Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-15

terms, is a conversation I had with our
present executive, after he had been III
office long enough to know its RESPONSE
bilities. He said: I'VE can all of us have
an agreeable time of it here if we do not
| take ourselves too seriously, but" he
, sa.d-and we saba man who felt he
! had the burden of the State on his Shout
ders or any great part of it, would have
very miserable time and would not be
of any very great service to his constit-
uents," ard that applies to us all.
The position l have steadily sought to
| avoid in all my service here is: In any
way to pass Judgment upon the acts OF
my fellow members-any more than L
should want them to pass Judgment upon
my acts.
There is a limitation to that. Public
officials invite criticism, and we invite it.
and we ourselves criticize them and the
public laws whether lin essc or the laws
that are being made and we can criti-
cize and should criticize every public Of
fetal Of this State Although in making
this reference Mr.. President, | should
say in justice to you that anyone who
knows you would say they cannot ever
expect yo1I to descend from your high
chair to bring yourself within the rang.
of these observations
Now, instifying myself. in speaking on
this subject, simply applying myself to
the principle of it: the principle on which
this order is introduced will win out be-
fore this Legislature. You cannot escape
from it. You cannot stand the tide of
agitation on this and similar questions.
The mileage which we draw was provid-
cd by the first Legislature of the State,
in 1921; and in that time of annual ses-
sions, until about in 1924 / think they
were embodied in the statute law. Then
there were no railroads in the State and
it is perfectly inconccivahIc that provis-
ions for mileage should then have been
made. Tie principle is absolutely right
and defeEc"ablo and will win out ] be-
llcVe further that, asking the consent OF
my follow senator's here, the order. nigh:
be treated with decent respect and sus-
tanned by motion of Il committee of
conference, which motion I believe would
prevail; hu; since the Introduction of that
order. | am glad to say, that no mem
Der OF tho Serate-not even the chairman
OF the judiciary committee. for whose le-
g&l opinions We have great respect-knew
that there was in that order a vital de-
merit. That is to say, the senator from
Aroostopk was good enough to point il
out: but in acknowledging it | want to
go on record-and I speak for this body
when I say-thatgye want to go on record
as believing: That this LEGISLATURE Will
find for this question proper and deccnr
solution which will free us from any sua
IF my ol,1
corporations thai come before us for IA
v"rs-ard even for their lives at our
hands
Tho change may como in various WAYS
We may. IN our wisdom see fit to con
tract with the railway companies for the
transportation Of our members. which
| Will he vastly more sensible idea than
| the contracts in the past for the trans
portHti9n of imaginary soldiers - imac-
mary battleficldS
When franchises for the railroads we're
first granted, transportation for all STATE
officials should have been made and | am
not Mt all eager now to relieve the rail-
road companies OF the tasks which they
have voluntarily incurred
believe the committee on salaries NAV
vet find a way by which the numerous Of
ficial5 of this State can he transported
free-prac tically free-of cost to the State
We ought to have increased our own sal
aries years and years ago and upon my
self and upon every member of the past
Legislatures there rests a responsibility
for which, for my own part, I feel very
! much ashamed
/ move the Senate rcccde and concur
with tho action of the House the order
be Indefinitely postponed
On melton ard seconded it was ordered
that the committee on salaries and fees
be directed to inquire into the cXpedicncy
of Increasing the ray Of members of the
Legislature. and Of placing the members
on an equality with other State officials
! in regard to free passes and mileage.
on motion of Mr. Staples Of Knox the
Senate adjourned.