Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-04

question to be raised again in our life
time, of it's removal from tine city of
Augusta make that remark because
one Of the senators from Kennebec said
to me, and sincerely 1 have no doubt
when l asked him il this resolve might
be postponed to some future time, that
| if 1t was postponed there would be an
other effort to remove the capitol from,
tile city of Augusta. have no such
apprehensions.
We have had a fight over that mat
ter and we are all content to let the
apitol remain in the beautiful city Of
Augusta and never again undertake its
removal There are too many interests
connected with the State House in'Au-
gusta; and we have in this State at
this time great requests for money
We have very many beneficiary insti-
tutions that are demanding our sup
port; and in looking over all these
beneficiary appropriations I cannot see
one that could be lessened and the poor
unfor Inmates of our State receive that
aid they ought to have. Hence l be-
lieve that the appropriations of the
committees have been as economical
as the dire wants of our institutions
have demanded at their hands. we
have the feeble minded institution up
on the table here now and it is one or
those institutions whose appropriation
YOU cannot cut down. 1t is appealing
to us from every town in the state,
and humanity demands that that lnst-
tuition be placed upon its feet as soon
as nossible, to relieve the towns and
to care for the unfortunate. My
friends, if YOU could see what good is
being done by such institutions IN TINS
country you would never say a Woro
against an appropriation for such an
institution.
do not believe that there is any
great demand today for the enlarge
ment of the State House. During the
legislative session, of course, there IS
some inconvenience to the regular
heads of departments; but when the
Legislature has adjourned. then there
is plenty of room for the State to
transact its business. In the future 1t
NAV be needed 1 heard a proposition
the other dav that is very feasible in
regard to the state capitol. I under
e+ood that the Blaine mansion was for
sale. 7 thought to myself that it would
be a fitting thing for the state 70 puy
that institution and convert it into
library If the library could be removed
from the State House into an oflce
building contiguous to the State House,
then we should have plenty OF room
for. the next 20 years at the OLD State
House. We have got along 70 years ana
we can get along 20 more rather IMAM
to tax people at this time to bulld
state House Our money can De uSeu
for a better purpose; and when we
oct upon our feet financially, then !
Will he willing to building state
Horse commensurate with the wants
of the people of Maine. Until then, i
cannot saw to the taxpayers of this
state that r believe it is good economy
at this time to spend s350,000 of the
naonle,s money when it is not neces-
s;tv No man can say that there is a
necessity for us to repair the State
House this year. Let US get those III
stitutions that are begging OF us 10 ald
them upon their feet and then 1 will
be willing to pay my proportion OF TAX
to repair the State House. 1t IS not
that I am penurious in this matter, put
am aware that we are approprlatihs
large sums of money, and l am aware
that the taxpayers are asking us 10 pe
economical. / am aware the purde1i ol
taxation does not rest equally upon 'hc
shoulders of the people. l am aware
that, while we have appropriated large
sums of money, we have not done one
thing during this whole session to tax
property so as to get any more reVe-
n,fe for the state of Maine. A PROPOSE
ton will come up before this Senate
before long upon that question of tax
alton. but I am not willing until we
can have equal taxation upon all prop
ertv in the state of Maine that they
should bear that additional burden.
do not feel that it is my duty to STAND
here unless it is for q question OF ne
cessity. as it is for our humane lnStl-
tuticns. to spend money to o,atify any
section OF the state of Mae. We &c
not need it. Does anybody doubt for
moment that when you cone here two
wears from now the business can be
transacted lust as we'll as it is ncw
ard that YOU can get along without
any trouble whatever? Is there any ne
cessitv for it. my friends? o, no,
think not. In the near future a time
NAV come when it will be. but whether
1t Sn1ll De dIl OIice DtiiuiAiS W -
tension of the old State House l 90
not know. When that time comes, then
the people will join together and will
inslv support it; but as the Governor
of this State has said, we should cut
down our expenses. We cannot cut
them down upon our beneficiaries. but
we can cut them down upon the build
ing of the State House, because there
is no exigency existing for it. Let us
b. lust to our constituents, just to the
taypavers of the state, and when the
time comes we will all vote together.
7 am thankful there is no politics IN
this at all 1t is simply what is for the
hest. 7 want to do what is for the best.
and believe that this matter should
Law over until some future time wheE
we shall be better prepared and the
people are better prepared to vote for
it: and I move that the resolve be in
definitely postponed.
Mr.. SHAW of Kennebec: Mr.. President
and Senator's: The Governor, at the be-
ginning of this session of the Legislature
in lis annual address said:
II hardly need call to your attention the
crowded condition of public departments
IL. L. sc q