Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-27

that our bill hurt l asked the gentle
man what town. He said he heard it
was Lincolnville. l have figured out
think that some gentlemen had the idea
that | was trying to mislead them. I
would like to ask what motive I could
have to try to mislead in regard to a
tax matter? l don't get any money out
of this thing. My children want the
school money spent where the children
are. Take Lincolnville. Under the
Grange bill it would pay an additional
tax of $155, it would receive back $30S,
it would make a net gain of $153. Tn
der the committee bill Linconville
would pay in $465, it would take out
$64S. making a net gain of $1S3, or $50
more than the amendment would give it.
Now it was suggested by the gentleman
from oxford county that the amend
ment ought to be mill instead of half
mill. Don't deceive yourselves. If an
amendment is offered here of a mill to
be distributed according to school popu-
lation, it would never go through the
Senate. :
l said in good faith that this bill was
the unanimous report of the committee.
After a somewhat protracted session
when l had yielded my personal views
for l frankly say that this bill does not
entirely represent my personal views
when the senators who We're on the COM
mittee had yielded their personal views,
when each one had sought to come to the
others as nearly as he could, we met to-
sether on a Thursday night and about
midnight nine of the committee agreed
upon proposition. One of the committee
requested until Sunday to look it over.
We met again on Tuesday and after an
other long sitting, after careful argu-
ment we agreed upon this bill. The bill
came into this House. The deliberations
of this House We're delayed two days be-
cause after Tuesdays consideration one
member of the committee recalled the
bill and asked us to meet and consider it
again. We met again and then the COM
mittee, after reviewing the objections
which had been raised outside the COM
mittee, the committee united again. I
am very free to say to YOU that my
friend. the gentleman from Bingham (Mr.
COLBY united with us with great reuct-
ance He said then, as he says now, that
and that he united because there was
nothing else for us to do. 1t did not
seem to me today that the position which
he took on the floor of the House was
very different from that which he took
i'm the committee. l felt it was then more
reluctance and modesty on his part that
he did not file a minority report There
was no other member of that committee
who intmated in any way when we unit
ed on the bill that he would not stand for
it on the floor of this House. We We're
requested to divide our measure into two
bills; that matter was brought before
the committee. 1t was said then that if
we did that certain men on the committee
would push their bill through and then
try to beat ours; and to obviate any such
piece of treachery, after long and careful
argument, the gentleman from Leeds and
the gentleman from Pressure Isle and
each and every one of us agreed to stand
by and support that bill. ] do not know
what arguments or what reasons have
moved men to do any different today |
desire to mpusn no mans motives, but
say this, that if | ever sit in n committee
again and there are upon it men whom I
the room and stay three days and keep
the word they give me, shall never unite
on a compromise measure but shall bring
in bill that suits myself regardless of
anybody else. (Applause)
Some of us. 1 cannot quote the whole
committee, but seven OF lis at least, have
united on measure which we believe to
be of some practical use to the people of
the State of Maine. You may defeat it,
but plans are made in such
way that if it defeated in this House.
that is the END of it. AS a practical
legislative proposition you are either
gong to get this bill or nothing. 1t
has been said that I referred to this
amendment wrongfully in calling it the
Grange amendment. | was misled in
dong that because when the amend
ment was offered leading member
or the Grange Legislative committee, q
gentleman whom the state of Maine
PAD over $1,000 last year to investigate
tie tax laws OF this State, sat in the
seat with the gentleman from Bremen
ana prompted him when his amend
ment came in. 1t may not have been
q Grange measure; it may be what /
truly believe it to be- a wild land meas
urc prompted by a man in the interests
OF wild land owners. Applause).
Mr.. COLBY. Mr.. Speaker: [ wish
to say that | appreciate the fair treat
mont OF the gentleman from Water
vile and | appeal to the committee if
am taking any very great back
tracks. | said | never believed in this
measure. | will say now that if I was
on the committee again and the thing
came up again. | should surely put in
minority report. | might have duck
ed. l might have gone home it did not
seem night to me to do that. l think
that every man should vote one way
or the other. That is why | havel
taken the position | have
Mr.. PATTANGALL: Mr.. Speaker.
| suppose I stated to the House as
clearly as ! could that I saw very little
difference between the position of the
gentleman from Bingham now and the |
position he took before the COMMITTEES. |
and that he asSented to this report
with great reluctance.
Mr.. ADDITION: Mr.. Speaker and
gentlemen. just one word more to say |
that | am always ready to be censurcd |
for what | am to be blamed for. and |
l am free to admit that was to blame |