Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-30
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
Augusta Remains the State Capital.

Standing on its picturesque ana
slightly elevation, serene in its quiet
ma jesty. it's magnificent front overlook
| ing the fertile valley of the winding
kennebcc. kissed by the rising sun,
while its dome reflects the glory of the
setting sun, the Maine State House
stands where it has stood for more
than eighty years. And there il will
continue to stand. All its sacred men,
cries and historic and tender associa-
tons will remain to teach the rising
generations and future legislators that
out from these walls went the great
men who have impressed themselves
upon the nation, yea. upon the world,
and within whose historic halls has
been shaped legislation that has made
Maine famous among her sister states.
Not only do our own people rejoice.
but glad will be the hearts of those
sons and daughters of good old Maine,
who have drifted away from our
hearthStones and sought their homes
and fortunes in other states, while
their tenderest thoughts go back to the
old home State and its beautiful capt.
tol.
The capital removalists met their
Waterloo in the House, on Thursday
the vote standing 73 to S. against re-
mOval, while on later test vote Ito
rccOnsider) those who were in favor OF
moval to Portland mustered only So.
Had not the referendum been at
tached, the measure would have died of
its own weakness in both branches, and
there would have been no fight. Many
of the members sought to shirk their
responsibility and throw it off onto the
shoulders of their constituents. But
| it was in every repect bogus refer
endum, with none Of the saving fea-
| lures of the bill which has passed the
Legislature. Instead of the people Of
the State asking for removal, more
than forty thousand demonstrated
against it. 1t was thrust upon the
Legislature by the delegation from
Portland; it's strength was mainly
local; while the people Of the rest of
the State were almost solidly against
the project.
And tnen the cost of a new capitol
was an unsolved problem. There were
nc Dlans submitted, no specifications.
not even opinions, of competent archi-
tects; and Legislators did not feel will
| ing to throw away and abandon a
building which is worth at least
| 50, 900, OOO to enter upon a building en-
terprise involving probably an ex-
penditure of s5.OO0.OOO, and loading
down their children and children's chill
dren with a burden of taxes for an in
definite period.
This measure which has overshad-
owed and interrupted legitimate and
lar
session. was justly and properly killed
in the Legislature where it originated,
without troubling the people to turn
out at a special election. when the
people Of Maine want to abandon the
old state House. and build elsewhere.
said Mr.. johnson of Waterville, in his
mastery speech, they will say so, ana
raise the money for the purpose, ana
not depend upon the charity of Port
land"
To the high honor and credit of every
member of the Someret county delega-
ton, each and every man, both IN the
upper and lower branches, voted and
used his influence against the meas
ure. We all feel just pride in that
The leading speech on the floor OF the
House, on Thursday, against removal,
was made by Hon. E. F. Danforth Oh
Skowhegan, who was member OF the
committee to whom the subject was
referred, and could therefore speak in
diligently and with authority. his
array of facts and figures was unan-
swerable, and his calm and dlspass,oh-
tie manner of presenting them won the
attention and admiration OF his fellow
members, by whom he is held in the
highest esteem