Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-22
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Page FourD

tiVeS was the result Of the first direct
suggestion from the administration to
this legislature. so far as | am aware,
in regard to the matter Of appropria-
tions.
There was during the campaign, a
great deal of criticism of the last Leg
iSlature; there has been great deal
said about the condition in which this
Legislature has found the treasury a
great deal has been said about the
necessity of adopting new methods and
hotter business methods in the affairs
Of the State, and about the necessity
Of economy. | have always been ready
To agree and am ready Ia agrc" with
any method or system which seems to
me 70 make for the better management
oC the States affairs ! was for it in
each Of the last three sessions whore
l have been Il member, ana | have been
for il here. I came t0-thiS session, and
! am sure | speak for the minority
members when | say it, prepared to
cooperate, regardless Of party lines.
towards anything To improve the
States affairs and bring it down more
nearly to Il business basis. We have
improved matters in that line in each
session of which ! have been Il menu
hor, ana hoped that further improve
ments would be mad" at this session.
| looked forward with Il great deal
a. interest to the inaugural address of
the Governor for suggestions that
would bc made along that line. ! re-
tr.t t. say that So far rs Sp-ciii ROC
concentrations that We're made, | was
disappointed. The best thing about the
address from that point Of view was
tn" following promise which NJ made:
Tn" line of dcmarcation," he said
"hntW.en til" legislative and executive
branches oil our state government il
clearly drawn. Neither you nor will
seek To ovcrStcp it. THIS explicit man
date Of the constitution. however. de-
linz Il ColnlnOn ground upon which Ne
may properly meet, and shall not tie
unInindful Of tn" obligation which it
places upon me nor fed that | have
discharged ii when We part today. !
shall from time To time furnish YOU
Information concerning In" condition
OF the Stat" ard shall suggest To y1i,
%hcn"t'r IL appears necessary To dc
80. such legislation rs | deem wise
and cxpedient. With that course, of
conduct in mind ii j. possible t. omit
in this adore; many matters # d.
tail and 10 sp"3k l." y3a in NOR" GEM
cral terms than might be- thought adj
Nisabl" We're This IL b" our last con-
Ference
! welcomed thar uggestion when made
in the Governors address, ,nd have "v-
pected through this son that recon-
mendations would BE- madr. especially along
the line Of business improvements in the
management Of the State departments. or
daLt
No such message has como 10 the Legs
l"ture so lar "a an aware. and no such
message, in any public way came TO my
body that known Of until the caucus was
held of The Democratic members OF The
House last week. At which / am informed
tina Governor appeared and for The first
line made direct suggestion in regard to
economy and In regard 10 certain specific
economic. and that suggestion was. II
an correctly Informed, that these pauper
claims be referred TO the next Legislature
on the ground that the financial condition
nj the State forbids their payment b. this
Legislature.
In other words. the recommendations
which W" were promised. finally came not
10 the legislature but 10 a caucus Of a
political party. and that is tha, the State
OF Maine should eooaomize by the simple
process OF postpouing payment on its Just
pilis. do not want 10 say what | think
or that policy. because am AFRAID | should
say too much, and | want 10 be fair and
Keep we'll within the proper limits of de-
bate in This discussion.
There arc only two objections I wish to
urge TO that theory. The FIRST is that in
my judgment there is no truth in the state
ment that the condition of the State i,
Such that We cannot afford TO paw these
"iis now. especially these pauper claims.
The Senator from Lincoln has said that
thr prospective revenue is $1,000, 600 and
Nat the prospective ndilures a. re-
tuahed 10 the committee will be 81 6u0 uoa
W course we all understand that this rev
ehue is subject TO increase in the various
Zines proposed by the committee on taxa
lion. we also understand that these pro
poSed expenditures in regard TO matters
reported 10 the committee, and those were
All returned by the various committees be-
fo:" whom these resolves were heard and
II does not mean that this amount OF Sd
b"o.oooo had all been finally passed bv
we Legislature. here has been nothing
YET 10 show me that the state is in such
CONDITION that ii cannot pay these pauper
FiaiihS THIS session, or that IL cannot pay
:H the appropriations that are reasonably
bs@'y 10 be passed BY the Legislature.
IN the next place | wish TO saw that II
IT is true that there is Il deficiency con.
ironang The administration that tho
revenue will not be sufficient 10 nav rho
appropriations OF this Legislature. then
th"se particular claims are not the proner
piace TO begin to economize. Because as
me senator from oxford has said with such
"irfctnesS and force, the first thing for tn.
Legislature to do is TO pay its lust bills
->.betorc pointing out where some
economies nigh: be had, | want +,
say a. word on the business of these
citifnS. j am net arguing about tho
particular merits Of any claim. | am
familiar with the little claim of s49
from the Plantation of Stockholm. r
te,y that the fact that these claims
have gone before this committee. pre.
sided oyer by the senator from An
.droscoggin, than whom no better bus
Ines.s man sits in either branch of
fhe Legislat,re-the fact that these