Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-19

vote. 1t went to the Governor and was
by him vetoed. Now that is the histo-
~ of the resolve during that year. Now
the claim is made and perhaps more
or less justly, by members of the House
in both branches, that this claim is
stale. 1t is stale. 1t is an old claim
one made on a transaction which hap
pened 10 years ago last fall. But l sub
NIT to you, gentlemen, as fair minced
men, whether a just claim, or a Just
debt, ever becomes stale. If that claim
had value in 1909, nothing has transpired
between 1909 and the present date 10 af-
feet the validity of this claim. l think
any thinking man will admit that if the
claim had justice then. it has 1t now;
and so the majority of your committee.
taking into consideration all these facts.
have brought in the reports that they
have. AS l say, two members of the
committee have brought in a minority
report b which gives to the claimant the
amount of the claim less the interest.
The majority of the committee have
brought in the majority report allowing
the claim and the interest from the time
he made his demand upon the treasurer
of the State for reimbursement until the
present time, or eight years interest.
I am not arguing that the State is a
benevolent institution. That is not my
idea. | do not want any man within
he hearing of my voice to vote for this
out of sympathy. l do not think the
Young man is entitled to any sympathy
whatever. 1t was cold, hard propo-
sition on his part. 1t is simply an idea
as to whether in your minds the State
does or does not hold $1,000 of this
Young mans money which does not be
long to 1t. If in your opinion it does,
your vote can only be in favor of ac-
ceptance of the majority report. Do not
let sympathy enter into the matter at
all, because this is not case of be-
nevolence. There is one argument We
hear brought up against allowing i
claim Of this kind-that it opens the
flood gate of the treasury for the en-
trance of a myriad of other claims
based upon this same kind of a trans
action. prior to 1902 or 1903. Our answer
to that is, that there are some $33, 900 Of
old tax de DIS which have been sold
Whether or not it will open up the
treasury Of the State to claimants, who
are holding these old tax deeds or not
all agree with me that that has moth
ing whatever to do with the point at
issne-that is. the justice OF this enc
claim.
Now I have tried as | have said,
gentlemen, to set this matter before
you, as a reason for the report which
came from the majority of the commit
tee; and all your committee ask you is
to look at this matter in a careful can
did way. as good and honest business
men, and if, in your judgment, the
state did take $1,000 of this young
mans money and gave him no value
there for then to consider whether o.
not the state now should pay him back
what it holds of his money
Mr.. DURGIN of Milo: Mr.. Speaker.
7 agree not to take over three minutes
Of the time of this House. l think the
average members of this House, and
think nearly every citizen in the state
of Maine is more or less familiar with
f this proposition because for a number
! of Years this young man has been COM
! ing here to the Legislature ana asking
the state to reimburse him for money
which he claims was paid through
mistake and which the state now hoids
without having given anything to the
Young man for it.
| As, to the question in dispute about
whether the young man was properly
warned or not, know nothing; but 1t
eaems TO me that question which per-
bans might govern us at this time is
whether or not it is good for the State
+, of Maine to have this young man com
inc here. year after year, and having
/ the question of the honor Of the State
i,,nnpnod in any way. One thing seems
| 10 me RI he certain and that is that the
soto of Maine at the present time
holds s17 600 of this young mans mon
ev ana that the young man got abso-
h,tely nothing for it; and therefore it