Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-15
|OurWew
Hair Vgor

On motion by Mr.. Parl:hurst Of Pc
nobscot House Document I'll relating
to State School for Boys, was taken
from the table ard On motion by Mr..
Mills Of Hancock Senate Amendment A
was adopted and the bin was assigned
for second reading tomorrow.
On motion by Mr.. Staples Of Knox |
Senate Document No. 2o2 was taken
from the table. The sam" senator
moved the substitution of the MINOR
ity for the majority report.
AIR. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. Presi-
dent: Upon this matter | wish to say
a few words. This as you all know. is
a bin for increase of the salaries of
the members Of the House and Senate,
il, the future. have listened with a
great deal of interest to the amounts
that We have appropriated for almost
everything THAT has been asked 1or
since tn" session began and when we
add up the amounts which we have ap-
pro,riatcd we shall find that we had
exceeded the appropriation Of any Leg
iola;llrc for the last eight years. l nave
unt vnt seen one bill that has been sue
ccssful which tended to raise the rev
entc of the state. | have never Ia
yor.I the increase of salaries Tor GER
tain reasons. and | never small. Wheh
all the property of the state can De
taxed equally, then l shall be Slad 10
vote for an increase in the salaries OF
members and not until then. We have
in this State a hundred millions of rail-
road property. this paying only
ont-half of 1 per cent. on It's
gross receipts, the best paying
property in the state and they
the best able to pay taxes; and that IS
voted down. -Four years ago in TINS
State a bill came before the LeSisia-
ture to increase the salaries OF ltS
members and we did not then see NJ
to do so but submitted it to the peo-
pie, as was right. | believe the people
should have the right to act upon this
matter as we yesterday gave them the
right to vote upon that other great
question as to the removal of the State
capital An overwhelming majority
of the taxpayers of Maine four years
ago voted not to increase the salaries
of the members Of the Legislature.
Has there been any demand since that
time by the people?
The salary is low but there is not
one here but is willing to come here Oh
that salary; and you can go into every
county in the State and YOU will find
Your best men willing to come to this
body and serve for the salary that we
are getting at the present time. Is 1t
not time that We call halt in this
matter? We should have Il brain
storm if we We're to effect an increase
of salaries and every State official
would be anxious to have his salary
raised. | will raise my voice against
levying against the farmers Of this
State for taxation one dollar more, I'M
til YOU tax all property alike in this
State. This bill would raise the taxes
about 100000. We have matters that
demand our attention to the blind. the
deaf and all those things which We
must support. Let us a. opriate
money to do that cheerfully and for
! all necessary expenses but let US not
throw away without any demands
from the people $4,000 upon the sal
! aries of members of this body
In connection with the this bill there
was something said about passes. I
| see. by an Aroostook paper, that one
prominent Democrat voted against
| abolishing the passes. The chairman
| of the committee on salaries knows
| better than that. l am in favor OF
| abolishng the passes of every rep
! resentativc, senator or head of de-
| partmentS who come to this capital
and I would do away with them with
| out any circumlocution. That is why
| ! sign the minority report.
| When the vote is taken l ask that
it be taken by the yeas and nays
| Mr.. SEWALL of Sagadahoc-Mr
| President this debate promises to take