Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-26
nd pass to be engrossed at the present


idant: l think the senator from Cum
berland, Mr.. Wheeler, has voiced the
sentiment of myself and of all thinking
men in the Senate. This would seem
TO apply to street railroads, and IL SO,
I should certainly oppose it upon CHAR
table grounds. l know our roads IN
BiLdeford carry Il great many people
free, such as the Sisters of Charity,
those heavenly women that go from
place to place en- their errands OF
mercy. Then there are the nurses in
the hospitals. There are also the mem
hers of the Grand Army who use the
road during Decoration day. This IS
the condition with our electric roads
and l suppose it is much the same
everywhere else. Some of these rail-
roads run out into the country where
they have started to build little homes.
while still working in the city, and the
electric road aids them by carrying
tkeir children in and out free. 1t is a
kind act, and it may be an act that
benefits them in extending their in
terasts. Now this act cuts all of these
things OFF and it seems to me that,
whore there is no call for the act, 1t
is il wicked proposition to say the
least.
Then there is the city of Portland.
We like to go there to attend lectures
and the theatre and to get some of the
benefit of their culture; and we make
arrangements with electric road or q
steam road for that purpose. and IL
tie city Of Portland We're thus to be
cut off from us, it would he q bad
thing for us. Then, all along the line
there are scholars attending the schools
in Portland and l repeat that Portland
is a city of culture, and we want to
send our scholars there to school; and
they take them there for a certain rate
which they could not do under this
bill. That rate applies only to those
scholars. ] will say that the Boston
e Maine Railroad has been very kind
about that Their there is our city mis-
sionary who passes over the roads
both the electric and the two divisions
of the Boston & Maine, in his attend
ance upon meetings. 1t would cut him
off. And so | might go on. And | sup
pose there will occur to all of you other
cases.
Above all, Mr.. President, there is no
call for it. Nobody asks for it. No
body wants it in the State of Maine. II
there was a call for it, it would be quite
different. The State OF Maine has got
along Well and the railroads nave been
fair in the transaction of their bust
ness and we cannot find any fault with
them and | understand there is no
fault found, except by my friend, the
A Mn
ken. They nave done what they
thought was for the best interests of
the people, because from the people
they derive their earnings; and if they
feel Il desire to give q pass to anyone,
why should they not be permitted to
do SO. Do You think that because q
man mas pass in his pocket that That
will influence him to vote against the
public good. Suppose you have a pass
this afternoon to go to Portland, how
much would it influence your vote?
How ridiculous that talk is and how
ridiculous it is to cut off every avenue
which we have for charitable work,
school work and for the social life
we are leading.
Mr.. WHEELER of Cumberland Mr..
President: To simplify the question
before the Senate. move that this bill
b. indefinitely postponed. and 1 under
stand that motion takes precedence to
the one now pending.
The question being put upon the mo-
ton to indefinitely postpone, the yeas
and nays We're called for and ordered;
and the vote being had resulted as
follows: Those voting yea We're:
Messrs. Colcord. Donigan, Eaton, En-
cry, Gowell, Hamilton, HILL Howes,
Kellogg, Knowlton, Looney, Macomber,
Minctt. Mullen, Osgood, Reynolds,
Smith, Staples, Walker Wheeler, Wy
man CD, Those voting nay We're:
MesSrs. Baxter, Roynton, Hastings,
Irving, Lowe, NIillken, Shaw, Their
ault, Warren (9).
SO the motion prevailed, and the bill
was Indefinitely postponed.
On motion by Mr.. Milliken of Aroos-
took, Senate Document No. 81, Re
solve in favor of Ray p Eaton" was
taken from the table.
Mr.. MILLIKEN of Aroostook: Mr..
Presidents | move that this resolve be
indefinitely postponed; and in support
of that motion will say just few
words. In the first place | wish to
read the resolve:
Resolve in favor OF Ray p. Eaton.
Resolved, That the sum of $2S09.90
be paid to Ray p. Eaton, being the
amount of his official fees, including
disbursements for clerk hire, in excess
of his salary and allowance as register
of deeds for the county of Cumberland
from the first day OF July, 1905, to the
31st day of December, 1906.
The facts in this case are these:
The Legislature of 1905 passed a set
OF general laws, removing or abolish
ing the system of fees in certain Of
fees throughout the State, especially
certain county offices, and placing
those officials upon a fixed salary.
Ray p. Eaton had been elected in 1902
as register of deeds for Cumberland
county, the term Of office being for
four years, and the custom being that
no incumbent should be reelected
On the first day of July, 1905, the
date when this new law went into eff
feet. Ray p Eaton was in office in
Cumberland county, having served two
and one-half years and having a year
and a half still to serve. Under the
old system of Cumberland county, the
revenue Of the office, if am correctly