Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-02

IUNn1tF a'llNl.
Ny HIGGINS Of Brewer Mr.. Speal.
e. and gentlemen Of the House We ara
now II the closing days and hours Of
the T5th Legislature Three months
ago We me- IL this hall for the pur-
pose of organization. One hundred and
thirty -fiv= of oIE number We're new
members, leaving only 16 who mad had
previous legislative experience. When
We came here we did nor agree poIlti-
cally, and we We're inclined to look
upon the fellow III the other party as
an enemy. as d common enemy. AS the
days Went on that feeling melted
away. ana II Z few days it was impos-
Stole 40 Tell the political faith OF any
member Of thl House; we We're hero
for one common purpose from that
time forth, and that purpose was to
i"Cislate u the very best Of our
ability for the good Of the grand old
state VI Maine. We have underworld
10 Ike W 10 the oaths which we took
a. the beginning Of this session. we
may have differed IN some respects
@vould ne Impossible for q body Of
this size to agree on every PROPOSE
ton submitted to ii, and ] think il is
llght that ii should bc thus. We have
formed friendships here that viii last
until lime shall be no more
And ! want to say, MIR Speaker. ana
gentlemen of the House, / believe this
IS The first time when the two branches
0f TINS Le~jSla ture We're of q different
ponucdl faith; and ] further want to
say lhat ] believe there never was a
session Of this Legislature when so
little Ill VIII and i'll feeling was mani
Tested as there has been during the
present session. This in itself, gentle
men. speaks volumes for the charac
tel ana for the stability Of the men
Whom the people of this commonwealth
nave sent here to act as their SER
wants III the formation of the laws of
TINS state. Illness has caused nnIv one
OF our members to be taken from us
ahd lhat Is the gentleman from Bailey
vie Mr Jordan, whose illness we
sincerely regret, and we hope for his
early recovery. and in behalf Of tho
gentlemen of this House. your com
mite selected few days ago have
sent to him this morning with the
compliments and best wishes of the
House OF Representatives Of the nth
Legislature & basket of flowers
Al the organization of this Hons -
was my high privilege to cond,c+ m 4t,a
Chalr man who had received the high
est iohot winch could be given by this
nouS' gentleman who was known To
many of Us and who has since heco,ne
known to us all as a gentleman of tho
hlShest Integrity, a man OF eminent
apllty. man of absolute fairness m
aN parties: and while at home all +hasa
were known of him If
IS now known throughout the State that
ne is man possessed of these uualif-
catlonh land Mr.. Speaker in behalf of
your fellow members, it gives me- rrea-
pleasure to present to you this token
of our affection and regard: it is al,
gold, the purest and finest of ANYTHING,
on eartn. We ask you to accept it. not
On account OF its intrinsic value. but on
account of the love and esteem which
we bear toward YOU; and as Won raze
upon its face and watch the hours and
minutes go. may your memories and
reflections upon the 77th LEGISLATURE he
the kindest and the most pleasant mem
cries Of your life. dong and continued
Mr.. Higgins then presented the Speak
er with a gold watch.s
The SPEAKER: Mr. Higgins and
gentlemen of the House, what can /
say TO you in answer to these sentiments
which have been presented here this
and for this beautiful gift
which you have now laid upon my desk9
II is truly to me an occasion of en-
barrassment, although Pheasant IL is
indeed pleasant to be remembered in this
way by my fellow members Of this
EEouse. 1t is indeed pleasing and pleas
amt to me to hear these kind words spois-