Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-16
Many Lies on One Poster.

venient. This poster contains a picture
OF that wonderful soft-stOne, cheap
labor State House in Mississippi which
cost only little more than $1,000 600
boomers use as a favorite argument"
for new $4.UdO.O0O State House here
in Maine. Along with this picture, in
large type, are various statements
whose chief characteristics are their
absolute disregard of the truth. For
instance, there is the assertion that the
cost Of new capital building for
Maine located at Portland would he
limited To $4,000 and the site" This
is lie. for nobody knows or can know
what the limit would be. This sl,2J0,-
100 would he simply beginning. and
nobody knows how large or how many
would be :he additional appropriations
required to push the work to compile.
ton
Close on the heels of this in large
type comes lie No. 2, namely. the as
ser.ion that tine entire committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds are
unanimous that the present conditions
are intolerable." Only five If the com
mlttee. three Of these being from Cum
berland county,, reported ANYTHING of
that kind.
Close On the heels of this comes lie
No 3; this is put IN the form Of the
following question: (Which is the bet
ter bargain. to further Patch up the
old State House at cost to the State
OF S100.WW, or to expand precisely the
same sum for a new capital building
modern. c"mmod'"us and Gre-proof, at
Portland"
AS matter of fact, the LEGISLATURE
is not beng asked for one dollar to
patch uD' the present State House
and, moreover, the State House needs
no patching up" for the reason that
extensive repairs and improvements
have been made throughout the build
ing IN recent years so that it is nov,
iire-proof in all but one wing ana is
modern. attractive and convenient
throughout Nobody has suggested
he spending Of $5OOO0O upon The
state House at this time, but the false.
hood in regard to this matter which is
printed on the poster in question has
nevertheless been in the mouths of the
Portland boomers throughout the
whole winter.
Governor Cobb. IN his annual mes
sage. recommended the leasing or
building of an oiice structure in this
city to relieve the present crowded
condition in some Of the Offices at the
State House. The following out of his
suggestion would mean only the ex-
penditure of few hundred dollars Is
additional Offices were leased. or a
few thousand dollars if such an office
structure We're erected. That is all
that has been said and yet these Port
citizens IF Maine believe that the sum
OF 100000 is being asked for, 10
patch up the State House" and tina:
u new State House can he built in
Portland for precisely the same sum,
TO such dastardly ana contemplate
measures IS tie Portland Syndicat.
IL p IN,
Treasury and move the seat of govern
nent to an extrem. corner Of H.,
state
A closing assertion Of this remark
able poster is that No Stat. ever ask
ca 50. much Of City: NJ city ever
made such magnificent gift to it,;
state" l. IS needless to point out that
'he State If Maine is not making any
request nt Portland in this matter. The.
only thing which has been asked of
Portland curing this session has been
ITS corporation in oqualizing the bur.
den Of taxation in the State OF Maine
but t" the efforts tending to this end
the representatives and senators, from,
Portland have presented vigorous
opposition. The men and interest,
that are ClamorinS for cap;tal removal
are those who killed the Dnnigan
bridge hill in the Legislature. ami
hose who have constantly fought the
good roads bili the mill tax bill and
the bill for the county support of pau
ners. Portland is very generous with
the state s money in the matter 81
building great public structure TO
adorn itself but wholly selfish and
parsimOnious when it comes to bear
ing its just share of the burden of tax
alton. Maine does not ASK" any
gift from Portland nor will
II accept the brib- which is offered IN
this instance.
This poster which has bee,
sent out 10 the postma sters OF
Maine is accompanied by letter
signed by a rirm Of Young
Portland lawyers. The poster Is simi.