Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-02

cred l would like to say few words
| in regard to why the agricultural COM
mittee decided and made the report
| which they did. They came before the
committee and submitted the report OF
their treasurer and all the terms In re-
gard to their resources and liabilities.
| They have been accustomed for some
years to have $4,000 year as stipend
from the State. They came this year
and asked for $4,000. The committee
looked over their report very carefully
and felt that while the State was con-
tributing this money to promote the
interest in agriculture, 1t looked by
their report as though the State was
promoting the interest of some OF the
officers more than it was the interest
of agriculture After looking over the
list of officers bills we felt that the
money had not been properly used,
that is, that it was not going into the
channels which the State expected;
and therefore they made the report
which they did. l want to read over
a few of the items which are contained
in this report. l think they were hon
est and made square and straight
| forward report. but this report says
that some 5000 was used by the Of
ficers in the different departments, and
that there were a number OF other
fairs throughout the State that were
paying out half or two-thirds as much
and were doing great and good work
where their officers fees were only
about $500 or $500. The superintend-
ent of grounds has $500, and there
are several different attractions where
&c, in min he
they would promote the interest Of
agriculture. Here is show, $500;
stage attractions, $3.50. and bicycle
| riders 500: pay roll of the superin-
tendent of ticket department 1914; pay
roll of ticket seller SIS; pay roll of
ushers to the grand stand $40; pay roll
of exhibition building $331.95; pay roll
Of police $244. One of the directors
of this fair said that the city of Lew
iston furnished the police free of
charge. Pay roll of judges $3.50, and
the judges salary 1925, salary of the
president $500, salary of the secretary
$3.50, clerk hire for the secretary 800,
making $3.50: salary Of the treasurer
$3.50: salaries of the trustees $500.
Now, we felt that those were pretty
exorbitant salaries. While ] do not
think there was a man on that COM
mittee but what had the interest of
agriculture at heart and felt that they
wanted to promote the interest of agri-
culture, it was a question in their
minds whether this money was going
| where they meant it to 60
They came before us and said. "see
what hole you are putting us into
Perhaps it did. The committee felt that
they We're getting into that hole them
selves, and that they never would get
out unless the State did contribute
more Lar gely to them. The Senate yes
terday adopted the minority report.
There is also the Waterville fair, and
we think that the two fairs should
be treated alike. If you increase the
stipend for this Lewiston fair. then
you should do the same with the Wa
terviIie fair, and that would be right
and proper. They have no legal claim
against the State of Maine, and it is
question whether it is promoting the
interest of agriculture or not. simply
want you to know why we reached the
conclusion that we did. I think that
every member of the committee felt
that agriculture was the foundation of
to promote it, but it is a question
whether they would promote it by con-
tributing so literally to the pockets of
these individuals.
Mr.. WING of Auburn: Mr.. Speaker.
as understand the proposition before
this House, it is this: The action of
the Senate yesterday in adopting the
minority report was to give the Maine
State fair exactly the same amount
of money it has had for the past num-
Der CT years, namely. $500, and it does
not in anyway increase the stipend
which they receive from the State.
Now, the gentleman from Standish has
told YOU many things. You have just
this morning passed without a murmur
resolve in favor of the Waterville
fair. and I am glad you did it because
1 believe that these various fairs in
the State of Maine serve a good and
useful purpose not only to the farm
ers but to the others who go there. The
gentleman would have you believe that
the trustees of the Maine State fair re-
ceived $500 apiece. Such, however, is
not the case 1t is $500 paid to all the
trustees. and he has spoken about the
Maine State fair being in debt. I hap
pen to live in the city of Auburn. which
is a neighbor to the city in which the
Maine State fair is held. and 1 know
that two years ago the Maine State
fair was held during very rainy week.
week during which it rained every
day, Of course they lost money and got
in debt, and they could not help 1t. But
let me tell you. gentlemen, that the
Maine State fair runs clean show;
they have nothing but what any man
can go and look at and be proud Of.
They don't sell their ground rents to
cheap fakirs or gambling establish
ments or for the sale of intoxicating
liquors: it is clean, wholesome agri-
cultural show for all the people of the
State of Maine. and 1 trust the mo-
ton of the gentleman from Augusta
will not prevail and that you will treat
this fair as you have treated it's sister
fair in the city of Waterville.
Mr.. Addition of Leeds: Mr.. Speaker.
would like to say just one word in
regard to this matter. In regard to the
stories Of officers of the Maine State
fair which is held at Lewiston, l think
thev are the Same as thew have been