Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-18
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Page Ffve.)

tues which enable, sanctify and bless
humanity have entirely disappeared,
If indeed they were existed. All ideals
in his mind-this model officer of
model institution-have disappeared
and have given way to low, degraded.
mercenary materiaiism. Everything is
measured by the mercenary yard-stick
Of gain. The circumference of mans
intellect is bounded by the periphery
of the almighty dollar.
Gentlemen of the Senate, if this bill
becomes a law no institution which is
economically, honestly and efficiently
conducted need have any fear of it.
1t is true the light of publicity will
be poured upon every institution Of
the State, both private and public, as
1t ought to be; but there will be no
partially Every institution will De
treated justly and fairly, with the sole
end in view. the highest interests OF
the State. I cannot explain can
not understand why it is that certain
fnen connected with institutions Of this
State, or who have been, are go bitter
Nv and violently, and l almost would
gay-cruelly opposed to the provisions
u.
they are afraid of the light being pour
ed upon those Neutrality-suspicious.
whited sepulchres in which some men
say corruption has long reveled and
rioted? If this is not the reason. what
is the reason why the officers of these
institutions in the lobby here, before
the committees, 50 violently oppose
the passage Of this bill?
Perhaps during the discussion we
shall learn why they oppose this blu;
but | desire to call their attention, Ii
they are like me and seldom read the
Holy Writ, to the Sd Chapter of ST
John. 10th verse: For everyone that
doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh TO the light lest his deeds
should be reproved."
This question of charity and correc-
tional work is still in its infancy. AS
Maculey so wisely said: The evils
are old, but the intelligence which dis
Germs and the humanity that remedies
them are new" The more the lamp
of human charity and Christian charity
is lighted, the brighter is it's flame
and the wider is the circle of light
which separates it from darkness.
II this bill becomes a law, in my
Judgment, under it's beneficient, hu-
name and Christian influences, there
will be a great future for the state of
Maine along the lines of this Christian,
beautiful humane work, when the
State of Maine like the angel of the
resurrection will clothe herself with
a white robe and gaze into a scpulchre
that is void.
Mr.. SHAW of Kennebec: Mr.. Presl-
dent, it is not my purpose to weary
this Senate at this time, with any ex-
tended remarks upon this matter.
have listened with a great deal of In
teresr to the learned and somewhat
extended remarks of the senator from
Cumberland. l have also listened with
a. great deal of interest to the remarks
of the senator from York: and notWlth-
standing the high personal respect and
regard which l have for each member
of the commission appointed to investl-
gate this matter, l still am opposed to
this bill for several reasons.
First, 1 am opposed to the creation
of any commission, except the utmost
necessity calls for it. We stand be
tween the taxpayers of this State and
the legislation here epacted; and l be-
lieye we should render a true account
to them I believe this is largely
theoretical measure. | believe the con-
ditions in this state are different from
those of many of the states of this
Union. Our population is meagre. 1t Is
sparsely settled, and every institution
that receives state aid stands out IN
the llmelight | believe our state IN
stitutions are conducted upon the best
the senator from York, I believe the
men who are the trustees of these in
stitutions are men of affairs. l believe
they are conducted economically ana
well, and I do not believe that We need
any board of correction over those
men. II we are going to have this com
mission. / would say: Do away with
the trustees of those institutions. ] dc
not believe in putting one set of OIL
GERS over another. We have had that
tried and we know it's failure. AS for
the so-called charitable institutions OF
hospitals of this state. they come here
ard present their claims to 10 men Sc
lected as a finance committeeman. !
believe, of as much standing as any
man or any committee in this Legisla-
ture They present their claim. Tese
gentlemen hear the facts as they are
outlined, and they render their deci-
sion accordingly. We see the peopl,
of Augusta rs they come here to pre-
sent their claims as to the hospital
We see the people that come down
from Androscoggin county to present
their claims for their charitable insti-
tutions We see the people of Cumber-
land county that come here to present
their claims for their institutions. Ger
tlemen of the Senate. what Would YOU
say of those people? Would you not
saw that they were the best people
there are in the state of Maine You
saw the character of those people; and
1 say that when you give those people
money to spend in their home cities
they will see to it that it is expended