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

ShAouy with WHICH you nave nel0 on to
the public funds. There is no surplus
revenue in Maine as long as there Is a
child to be educated within her bor-
dcrs. (Applause.)
You have endless demands upon
your consciences. Benevolence and
philanthropy stand about you with
outstretched hand. Charity. good
morals and christianity cry out
against a policy that win rob the State
of the power to make men better, to
uplift the lowly and to do the work OF
God on earth. Surplus? Gentlemen.
there is no surplus. Demands upon
your sense OF duty exceed a million a
year of new expenditure. 1t is dis
tressing to know whom to refuse.
Dare YOU be false to the voice of God.
But il you say that in some Of these
things 1 am exuberantly rhetorical. IL
you say am mapping out policy too
generous and too liberal, let me remind
you that your party, Mr.. Chairman. OF
all parties i'll the State Of Maine has
for 20 years been criticizing the rate
of State taxation. Let me remind some
OF you Republicans with whom have
set in State conventions. that we have
drawn many a platitude in our plat
forms where we have promised the peo-
pie Of this State reduction Of the d.
rect State tax whenever the hour
should come when we could afford it;
and when you talk about surplus rev.
enues of 100000 a year then you ad-
init that the hour has come when at
least a mill should be stricken of from
your State tax Did your platform mean
anything, Mr.. Chairman. when you
said it, And you, Mr.. House Chair
man. were you honest in your State
convention when you said 1t, or moi?
You promised when the hour came that
It would be done; and IL 1t be true that
you have surplus revenue that
troubles you, now is the hour of your
well-dcing. (Arplause.)
What will you do. Mr. Chairman?
This is not a question of Republican,
ism or Democracy. You are rich in your
promises when you are out Of power.
We are rich in our promises when we
want power. There isn't much differ
ence between Republican and Dem
ocrat when you scratch the backs Of
both before election day. Uaughter.)
When you adjourn what is to be your
policy? Talk about your surplus rev.
enues. talk about your 100000 when
here is million dollars knocking at
your door for charity. for good roads.
for hospitals, for new institutions. for
right. for justice. for Christianity. be-
nevolence and philanthropy and for all
that makes this State worth living in.
If the surplus revenue troubles you,
give these long suffering people upon
the hills a little relief from the direct
State tax. 1t means something to those
men out on the farms to earn these
taxes. They don't clip off coupons to
meet their tax bills.
l don't want to be too personal to
the city of Portland, and l don't know
what the position Of my city is before
these committees, but on some Of these
economic questions I have been argyll
ing l have a faint suspicion that Port
haps Augusta, have been trying to
trig the way Of legislation which
seeks to secure the proper apportion-
ment Of burdens between the cities and
towns to right the great wrong which
has been going on in Maine ever since We
were State. Of making the towns pay
their undue share. and in addition to
that burden which you are assuming be-
fore these other committees of blocking
legislation. you want to reach into the
little wealth they have and take one
dollar out Of every hundred to spend in
an unnecessary and wasteful State
House Dare you do It?
One part of my argument I want to
address largely to my friend General
Mattocks. and I trust If do not make
my positions plain that he will interrupt
me. and I give him free permission to
do so; because to me. Mr. Chairman. and
/ see there are three lawyers upon this
committee-to my mind there Is under
meath this discussion a question not yet
discussed in public print or in any Of
these hearings that o ught to be the first
the city of Portland, even with an enab-
ling act from the Legislature. the power
under the constitution of Maine to do
nate in any form whatever. by bond, tax.
gift or otherwise. $4,000 to the State of
Maine for the purpose OF a State Capitol?
I have taken some pains. Mr. Chairman.
approaching the full responsibility Of
what it means. to study 1t. ! hope that
at my age, and after the 30 long years
have spent in the court of Maine. I APP
preciate the responsibility of asserting
at any time or in any place. in my ONCE
or in public, legal opinion: and charg
cd with that responsibility and appreciat-
ing it. l hope. I crave the attention OF
this committee If I argue that question.
for that Is what We seem to have reach
ed. The question Is not whether Port
lands bride Is to be accepted. ] submit
there is a deeper question than that Is
1t a bride. and if a bribe Is it payable In
counterfeit money? In 1879 the supreme
court OF the United States. the greatest
court in Christendom.. said this: "It is
degrading to state and reflects no hon.
or upon 1t to accept a donation from 4
particular locality to secure the location
of a state institution" That opinion was
concurred in by Nathan Clifford. Port
lands greatest jurist; and today his
grandson, himself a learned lawyer
comes to this committee with propo-
sition which his great ancestor Joined
with the rest OF the court in saying was
degrading to q state and without honor
to the city that makes 1t.
It's dignified Spectacle-thiS auc-