Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-03-16

I assume they will come up under the
program of the majority. for one
propose to vote only for such resolves.
for such appropriations, as am Will
ing 10 vote to raise taxes IT, pay. In
considering the matter along that line
| believe as | have always believed
that we should not pass a very large
group of appropriations which ] have
referred 10 as gratuities. matters
which represent no legal claim against
the state and in many cases scarcely
II moral claim and not at all a moral
claim in many cases against the
state. at the utmost Il charitable
claim. because in the case of some
small towns and some Door commune
ties it is in n sense a charitable claim,
their demand for assistance in build
ing ii road or a bridge; but as a
group. without discriminating between
individuals, ell matters OF aid to
towns and communities for bridges
and roads and that sort of thing. |
believe as | have always believed that
this Legislature in its present condi-
ton has no legal right to vote. Eut
in the matter of claims. Mr.. Speaker,
OF which Resolve No. la is an eX-
ample, it seems to me that we should
consider that these claims are in the
nature of debts by the state. that
they represent claims against the
State which have been presented in
the general court of tho state. passed
upon by 4 committee Of that court
delegated for that purpose and recon-
mcndcd unanimously in each case |
believe by them for passage Nov un-
less something else appears, unless VIC
are put in possession of information
which if the committee had it would
have probably changed its mind 1t
seems to me we are in duty bound in
the ease of claims in favor of towns
for pauper claims to regard the atti-
tudr of the committee as evidcncinG
a debt of TIE State to those conIpun-
tiles. and unless something else ap-
pears / am willing to pay that debt
and vote for increased taxation in
srme way. and I personally shall vote
to pay claims of this character in the
nature Of debts, as | look at it. in
favor OF towns. | suppose there will
be TO disagreement between us III the
matter of charitable institutions. Re
lief must Dc furnished and | Tor one
shall vote to furnish such aid SO far
as is possible. and coupled with that
| am willin" 10 vote to raise the ncccS-
sary money by taxation to do it: but
as to these other matters | person
ally propose - vote against them for
the reasons have given [ desire
to make this statement because pre-
h.. %
along one after the other.
Mr.. DAVIES OF Yarmouth--Mr.
Speaker. would like to inquire of
some member Of the committee on
claims If re could give the House the
total fund winch was recommended 10y
the claims committee to be paid by
the various towns for pauper claims.
| will ask Mr.. Mace Of Great Pond.
Nh. MACE think approximately
SS000
Mr.. DANIES-That is the entire sum
that was recommended by the com
ittce on claims for that purpose?
Mr.. MACE-It is the entire sum that
the committee recommended but
there are some other claims to come
before that committee.
Nj. DAEII:S-May | inquire of tht
gentlemen from Augusta tMr. Will
liamsom if he thinks the State is not
in position to pay the sum of sS00G
for such a good purpose?
Mr.. WILLIAMSoN-In answer tc
the gentleman from Yarmouth through
the Chair | will say this: | do not
believe that the State at this time
should exceed its revenue by paying
the claims. We must begin some
where t" economize. The Democratic
Representatives of this Heust by
unanimous vote in caucus assembled
voted that this is the place to begin.
1t Is always easier to begin on some
BODY discs appropriation. bclicv,
"h'l our vote is taken on these mat
tcrS-and wien the vote is taken
move that it b" taken by the Yeas
and nayS-it will go out through t.'o
state as a question of whether We arc
i'll favor of economy nr whether we are
in favor of cXtraVagancc.
Mr. AUSTIN of Phillips: Mr. Speaker
would like To ask ttc gentleman fron
Augusta tMr Williamson whether Ii.
considers the payment of these claims
AS u payment of one of the states inst
utbtS tT nnt, tn NitllltT ne rs
the turning down of them is a repudia ton
of them?
Mr. WILLIAMSON: Mr.. Speaker I
would say that personally | should no.
consider it population of them
should consider it a postponement until
a time when We hope the State may be
in Il better position to pay these claims.
The question being on the motion that
the yeas and nays be ordered,
The motion was agreed to.
The SPEAKER: The question before
the House is on the motion that Resolve
in favor of the town of Peru be referred
to the next Legislature. Those voting yes
will vote to refer this matter to the next
Legislature: those voting no will OF
course vote against the proposition. The
clerk will call the roll.
YE,A:-.\llen of Jonesburo. .tmes.
Bearce. Boguc. Boman Burkett Chase,
Clark Conners. Copeland, CowaH, Cronin.
Cyr. Deering of Portland. Dcering of
Waldoboro. DcScoteauX. Dow. Dresser.
Dunn. putton. t'arnham. Files. Frank,
Gamache, Goodwin, Gross Harmon,
Hartwell. Hastings Heffron, iiodgkins,
Hogan. Jordan, I<ellehcr. lambert. Law
nv. LeBcl, Libby. Littletield of Bluehill,
Mace. Manter Mariner. Mc.\lister, Nc
C,urtly. Merriheld. Mower, Murphy.
NoveS Otis Packard. Pattangall Pat