Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-14
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Page Two.)
change the capital to PortIand-is well

change the capital to Portiand-is We'll
answered by the circumstances from
Lincoln County which are on file in this
State House against the proposed meas
ure.
The true reason OF the authorship is
too well understood by the Legislators to
need comment 1t may not he 50 well
known to the State at large and for that
season alone I refer to it briefly. Lin
coin County has sent to our senate q
young man of exceptional ability, one
who has had rare good fortune in his po-
hticaI aspirations. but whose business in
terests. whose professional work as a law
yer, and whose home, other than Tor TTo-
ltical purposes. is in Portland. Under
these conditions would you expect him
to do otherwise than to assist Portland's
ambitions and lend his authorship to this
order. with all the benefits that might
accrue to Portland indirectly from his re-
cent connection with the Governors
Council, and his coming to the senate
from the rural county of Lincoln? How
ever much he may misrepresent his con-
stituents in this matter. he undoubtedly
lives up to the fullest measure OF his per-
sonal interest as a lawyer and citizen OF
in its originatior to Portland influence
and does not voice the Governors opln-
ion or that of Lincoln County. Moro
than this, you can see from this analysis
that two Of the members of this commit
tee on Public Buildings. before whom
this great public measure came were
really Portland citizens, with the inter
ests Of Portland at heart, and third
member who signed the report with them
was from Cumberland COunty-from the
town Of Brlinswick-a significant fact
when we ask who are the PARTIES inter-
ested in this controversy.
Thu. order directed the committee to in
uIire into the "expediency" Of changing
the CAPITAL. What inquiry wa made:
Did the committee. or that part Of the
committee which condemned the building
upon inspection. go I" the city OF Ban
gor which is nearer tn" center II popH-
latlon Of our Stat" today thar Portland.
and look over that beautiful CITY for an
available site; did they 90 q Lewiston,
or Auburn to investigate their advan-
tages for a new location; did they advcr-
tise for bids II what th"e" CITIES would
give in competition With Portland FIR
this prize? No thew simply brought into
the hearing the Portland III; h-brick-
bid" backed by a brilliant "rray nf Port
lands professional ned business men
VINO with on" l.-c- part,I,! TN" wealth
Hri resources Of Ia ir nativ" ri.v, lul
the limitations. not orly ~ III, present
capital. but ey,"y cth'r ItLc" i. COM
parison with rich md beautiful PORT
land. After III" hearing irr l'nd alon"
was visited. ne that h Arit- IN tht
face nf the most nr"mot"c'd opposition
tc tho r:ovem"nt That anr m'a 'i'i'r ever
had the only talk ~ th' advocates Of I
change has been Portland. PORTLAND VIII
not these facts in iiclte ~ til" people ~
tho. state what We al krow. that his i
q movement of the city and citiz'-HS nt
Portland alone and not Inspired "r al
yocated by any other part of our STATE
The case is Portland against til" Stat" ~
Maine and the interests OF tho STATE i
Maine.
In all requests for private or Spccia
LEGISLATION We nave invariably Ask
what Is the reason for the change d.
manded and does it conflict with the i'll
terests of others and. if it does, who's
interests are paramount. those of th'
petitioners or those of the rcmnn-
strants Should not the same in
curry be made here and. if We discover
here only the selfish motive Of a locality
striving for local improvement AMI al
vancement at the expense. in whoi" ~
in part of the State. should not we app'y
the same rule OF conduct which in similar
cases has been applied in the cDmnitt"'
rooms and on the floor Of the L"gt latur.
OF turning the petitioners away? u
seems a most fair and just decision 1t tn
petitioner has abundance Of personal RI
sources To look after its own cmb"lli-h.
ment. and the demonstrates. who are n
be levied upon. are in great need M
every cent Of income they can raise RI
the necessities of life
What are the arguments III favor ~ 4
new and modern State touse.--surh AZ
would meet the fastidiou~ tat" ~
wesIthy Portland? II IL argued that thi'
building Is old antiquatcd and uns'Iitcl
TO modern conditions. the hotel accom-
modations are limited; the prices N
board high. and above all these com
plants Portland wants the priz" and i
willing to pay something for it. Thi'
building IL old and its antiquity is one NJ
It's most cherished assets with all of ON
citizens except the get-rich-quick class
and the purse proud land owner of :
public building erected near his estate:
more value to his property without cx
pense, because the people must nay ~
them. II has for all these years furnish
cd all needful conveniences to do lcgisla
tive work and now only requires u few
additional offices to take care Of the on
tire executive and legislative MACHINERY
Of the State-ofticcs which could he hiroo
yearly for a few hundred dollars or con
str7icted for few thousand dollars TIL
legislatures before this one containc'
good men. intelligent legislators. IN,
they did their work fairly well. I.ik" tn
members of this Legislature for fnu
days during tire first six or eight week
they averaged about three hours dali.
IN the State House. and for the r"
mainder of the session averaged four q
five hours daily during four days eacl
week, or a eigth hours n day, the aver
age legislator will play statesman 70
twenty-four days every two years. Nov
y, y-1,t hot s1,n