Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-14

/ rowing capacity of a million and half
! in round numbers. We will raise thu.
money if we have to raise 1t by private.
4 subscription or by any other method
All we ask is that YOU give us a chance.
and you shall not need To spring consti-
/ tUtional points upon us.
The senator says that the referendum
is made and that. it is without an initia l.
tive; but. gentlemen, it is the only way
which we knew Of to accomplish this
thing during n session of the Legislature.
We are willing To leave it to the people
, if the people of the State of Maine fairly
and frankly say they do not want this
capital to so to Portland and that they
want it to remain in the city of Augusta,
we shall he perfectly satisfied but We
believe that we are within our rights
in asking that the people shall vote upon
it.
Another argument against this is that
the State of Maine cannot afford it, SEN
ators, the State of Maine can build this
capital within the figures which we name
They say: Why don't you come hero
with plans and show us what 1t VIII cost ?
That was, in the time we had. an imposi
biity; but what do we do in this bill ?
We protect the people Of Maine by leav
ing the matter entirely in the hands of
the citizens of the State who are APP
pointed in the way suggested by the bill
and who shall say what plan shall be
accepted and determine the cost. AS to
that, we in Portland have nothing to say.
! The senator from kenncbec speaks OF
this measure Us a reflection upon the
Governor because the Governor had rec
commended an additional building for Of
ficers. I had supposed that this bill
would be subject to the Governors APP
prevail. He may approve ii or net, and
We are perfectly willing to give him the
chance to do so.
Mr.. HESELTON-Mr President, hop
the senator will allow me to correct his
misunderstanding of my statement. |
simply said that this did not reflect. nor
have We right to assume that this re
fcctcd upon the executive wish. T d.
not say that this bill which yGu have
offered or which anyone has offered re
fleets upon the Governor in any way.
nIr. MERRILL-We certainly had no
intertion to reflect upon tho Governor
in any way. but I thought you stated SO
Gentlemen, We do not wish - 81" MI
any feeling in this matter. but we come
t. YOU straight ont with our proposition
We mean what We say We do not asi;
YOU to adopt it if it is against yom
judgment; but We cannot sec how any
body can opros" when he stops tn
think that it is the people in the end
who must decide.
! might call attention to several things
to the present State House accommoda-
tiOns. I am not going to say 2nything
on that score. I simply say that this is
a straight business proposition. / ask
you to look at it as you would look at 4
business proposition. and then decide.
Mr.. PARkHUnST of Penobscot: Mr.
President: The question upon which
we are about to vote is OF vital import
ance to the future If the State OF
Maine. It's determination is pregnant
with things of the future.
If the question as it was brought tt
us originally. bore solely upon the re-
nloval of the State House. we might
determine that, in one brief servics
here. We're we competent to judge
whether we would disturb the estab-
lishcd order of things for nearly a cen
tury; but. before the issue was fair
ly joined we were offered in place 81
the proposition to remove the Capitol
the proposition Of tho referendum
There was brought to us. under the
guise Of consulting tho people, a bill
and in that bill. suggestion that the
people were to pass upon the question
Ct the removal of the Capitol.
What is that referendum? Does it ac-
cord with what we expect to find in 8
saorcnce-if it is to be determined Sc
riously. it must be, divided into two
propositions: First, do the people Of the
State of Maine want to remove this
{ Capitol; second, where do they wish
to put it when they remove it?
The referendum offers no choice OF
these questions. It says to us, Will you
remove this Capitol to Portland? II
docs not ask us: VIII you discontinue
remove it.-and then accord to US
the right that we have-to dctermin,
where we shall move it.
| submit. Mr.. President. it is not 6
, question Of what Augusta may desire
or what Portland may want. 1t is q
question Of what is best for the inter
ests Of the state of which we are
proud to be citizens. In this referen-
dunn we find another proposition which
carries with it an important submitta
!, "a submittal to the people at that time
Of year when there is little likelihood
of the rural communities voting FULLY
upOn it, and we find this significant
provision that tho majority Of this vote
shall determine this question under {
maiority of the votes We know that il
is the intentionAPf Portland and Cum
berland county. if this referendum is
adonted. ami if this particular measure
is voted. to have a canvass of the state
Of Maine | myself. in my own city
. was told by resident of Portland thai
they would carry this referendum ant
that they had Il hundred thousand dol
hrs to snend in the State Of Maine t
enforce it's acceptance by the people
IF it is to be considerable it is of the
gravity that I believe it is, it should
not be adnpted unless a majority of the
voters accept it; and it should be votec
for Mt a general election when the vot-
ers do come out. and when we may
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