The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-01-31

An attempt Is DelnR mdue Wy u lew
ambitious and selfish politicians to
stampede the Legislature into the hasty
action of the removal of the State CAPT.
tai to Portland. We cannot believe
there is the possibility of success, for We
have confidence in the good judgment
and common sense of the members OF
the Legislature et ba9A political parties.
II is not political question, but clear
business proposition.
There is no demand for this from the
people. Not single petition has been
presented 10 the Legislature asking for
the removal; not u line has appeared in
State newspaper favoring removal,
or giving a single reason for the pro
posed change.
The monsrous proposition is to spend
from eight TO ten millions OF the peoples
money without any body asking for 1t.
Would the people who sent their Iegis-
lators here TO represent them, tolerate
such thing for a minute? This propo-
sition was nude few years ago, not
being based on single petition, and it
utterly failed.
We have a beautiful and convenient
capitol, occupying pleasing and com
manding prospect, overlooking the val
ley of the picturesque Kennebec. Since
the costly addition was made the edifice
ia comparatively new and modern. 1t
stands on lot Az rods wide and 100 rods
long, containing "a acres. This was do
mated by the city of Augusta, always to
be used for the purposes indicated. In
the extended controversy In those early
DAYS 10 regard to location, the delega-
ton from Cumberland county finally
voted in favor of Augusta, one of the
reasons being that II would not do to
locate near the sea coast, exposing the
building with its valuable contests in
case OF foreign wal to the shot and
shell OF the enemy. The same reason
holds now.
There is 10 the present edifice ample
room for the transaction of business by
all the State departments, little crowd
ed for three months once in every two
years, but this could be avoided by the
construction or lease of an inexpensive
building for storage, as the Governor
suggested In his message.
The present capital is at the centre Of
population, easily accessible from every
part OF the State. And that certainly is
big argument why 1t should remain In
Augueta. While the census shows that
the most rapid growth OF population is
in the eastern part of the State, what
sense Is there 10 removing the capital TO
the western extreme, farther away from
the masses of the people? There has
been some talk about the price of board
and hotel accommodations. These are
always more expensive 10 large city
than 10 small one. But We notice that
legislators have more and more drifted
away from hotel life, and are either
keeping house." or living at boarding
houses. No city In Maine has more
ample supply of these than Augusta,
and we find the most complete satisfac.
ton expressed on every hand at the &C.
commodstions and prices. Legislators
are we'll housed and fed ct very reason
able rates, when the high price of pro-
visions is taken into account.
While we have already given ample
reasons for opposing removal, another
remains which Is considered by many as
the vital one-.he cost. 1t would open
the gates to graft, graft, graft, of the
most wholesale character. No mean
State House does Portland want. To
purchase "a acres of land in desirable
location there and erect thereon build
ing no better than what we now have,
with the present high price of labor and
material, would cost at least o. 900. 900,
Portland's promised gift Of $500, 900
would be sunk 10 the lot and the fOHnda-
ton. But would 1t stop thereI Not much.
1t would reach the great sum of ten or
fifteen millions before the work was
completed. Look at the experience Of
two States that have recently passed
through the trying ordeal of building
State capitols. The State OF Pennsylva-
MIA appropriated "a 900, 900 for the con-
struction of a capitol IL cost, without
furniture, Gil. 1886 s55. The Lord only
knows how much the furniture cost.
The original appropriation for the new
State House at Albany, n. Y, was $12,-
100000. 1t has already cost $50, 600, 900,
and portions of the foundation are set
thing, and must be rebuilt.
In last falls campaign the platforms
Of both political parties bristled with
pledges Of economy in public expendi-
lures. The Legislature has passed just
appropriation bill carrying more than
million dollars and another bill will follow
later. Worthy obi .cts have been walt
ing for years with outstretched hands,
asking for help. VIII the Legislature,
without petition from single voter,
plunge into this extravagance the end
of which no one can foresee? No, sir!