Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-14

l right the historical error INTO WHICH
an early speaker has fallen. Portland
never was the capital of Maine and
the public ought not to receive the
impression that the capital was ever
i removed from that city. A little STUDY
on the early history of Maine as re-
vealed in the acts and resolutions OF
the first Legislatures, make it PLAIN
that Portland was never the capital
and that the capital was never re-
moved. During the first few years at
ter Maine was separated from Massa-
chusetts. in the poverty Of those early
l days the sessions of the Legislature
| We're held in the town buildings OF
| what was then the town Of Portland,
not in q State House erected there for
the purpose, as has been stated by Mr..
Mclaughlin. The last official act of
the last Legislature which ever met
| in Portland was an expression of APP
probation of the generosity Of Port
| land in giving the Legislature the free
use of this building. Each year, when
| the Legislature adjourned from year
! to year, a resolve was passed naming
| Portland as the meeting place at the
| beginning of the next session. But it
was understood from the first that
| Portland should not be the capital Of
| the State, and during those early years
| the matter of selecting the perna-
| nent seat of State government was
| much discussed. AS early as 1922 a
| committee of the Legislature recon-
| mended this present site. But Other
| towns We're anxious to be the capital
| of Maine, Thoma StOn, Wiscasset, Bel
| fast, Hallowell, Waterville, as well as
Augusta We're anxious for the honor,
| but Portland was never even consid-
| cred in this connection.
After half dozen years of patient
investigation it was decided by the
Legislature in 1927 that Augusta
should be the permanent seat of gov
| eminent. In making the choice no vote
was cast for Portland. The members
from Portland and from Cumberland
county voted solidly for Augusta. 1t
was not until the dark days of the
Civil War that any movement was
ever made to change the capital of
Maine. At that time Portland began
to be ambitious to be the capital, but
met with such an adverse sentiment
from all parts of the State that the
matter was promptly dropped. Then
things went on until 1889 when Port
land again wanted to be the capital.
In that year a secret canvas made
early in the session showed that two
thirds of the members of the two
branches were in favor of changing
the capital to Portland. It was found
that the committee on public buildings
and grounds was opposed to the
change and so the matter was referred
to special joint committee. When
THIS committee was appointed it was
known to be favorable to Portland
Hearings were held as in this case,
and when the people of Maine had been
heard from on the matter and when
the citizens Of Portland had come here
With an offer of S150,000 toward build
ing new capital in that city-a gift
OF the citizens, not money to be raised
by bond issue as Is now proposed
the sentiment Of the State was found
to be so decidedly against the change
that the eight members of the conn1t-
tee who favored a change voted to re-
port to refer the matter to the next
Legislature, and the other two mem
oers voted to report legislation mex
ped1ent. The minority report was ac-
cepted in the Senate by vote of 1861
and the House accepted it without di-
vision or debate.
mus matters went on until 800,
when committee was appointed to
look into this question of capitaI re-
moval. If Portland had any argument
10 make why did it not go before this
committee? During the two wears he
tween the appointment of that commit
tee and the beginning of this session
not word was heard from Portland
on the subject, but with the beginning
ol TINS session the history of 1889 be-
gan to repeat itself 1t is said a secret
canvas showed a majority favorable to
d chanse. a hearing was held two
weeks ago and an attempt was made
10 railroad the matter through, but that
attempt failed, and now the people are
Delng heard from and the natter cam
not result differently than it did in 1899
First let us consider what would be
the probable cost of new canita1
erected in Portland. | remember thar
III 1882. wien it was talked that a new
State House for Maine would cost 81
100000. frequent reference was made
to Colorado which had then recently
appropriated 100000 for a new State
Hous. Up to the present time Colorado
has spent $2,400.000 on that $500. 900
State House and it is yet unfinished.
The Portland people are making no
reference TO the Colorado State House
now as they were in 1899 But while
IN 1889 architects, figures, estimates,
etc. We're presented at the hearing by
the friends of the Portland movement.
there is nothing of the sort today. We
have here various ideas as to cost. We
have novel way of estimating the
cost by cubic foot, irrespective of other
factors.
Brother Reed is a successful LAWYER.
but If he ever leaves the profession
which he adorns and becomes a builder |
he would soon be in bankruptcy. He
also knows more about law than he
does about real estate. as is shown by
his statement at the earlier hearing
that site in Portland suitable for a |
State House such as Maine would want |
to erect could be bought for $4,000. |
I know something of real estate in |
Portland. and I venture to saw that !