Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-11

the phrase used by Hon. Milton L..
Merrill of St. Adams in speaking of
the prevailing sentiment at the hear
ing Wednesday afternoon before the
committee on public grounds and
buildings upon the question of the ex-
tension OF the State House. His phrase
described the condition very aptly for
representative people from all sections
OF the State were present at the Sen
ate chamber, where the hearing was
held, and all We're agreed that thetc
was an imperative need of the enlarge
ment of the State House.
The resolve calling for an appropria-
ton of $4,000 for 1909 and $4,000 for
1910 to be expended either in the en-
largeinent Of the present building, or
the erection of a suitable office build
ing, the same to he expended under
the direction of a commission appoint
ed by the Governor, was read by Rep
resentative Burleigh of Augusta.
Hon. Fred ]. Allen of Sanford began
his remarks By recalling how two years
ago lack of the necessary room about
the state House and lack of hotel ac-
commodations in the city of Augusta
brought about the fight for the removal
OF the state House to Portland. Au-
gusta had kept the faith and bullt the
better hotel accommodations that Snc
promised during that agitation, now 1t
was the duty OF this Legislature To the
STATE cf Maine to provide Tor an adj
diticu t. Tie building either by an
enlargement to the present building or
II new office building.
col. George. d. Bisbce Of Rumford
Falls was not certain whether spe-
i;.l co'nnittee should be appointed 10
have charge of the proposed extension
or whether it could not be quite as
we'll done by the Governor ana Couh-
Gil. Thcre was no question about IN"
need for better accommodations q
the state House. Nearly every day the
LEGISLATURE had been asked to make
appropriate for some hospital OF
other institution, but he believed that
sometimes charity begins at home, ana
he was in favor of at once going 10
work upon the addition to the state
House. He only wondered that 1t was
brought before the committee so late
il; the session. Whatever extension
was built should be sufficient for
long term of years and he was not
certain whether the resolve carried
sufficient money for the purpose or
not. He stated that he was IN 1aNor
of a separate office building.
senator Osgood-Wherc would you
build it?
Col. Bisbee-I have thought the
matter over considerably and l think
in the rear of the present state House
with a massage leading to 1t from the
agricultural building.
Col. Frederick H. Parkhurst OF Ian
cor said that the present state House
building was much smaller than },
should be. He urged that the ADDITION
he made large enough to completely
and adequately provide for the wants
OF the State for years to come. he iii-
pressed upon those present StroilsiN
the need of liberal building appro-
priation, and the necessity OF It's hc-
inc done so as to be available Tor th'
next session of the Legislature. Inc
desire from his section of the state
was unanimous for such building
Senator Percival p. Baxter Of Por.-
land said that two years ago Port'aho
,n,de q desperate effort to secure the
state House. "Portland lost, but S'e
is a good loser and / think that rep
resent the people Of Portland when
saw that we want the State House
made adequate. Other details may De
left with the committee, but L thiilN
thu state should be liberal III this
matter and construct building mat
will last practically for all time.
H. J. l;oogin of Lewiston said there
was rot 2 man in Androscoggln couh-
fho state IA DllGf
enlarged. The only question was
whether it should be an office nuiioihs
ar an addition to the present building.
"Whv not have it all compact uhue'
ore roof" lie queried in closing.
Hon. Milton l.. Merrill Of st. Alban'
in his Opening remarks said that wv"
wears ago there was a great fight as
to whether the state Capitol should
be removed to Portland, or retained a
Augusta. This question having beer
decided by the gods of war. we nov
meet in peace" he continued. 1T GER
tainIy seems like an old-fashioned love
feast for we are all Of one accord Tn
addition should be built and built at
once I understand that the state l.
financially Straitened, but it is the
tr,est economy that when the addition
is made to the State House It shall 81
done in such a way as to provide ade-
quately for the needs OF the state 10
many years"
Hon. Charles S. Hichborn of Angus
ia read letters from Hon. r. f. Dun
ton of Belfast and Hon. F. w. Butte
of Pennington in favor or the State
House extension proposition. Upor
Representative Boyer asking him il
he had considered any plans for thu
proposed State House extension Mr.
Hichborn said that he had gone owe,
the matter quite carefully and haf