Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-13

building of the same size as this, ac-
cording to the plans and specifications
which have been shown, a fire. proof
Office building, for $350,000, I will vote
for it. Another thing: 1 object to
appointing a commission to look after
this building, before it has been voted
by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives. This commission has beer
lobbying, / understand through the
capitol; and they have suggested il
would be appointed, and they are try
ing to get the capitol enlarged; apd
object to that also. We paid out about
$4,000 for a commission to investi-
gate and find out what taxation there
would be, and report to this Legisla-
ture and it Is now within two weeks
of adjournment. and we cannot find
where one of these things recommend
ed by this commission has been passed
by this Legislature; and I would like
to know where the money to enlarge
this capitol is coming from. 1t has
been stated by one of the leaders OF
the House that member of the ju-
dietary committee said that one of the
Bangor lobbyists had said that MOTH
ing could pass this Legislature with
out his consent; and / think it is a
pretty queer predicament, if a Bangor
lobbyist should say that nothing could
pass the Legislature without his con-
sent. I wonder what he says in regard
to this Capitol extension. 1t was ask
co of a member. the other day how he
was going to vote on a certain meas
,,ra Il l,a 10
rot tell, but I will ask the chairman
Of the Republican State Committee
when he returns from Washington and
/ will tell you definitely within a few
days. I object to these things, as a
citizen of Maine; and 1 object to this
appropriation, and my constituents DO,
by letters 1 have received.
The pending question being upon
the adoption of Senate Amendment A
to House Doc. 2iS, the yeas and nays
were called for.
Mr.. HAMILTON of York: Mr.. Pres
idert. l do not propose to detain the
Senate but few moments upon this
matter. 1t has been, for years and
years a question of the location Of this
Capitol, whether it should be moved
that question has been agitating the
people of the State until this year
When we came here this year it was
conceded all around in sort Of love
feast, that hereafter this Capitol was
to remain at Augusta forever and
ever; and there was to be nothing ever
to cause it to be removed, or anyone
to claim that it should be removed.
Now, that being the fact that the
Capitol was to remain here. and that
here we We're to meet, and here our
children's children We're to meet for
legislative purposes, it seemed to me
to be wise that when we started TO
build building. that we should build
wisely as our forefathers did, when
they built this building. They built it
SO that it has stood until today. 1t
stands WELL 1t has been pride to
the whole State of Maine, and to us all.
They built it too when they had only
SO, 900, 900 of tangible property in the
State to be taxed. They built it when
they had no railroads, when we had
no banking system. They built it be-
cause they thought we should all need
it. They had courage, and they built
it. Now, today. we have 400.000,000 and
a little over of taxable property, with
our railroads and franchises we have
eight hundred millions of taxable
property We have rs banks with as
sets of a large amount, think of
about SIS. 100000, and savings banks
with assets of about ninety-two mil
lions; and l might go on and say what
else have we, with our railroads and
teiegraphs and telephones and our in
dnstries of the State of Maine. con-
tributlng to its wealth and it's stand
ing. Yet we shrink here from under
taking to build an addition to this cap
itcl which shall last for many years,
because forsooth. there is $3.50, 600 at
stake. Let US have the same courage
that our fathers had. Let us see what
is needed in the future You or may
be never viii reap the benefit from it
not g bit; but it is the young men with
ambition and with hope. 1t is the flu
ture generations, with ambition and
hope that will meet here and receive
the benefit of it. Let us vote for an
appropriation-or Nottingham will
place this building in position to last
as long, and will be as useful, and fur
nish room equal to what this building
was to our forefathers, years and
years ago. That is plain proposition.
Why, this building all around this
building hundred thousand dollars.
as has been stated, was money thrown
away. because it relieved temporary
needs. You want to build a building
that will relieve the temporary wants.
but you want also to build build
ing that will relieve the wants of the
people so or a hundred years from
now That is business as my friend
says here. from Aroostook county
That is "a business propo-
sition 1t is not a short-sighted propo-
sition. When we came here and this mat
ter was discussed they looked over the
plans. and the people from Cumberland
county, and York and Aroostook, and
all over the State, and said: Let us build
this, and be as wise as our forefathers
were when they built this building. and
not put on little piece here and little
piece there, with no eye for the future.
AS my friend, Senator Warren, says, for
whose judgment 1 have the most admira-
ton. and whose ability nobody questions
he says himself that this will last only
temporarily. Let us take the glory of