Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-12
Sound Sense From Aroostook.

(AroostOOk Star-Herald)
The proposition to remove the State
canitol from Augusta. from time to
time preached in previous sessions of
the LEGISLATURE. and heretofore re-
parded lightly as mere joke, recurs
this year, with some symptoms OF serl-
business, and with rumOrs at least that
il has succeeded in enlisting cOnsidera-
Bile promise of support among the law
makers
II hardly seems possible. however,
that the project will rally to its support
anything like a majority OF the MEM
bers. in the face of the fact that there
is no general public demand whatever
for such q move, and every reason 10
believe that any serious attempt 70
carry it through would meet with the
strongest kind of opposition from the
reOpIc of the State as a whole. In the
first place the present location better
serves the present and prospective
needs of the people of Maine as
whole, as regards accessibility, than
would the city OF Portland. The bulk
| of the present population of Name can
| reach Augusta more conveniently than
| they can reach Portland, and this con-
| sideration will weigh more and more as
time masses. inasmuch as the growth OF
the population of the State is and Will
| be chiefly in its northeastern section.
| The Rockland Courier-GaZette, COM
menting in general terms upon thls
| fact. and without any reference to its
| bearing on the capitol removal ques-
| ton says, in it's issue of last week:
1.-THE growth in population in Maine
| during tie past two decades has been
steadily toward the East. The total
| gain between 1890 and 1900 was 33.SSo.
of which II .1a5. or more than onethird
of the States total gain, was in the
single county of ArooStCok. In the
| face Of this single fact the absurdity
! of the pending proposition to move the
| seat of government pretty we'll down
| to Kittery is sufficiently manifest. but
| the question of convenience of access
| is not the most vital point involved.
The most vital objection is that OF
| REPRESENTATIVES. outlay of public
| money to serve no purpose whatever
| except to crafty the local ambition of
| Portland. The latter city may donate
a lot, which when given, will be no
more beautiful or commanding than
| the site at present occupied by the
| State Capitol in augusta. and it may
supplement this with q further bait OF
a gift of half million dollars. This
| having been done what would follow?
| Merely that Maine would launch up
| on the Same voyage of lavish eXtrava-
| gance that has been pursued without
| exception by every state in recent
years in a new capitol building enter
prise. In every che there has been an
| expenditure Of millions upon millions.
| far outrunning all original estimates,
| ard not a few have been made the
cover for wholesale graft and specula-
| ton.
| If Maine cuts loose from Au-
gusta and goes to Portland to build
| new capitol building, she merely en-
| terS uron Il project of uncelled for cX-
| travacance and ostcnta ton. and this at
| a time when there is crying need for
funds. to found new and to increase
| tie scope of usefulness Of already es-
tabliahcd charities for the benefit of
| various classes of unfOrtunateS, whose
duty it is for the State to care for, eth
| er in bodily maintenance. or in furn-
,sl,ing the means Of improving their
| condition through training and educa-
ticn If there is any surplus of public
i
| ca institution either to further some
| natiently waiting claimant in the cause
| OF charity or beneVolencc. or into some
| practical enterprise, such as road inn
| provrment 1t would be crime to
put what belongs to these deserving
claims upon the State. now denied, or
grudgingly supplied. into a wholly an
| called for and unwarranted eXtrava-
| capcc in a new capitol building.
| To sum up. the State does not need
the proposed change on the score of
| convenience, because the prcse mt loca-
| ton serves the bulk of Maine people
| better than Portland would. The State
needs no imposing cdiflce in that city,
| rivallinG or attempting to rival other
| costly structures of the kind in the
| country, to increase her prestige, be-
! cause it is much saner and more sensi-
| BILE to win and maintain respect and
prestige as Maine has heretofore won
| and maintained that sort Of recogni-
| ton. through insisting on brains. char
acter and honesty in the law making
| aud administrative offices. Maine has
| been and is now too poor TO lavish mil
| lions, as other states have done, on
magnificent state buildings, but she
can 60 and does do what many of the
great and wealthy commemorative Of
| the Union do not do, send to her halls
OF legislation clean and capable men,
VINO care ably and honestly for her in
tcrestS in law-making, and when called
upon to do 50. represent her with
weight and influence in the councils of
TIE nation. On this score of State
prestige we believe every mn N hue raa