Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-16
Orders of the Day.

| cred On further motion by the same
| senator the same was referred to the
| committee on appropriations and n
Eancial affairs.
On motion by Mr.. Staples of Knox,
| bill, IAN Act for the protection of
shore fishing within the limits of the
town of Cushing" was taken from
the table On further motion by the
same senator, the bill was referred TO
the committee on shore fisheries in
concurrence.
On motion by Mr.. Shaw of Sagada-
hoe, report of the committee on judic-
larry, Ought not to pass on bill, An
Act to extend the charter of the Car
ratunk Power Company, was taken
from the table.
Mr.. SHAW: Mr.. President: wish
to- state that I make this motion by
request; and l am also requested to
move that this report and the accom-
panying bill be returned to the COM
mittee on judiciary; as the report is
not, in terms, as intended by that
committee, the intention being that the
bill Ought to pass" l therefore move
that the bill be recommitted to the
committee on judiciary.
The motion prevailed, and the bill
was recommitted.
On motion by Mr.. Clark of Hancock.
bill "An Act to abolish the office OF
inspector of factories, workshops and
mines" was taken from the table. on
further motion by the same senator.
the same was referred to the commit
tee on labor.
On motion by Mr.. Clark of Hancock,
bill AN Act to provide revenues for
State purposes" was taken from the
table. On further motion by the same
senator, the same was referred to the
committee on taxation.
On motion by Mr.. Putnam of Aroo-
stock, Senate Document No. TO- report
| of the committee on appropriations and
financial affairs, referring to the next
Legislature the bill to provide for the
care of Predetermined children, was
| taken from the table.
Mr.. PUTNAM: 1 now move that
the report of the committee be accept
ed; and I ask that when the vote is
taken, it be by yeas and nays.
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: 1 desire,
Mr.. President to speak upon that
measure before the vote is taken.
The PRESIDENT: The senator
| from Aroostook. Mr.. Putnam, moves
that the report of the committee, which
! was: That the bill and petition be re-
ferred to the next Legislature be ac-
| cepted.
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. Presi-
| dent: The matter of a home for the
feeble minded of the State of Maine, is
| one of great Importance to the tax
payers of the State, and it is impor-
| tant to the moral welfare of the State.
| 1t has been my good fortune in the
| last two years to be upon the commit
| tee for the investigation of the mat
ter with view to establishing a home
for the feeble minded of the State.
| 1 admit that l was somewhat sur
prised. in that investigation, to find
| that there We're some 1000 incapab les
in the State of Maine of all ages and
both sexes eligible to a home of this
kind. l further found that the feeble
! minded of this State were retarding
| the moral welfare of the whole State.
l furthermore found that the tax-pav-
ers of the State of Maine are perfectly
wllllnS-or at least nine-tenths of
them-when they understand this prob
lem. to'Vote in favor of establishing a
home for the feeble minded children
| of Maine.
1t has been my experience that the
| taxpayers of the State are willing to ne
taxed when they believe that tax is fo,.
the up lifting and Up building of the
people of the State.
Two years ago 5000 people Of the
state petitioned this Legislature to es-
tablish Home for feeble minded. This
| year there are 5000 more names upon
| the petition, comprising those of tho
| best people of the State I say right
| fere that the ladies of the Women's
| Council of the Cityof Portland. whether
| this bill passes, or not, are entitled to
| the greatest credit for their voluntary
| efforts. They have spent their time an
| their money for the advancement OF
that unfortunate class that we have
among us. The time has come. We are
| behind every other State in this Union
| in caring for these urfortunates They
rollute society in every State in this
| Union where these unfortunate people
are not restrained and guided
| There are 20 institutions of this kind
in this country, and five private insti-
| tutions doing wonderful amount of
good II guarding society against the
pollution that accrues from the feeble
minded.
| From an economical standpoint we
cannot afford to go without an institu-
ton of this kind. For the last 10 years
T don't know but longer-we have paid
Massachusetts $4,000. for the support of
the Predetermined. In the last ten years
we have thus spent more than is asked
for an institution of this kind. Already
we have spent $4,000 paid to other
States for the taking care Of this I'M
fortunate class.
There is no town in any county in the
State of Maine but has one or more of
this class. From the investigation of
the overseers of the poor 1 obtain re-
suits from every county except Andres
coggin and / will give you a statement
Of the cost in the various counties for
the support, yearly. of the feeble-mind-
cd.
| ATOOSIooh 70. SlbS 4