain upon the income of the State.
When the Senate members of the con-
ference returned to their chamber, Sena-
tor Goodwin moved that an executive
session be held. The President ordered
the chamber cleared of all but members
and officers The doorkeepers executed
the order, and closed and locked the
doors leading to the chamber: Nothing
was done as far as pruning pending ap-
preparations
The House did not consider a secret
session necessary. The calendars of
both House were practically cleared at
six o'clock, Friday.
The resolve from the House of Repre-
sentatives, Saturday, approprlating
$4,000 for a bridge in the town of Fort
Kent was sent back with the governors
veto, accompanied with the following
remarks on tue conditions of the finances
of the state:
1.-THE estimated income of the state
for 1908 is about 81 100 600, and for 1904
approximately $2,000,00O, a total of
81, 100000. Appropriations already made
aud pending aggregate over 81, $50, 900,
an excess above probable income of
S550,000 and an Increase over the
amount appropriated by the Seventeen
legislature, for the years 1901 and 1902
of over $4,000. The amount of cash
in the treasury, available for the pay
ment Of current obligations. is less than
$3.50 600, and nearly all will be required
to meet necessary expenditures in ex-
cess of current revenues within the next
three months. OF the above amount
about $44 900 is due the present legisla-
ture on pay roll. 1t is evident that un.
less appropriations now under consider
alton and materially reduced the state
treasurer will be compelled to make a
temporary loan, and since the constitu-
ton does not permit the creation of
state debt in excess of $500 900, except
for war purposes, it seems to me most
unwise to make any appropriations not
absolutely required, which will result in
the creation of a floating debt. We
should conduct the business of the state
as we would our own affairs. The
people demand and expect from us the
same careful, prudent management
which characterizes the administration
of every successful private business, and
the promise of economy IN public ex
penditures will be fulfilled.
The House did not lose much time
over the matter, the whole number pre-
sent, Ill, sustaining the veto. While
the governor saw fit to veto only one re
solve, his attitude no doubt was instru-
mental in killing many 1t is. thought
that 100000 was saved to the state in
that way not including the appropriation
for the st. Louis fair,
The appropriation bills having been
passed by the House, Weeks of Fairfield
moved that the body adjourn. The
motion was made and an adjournment
made to Sept lst
The governors signature has been at
tacned to 664 acts and 14S resolves.
Two years ago there were 456 acts and
! 118 resolves signed. Thus 20S more acts
and 30 more resolves were signed this
! year than two years ago.
President Virgin of the Senate was
presented with bronze statue of Esmer-
aida and Speaker Fellows of the House
was given gold watch and chain by the
members of their respective houses.
The presentation speeches were ably
made by Senator Bryant of Somerset, in
tie Senate, and by Representative Smith
in the House.
1t was pretty late, Sunday morning
when the lights we're turned off in the
/ Senate chamber and in Representatives
hall, later than ever before so far as tue
oracles know. The house adjourned at
35 a. m. and the Senate followed suit
"a few moments later In September all
will come back and take such action as
may be necessary to complete the reyi.
sion of the statues.
Hurleigh-"How did you ever happen to
j pick ont such suit of clothes2" BurleRh-
oh just went it blind" Hurleigh-"And