Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06

sentiment demands, and that demand
cannot be turned down-that pub
lie sentiment demands each year
you shall do more and more. for
the improvement of our abominable
and dissraceful highways Every
business man-cvery farmer out on
these hills knows that good roads and
improved highways mean more to
Maine than would new steam rail-
roads or the expansion even Of our
splendid electric railroad system.
But it is up to you gentlemen, to say
whether Maine shall have her roads
or whether you will lock the door to
this surplus and say: we will use 1t all,
each year, for ten or twelve years in
building new State House in the
city of Portland.
The University of Maine is knock
ing at the door of this Legislature for
simple justice. No man can read the
Morrill, act and see there in terms the
sacred trust that this state govern
mcnt accepted of the United States and
still further read-ah! no need to
read. 1t is a part Of the imprinted
history of Maine and no man can
learn and know Of the dlsgracefu,
squandering of the moneys that were
received from the Federal Government
out Of which men in Maine became
rich and the Legislature stood by and
saw it done. II there be anything Of
christianity or of justice, now is the
hour for the State OF Maine to be just
to our boys that We're robbed Of their
n I,riey
those boys away, will you. that their
money may be invested in monuments
of stone to adorn the city Of Port
land.
For more than twenty years I can
remember the discussion back in the
Judiciary committee of 1883. 1885 and
1887, when I had the honor to be a
member of it. when the women OF
Maine came then, as they have since
come, knocking every year, asking
that this state put an end to the cry
ing disgrace that rests upon our es-
cutcheon in permitting women to be
herded with the men cf our jails
and prisons. 1t is an outrage upon
decency. We turned the women away
in these years saying we could not af-
ford it. They have since been turned
away, year after year with the an
sWer: we cannot afford it. You can
afford it today with your so called
$4,000 Of surplus revenue. Will you
spend a hundred thousand doin.r..
that the women of Maine should feel
that their kind may be at least re-
spected for their sex. Ought
Christian State to delay them justice
longer? There can be but one an
swer; If YOU delay them, it is because
of these demands of the civic pride of
Portland.
And. Mr.. Chairman, the unfortun-
ate blind of Maine-God pity them.
Their sightless eyes can never enjoy
the architecture upon the hills of Port
land but You at least can stay the hand
that would take their money and in
vest it in monumental beauty that
they could never see, and at least give
them a school where they can be
taught to earn their bread. But
Portland says, No.
Our hospitals in Bangor and Au-
gusta are inefficient. The building
across this river is so unsanitary ina,
when disease enters it runs havoc
through those soulless minds-help-
less and hopeless, soulless and mind
less-God save the State OF Maine
from just punishment il she turns a
deaf ear to their entreaties and in
vests their money in piles of brick
and marble in the city of Portland to
crafty nothing but pride. (Applause)
Along IN the late sos it was one of the
questions and it became my duty in
1889 to fight that question-we began
tie policy Of opening the treasury of
this State to the hospitals of Maine.
FOR about 20 years we had given all
that the Maine General hospital had
ever asked. We had been good to that
grand old institution that had done so
much to succor distress and we began
in 1889 this splendid policy that has
since grown so great. OF pouring out
our money for the hospitals wherever
the people would come up and give
in Biddetord. in Westbrook, in Lewis
ton. in Bath. in Rockland. in Augusta,
in Belfast, in Bangor, in Old Town and
down along the st. Croiy Wherever
the people out of their wealth will give,
Maine has come up generously and
Joined hands with them in order that
the poor-and. Mr.. Chairman. it is the
POOR who earn these taxes that you are
sitting here to distribute, all wealth
comes from their labor-in order that
the poor might receive without money
and without price all that skill and sci
ence could furnish to alleviate human
we have opened up our treas
ury and yet there are more knocking
at your doors. You have but begun;
and every legislator here knows that
there are demands at this hour in adj
dition to the demands of last year Of
more than 100000 to alleviate human
suffering. Will you turn them down
that that money may be invested in
brick and mortar in the city of Port
land?
Take the State prison at Thomaston.
Every gentleman acquainted with pub
lie matters knows that that institu-
ton is a disgrace to Maine and to civ
ilization. Every man knows that there
IS Il demand for the expenditure OF
s1e0. 900 to approach even modernized