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


Finance Committee to think that | am
saving one wo.1 against their juds-
ment. | want them lot to feel that if
the Senate appropriate $4,000, 1t IS any
thing against that committee. l think
that, when the people Oh THIS STATE
have paid $51 600 INTO Massachusetts Tor
the taking care Of this class, and with
the fact staring us in the face that the
towns spend $4,000 yearly for these
PEOPLE. it is time we did something.
am never in favor of large appro-
priatlons. In the three terms that
have been in this body, you, Mr.. Presl-
dent. and others who have dealt with
me. will agree that l have not been eX-
travagant in regard to appropriations.
In fact. | do not believe in an appro-
priation unless the appropriation IN
ures to the benefit of the State; but
YOU never knew me. Mr.. President, ana
YOU never will, while l occupy a seat
in this Senate. know me to OBJECT 10
any appropriation that is for the amel-
ioration of the evils of the people.
Shall we go back to our homes ana
say 20 our constituents that we gave
so many thousands of dollars to TINS
hospital and SO many to that-N ny.
/ saw an approprlation-ld did not hit
nv voice against it-Of $4,000 for
Maine .anitarium. Now. nobody has
anv greater pity than | for that unfor-
tunate class and | have always been
taught that consumption is incurable,
/ did not raise my voice against it. be-
E I1nfnrtIy-
nate class in their distress. | am will
ing to pay my part of it. Let US be
consistent l was thinking of the con-
trast in this committees report and
what happened two years ago. You
will recolIect | was opposed to it at
that time-the raising of $4,000 to
build a log cabin at st. Louis. Is there
a person within the sound of my voice
that can see that one cent of benefit
was derived from that appropriation?
That WAS appropriated. and when we
came to ask for an appropriation at
the same session for the protection of
society. for good morals, for the up
lifting of humanity, you say the pro-
posed legislation is ineXpcdient. Is not
the time ripe for it? Are not the peo-
pie clamoring for it. today. Mothers
are shedding tears of agony and dis
tress over these unfortunate children
and crying out to us that they may
be put into some institution where they
will be cared for when the mother
will no longer care for them.
Is it not a matter of Christian duty
that we owe these unfortunates? I
have become interested in it, Mr..
Chairman. because l have seen it in
these institutions. | have seen them
become self-sustaining. and as Dr.
F'ernald said to me, many of those
boys will go out into the world with
the moral and physical training that
knowledge of the arts and sciences
which will enable them to become
forces in society.
Talk about dollars and cents. 1t is
an insult to the Women's Council. 1t
is an insult to the integrity of the
people. 1t is an insult to everything
that we should cover and cater to
few dollars. when the mass of the peO-
pie in the State of Maine are becOm-
ing polluted by this class of unfortu-
mates tlat perncate society. Thirty
per cent. of the crimes in the State of
Maine are committed by the feeble
1iind Id. as appears by the statistics.
The great object of this bill is to put
these children in a home where they
will be surrounded by moral influ-
ences, and subject to observation-disclosures
they will rot be permitted to repro
duce their like and make paupers, az
they have done in the very county
where | live.
Today. in Kennebec county. in one
town, you know where they are. the
statistics show the fact. | think there
are some 81 from one branch of fam
lily. l am very glad to say that there
are some very clear minded men in |
hennebec; but 1 apprehend they have |
that unfortunate class with them that |
we do down in Knox county. The |
counties are all alike in that respect. |
DoWn In town where one of the COM |
mttee on finance is concerned. lady |
toid me there was more of this class |
on 1eeble-minded than in any town IL |
the State of Maine. But we are all |