Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-14
the capital is ever to be moved il
should 60 eastward"

| present q MEMBER or the state Grange
committee on taxation, next spoke. He
said: 1.-TWO weeks ago I spoke here fol
postponment in order that the people
might be heard from. Then I spoke fol
myself. Now the people have been
heard from and speak for the Maine
State Grange which numbers $4,000
members. Three or four days ago the
officers our State Grange sent out cir
cular letter asking each Of the 40c
| subordinate grangers to express them
selves on this subject. Thus far we
have received sc replies and 65 of them
are against capital removal. There is
no gag rule in our order. 1t may be
called a political order in some senses.
but II is not n partisan one. The Legis-
lature is the servant of the people.
| There likely TO be many conversions
among those in favor of capital remov-
| al when they hear from the folks at
| home. 1t is not a political question. but
| If any party should make it a party
| question. that party would be buried
out of sight for 50 years to come"
Hon. John p. Swasey Of Canton, a
| leading member of the Oxford bar and
a former member of the Legislature,
was the next speaker. He said in brief:
81 know I voice the sentiment of Ok
ford county when l speak in opposition
to this Portland proposition. We do not
feel that there is any reason for the
change Portland might be more con-
ven;ent geographically for Oxford coun-
ty. but that has little weight. as only
a few CT US go to the Legislature any
way. Augusta is more accessible to
thrcc-fourths of the people of Maine
When was here many years ago we
get along all right. boarded in pri-
yate house and was well fed. Then we
came every year: now the members OF
the Legislature are here only three
months in two years. Did you ever
know man elected to come here VINO
refused to come On account of hotel ac-
commodations? Did you ever know
man once elected who did not want to
come back again? We have fine build
ing here now. 1t may be crowded, but
is that n reason for moving TO Port
land?
81 do not believe it for the highest IN
terest of the State to locate the capital
in the largest city. There IS no lack Oh
lobbyists here, but there would be more
in q large center where there Is great
wealth, extensive interests and power
full corpora tions. Nobody knows how
much a new capitol would cost US. Our
State debt is nearly 100000 and that
of o,lr municipalities $S000,0OO more AS
n state we are not so rich as we mag
inc If We have "A surplus in the treas
urv 7 would favor using it to hulld an
addition to the present State House ana
in having the members of the Leglsla-
turc more salary. l do not understand
that Portland makes any offer OF Tree
entertainment for the members II the
capital is changed, and certainly II
would cost them more to live in FORT
land than it does here.
In the course of his speech MI. SWa-
sew attempted to pay tribute 10 fort-
land is a summer resort, but succeeueo
in speaking of it as a rum resort W
the intense delight of the crowd which
packed the hall.
Hon. Henry Hudson of Guiiforu
snol,o net. He said in substaiice.
"rhe pcoplc are being heard from Ill
this matter and PiscataquiS county
like the other sections OF the otatc
is opposcd to removal. We have many
worthy objects for which the State
money is needed and there is no need
of a new capital while we nave 'iiiS
beautiful and historic old structure.
This was Names first permanent seat
of government and the place was
wisely selected. In 1880 the center OF
nopulation was south of here. now 1t
* north and east. That is the direction
Al. ,.y.I, #
Between 1890 and 1900 the increase
in polls was 1000 in Aroostook ana
only 100 in Cumberland including the
city of Portland. In that time the III
crease of population east of Augusta
was three times as much as west OIL
Augusta. There are now two great
railroads going northward into the
Maine wilderness. There is no reason
why the northern and eastern :'at
of the state should go clear to Port
land. Why should not Portland meet
them half way? Why cannot the peo-
ple Of Portland be as fair as their
ancestors were? The ties of this place
are worth something. 1t Is the lobby
and not the lawmakers themselves
who are raising this rumpus about
capital removal. Hotel charges are
certainly as high in Portland as here
and Portland makes no offer OF free
entertainment for the lawmakers.
say in closing as in opening that Pts
cataquis is opposed 10 any change.
Joseph Williamson, Esq, of Augusta
announced on behalf of Landlord Ca
pen of the Augusta House that Mr..
Capen would be willing to cancel his
lease April l in order that there might
be no delay in the erection of new
hotel It was also announced at this
time that Hon. W. 2. Thompson of
Belfast who had expected to be pres |
ent to speak against removal had been
detained at home by illness.
Mr.. Reed of Portland then arose, but
if anybody expected he had anything |
to add to the case of Portland as pre-
scented two weeks ago they were mis- |
taken. He simply showed pictures of |
two or three capitals in other states |
and offered estimates based. on the |
cost of their construction to show that |
new State House good enough for
Maine could be built for about $4,000
Of nd al