Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-30
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued From Page Seven)

stated 1 have sat here and seen in the
chairs of members of this House the
| trustees of the various State institu-
| tions, officials of State institutions sit
ting in the chairs of members Of the
House and directing them. and aiding
and abetting the legislation in which
they are specially interested: and it
| seems to me that it is in poor taste and
does not compare with the work which
| my brothers the gentleman from Var
| mouth and the gentleman from Water
| Vile have described: and l sincerely
| trust that we the members of this House
| will have the interests of the State and
| the institutions at heart and shall de-
| eide that these trustees shall appear
! here under the same restrictions us the
other men who are here in that capacity,
| and I move the adoption of the amend
| ment.
| MI. DAVIES: Mr.. Speaker. l sincerely
| hope that the amendment offered in such
| good faith by the gentleman from Au-
burn, MI. Wing, will not prevail. The
| bill does not aim to reach the trustees of
| our various State institutions. If the
people who are appointed the trustees of
| the various State institutions We're not
perfectly qualified for the duties which
| they are to perform we would then take
| it for granted that the executive depart
ment would not appoint them. They are
supposed to be men of great wisdom in
| the particular lines in which they are
| concerned. and they are supposed also, r
| think. to be men who would not care to
|
dignity of the positions which they hold ;
and l think that this House can afford
| to take. and should take the first step
| in the matter of regulating the lobby
| without pretending or attempting to reg
ulate the work of the trustees of these
| various State institutions; and | sincerely
| hope that the amendment will not be
adopted.
| Mr.. MONTGOMERY of Camden: Mr.
| Speaker, l would like to ask the gentle
| man from Auburn, Mr. Wing, if he does
not think the bill would include the class
| Of people that he has mentioned in his
| amendment?
| Mr. WING: | don't think it does, and
it is for that reason that | have offered
! the amendment. because | have witnessed
| have offered that amendment to cover;
and. SO far as l know, / can see no dis
| tinction between the trustees of our State
| institutions and the attorneys for the
| holders of wild lands the railroads or the
State Grange.
| Mr.. DUNN of Brewer: Mr.. Speaker l
had no intention to make any remarks
upon this subject. and yet | will say with
regard to this bill that it strikes me that
| IL Is Il move in the right direction. but
| the amendment which has been offered by
| the gentleman from Auburn tMr. Wing)
sort of touched me a little and made me
| think that perhaps that might be step
IN the wrong direction, if it were to be
adopted by this House, and for this rea-
| son: Once in a while an accident happens
and a man gets elected to repr resent his
| people in this Legislature. and it is by
accident. | say. He may be an ignorant
man; he may be interested in some of the
| state institutions or in something of inn
portance which may come before the Leg
| islature, and that interest may be a deep
one, and perhaps it may be Just on ac-
| count Of that interest that he has been
| so elected by his people. and so far as 7
| L
man assuming the position if he is so
| elected: but not being very we'll versed in
| lhe rules Of the House, I don't know as
| Il Is any very great error or harm TO have
| a man Of intelligence whom the State has
| honored and entrusted him with the care
% some of its institutions-I cannot see
the harm of having such man sit beside
a member of this House and instruct him
| in the way in which he may wish in or
der to put whatever measure may come
| before the House to proper solution
and 1 sincerely hope that the amendment
will not be accepted.
Mr.. HERSEY of Houlton; Mr..
Speaker. it seems to me that it would
not be In good taste for a Legislature
| OF the State of Maine to place in the
| lobby their officials who are not paid
FOR lobbying. The trustees OF the State
| institutions are the officers of the
| state. just the same as the members
| OF this House and the members of he
| Senate are officers Of the State for the
| time being. doing the State business
and engaged in the business of the
State. They may have salary just
the same as the members Of this
House have compensation. but that
| salary would never be diminished or
increased by anything which they may
| do in looking after the duties connect
ed with their work. | apprehend that
the trustees of our State institutions
may come to this Legislature and that
they are better qualified to give us i'll
formation in regard to the details con-
nected with that institution and what