The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-31
Men and Things in Augusta

Men and Things in Augusta
A careful canvass of the Senate and
House shows decided majority against
resubmission and it daily becomes more
evident that that question is definitely
settled so far as the present legislature is
concerned. There is a majority in favor of
the repeal of the Sturgis law, and now peo-
pie are asking: "If the legislature passes
the Sturgis repeal bill will there be veto
from Governor Cobb2" His message would
seem to settle that question in the affirma-
tive. In that event the Sturgis law would
remain on the statute books, as the two
thirds vote needed to pass the bill over the
veto cannot be had. If the statement made
here that there are in the State consider
able number of prohibition Democrats is
correct it would seem that they should have
some representation in the legislature, yet
there is said to be solid Democratic vote
for resubmission and for the repeal of the
Sturgis law. There are many Republicans
outside of the legislature, both in official
positions and in private life, who believe
that the party should declare at once for
resubmiSsiOn. A prominent Republican,
who is a tetotaler and an advocate of pro-
hibiton, is very decided in this opinion.
Another Republican, also prominent, is not
only for resubmission, but favors license
law. He regards prohibition as impracti-
cable and thinks it time that the party
made new departure Some of the Re-
publican advocates of reSubmisSiOn put the
case in this way: The Republican party is
the party of the people and should not be
placed in the position of refusing the clearly
expressed demand of the people in this mat
ter. Then the question is raised: Do the
people want resubmisson? Is not this ap-
parent demand due almost wholly to Demo-
cratic agitation? Have not Republicans
reason to view with suspicion any measure
of Democratic origin? The Democrats
have accused Republicans of duplicity and
hypocrisy on this question; but what is
their record? The Democratic newspapers
and Democratic politicians are continually
asserting that they want enforcement
strict enforcement-as long as the prohibi.
tory law is on the statute books but put a
Democrat in a position to enforce the law
and what is the result? We have seen it in
this county, in Knox county and in other
counties. The Democrats are not for en-
forcement, as party, it is all pretence, and
their animosity to the Sturgis law is due
simply and solely to the fact that under it
we have had the prohibitory law enforced
as never before
Two, at least, of Gov. Cobb's recommen
datons will hardly be questioned-one for
the appointment of State auditor and the
other calling for additional room for the
transaction of the growing business of the
State. AS to an auditor, the custom has
been to appoint committee of six each
year to examine the accounts of the State
teasurer, and naturally they are not all
likely to be familiar with bookkeeping ard
the handling of accounts The committee
now engaged in the work includes four who
have served in the legislature and held
other offices and they are unanimously of
the opinion that there should be State au-
ditor, and that a man specially qualified
should be selected for the position The
additional expense to the State over the
present method would not be large. AS
for the need for more room for the State
departments and the legislature one has
only to visit the State House at this time to
be convinced that it is urgent. For eX-
ample, the State treasurer has small room
for his office, but just now is practically
turned out of it. In the morning it is occu-
counts, and every afternoon the committee
on appropriations and financial affairs, of
which Senator Simpson of York is chair
man, holds its session there. This is one of
the most important, if not the most i'm
pOrtant committee, and when hearing
is held the room is altogether too small
for the purpose The other afternoon
it was found necessary to adjourn hearing
to the Senate chamber, that body having ad-
journed. The Secretary of State has room
about the size of bandbox, the library
needs more space, and so it goes all over the
building. This situation is impelling the
capital movers to put more energy into
their efforts, as they say that if another ad
dition is built to the State House, or another
building erected here, the capital is likely
to remain where it is for some time to
! come.
The second annual report of State High
way Commissioner Paul d. Sargent is de-
voted largely to an explanation of the new
good roads bill, giving at some length the
salient features of the measure. A review
of the work done in 1905 is appended, as are
also valuable papers on practical good roads
construction, five Maine men writing on
macadam construction, four, including }. F.
Wilson of Belfast, on gravel and stone
foundation construction, one on sand
hardened with clay, and one one dirt roads
and the King split log drag. Early in the
year the commissioner was called upon to
make an examination and inspection of the
completed bridge over the Sebasticook river
at Benton, and he pronounces it a first class
job. The county road meetings held in
each county by arrangement with the coun-
ty commissioners were successful in bring
ing together county officials and others in
terested in good roads and the attendance