Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-12

not afford to give up his business
il he Us going to live according to
that amendment; you have got to get
I. man who is able to give up his
private business and who will actually
give it up. The sort of men who are
going to be elected as governors Of
rhe State Of Maine would in one way
comply with the law and yet actually
not comply with it. So that 1t must
be that a man who is engaged in any
business would be obliged to abso-
luteiy divorce himself from all care
or oversight of that business and de-
vote his entire time entirely to the
government OF the state for the period
If two years. At the end of that time
and the state is close now so that
here is no guarantee that the pres
ent governor will be reelected, and
even if he were reelected: he would
perhaps serve for four years, and 1t
the end Of that time that man has
got to go back and pick up his bust
less and start in again.
Now, gentlemen. do not think I'M
der an arrangement of that kind the
State OF Maine is going to get the
proper KIM Oh DuSliltSS lileI W serve
as governors which the State should
have. Professional men perhaps take
tie position or an attorney or ply
sician; 1t seems to me it would be Ell
Their the professional Office seekers
WHO are after the position for the
$4,000 or else il would be in one or
the other of these classes of profeS-
sional men because il does not seem to
me that business man of large bust
ness affairs and large business expe-
rience. that he can afford to retire
and go on the shelf while he is in the
height OF his power and ability, and
that business men of experience and
responsibility are going to be able
in Difference TO the rights Of their as
sociates with whom they are in bust
ness, and in Difference to their own
rights and those of their families, are
going TO be able 10 retire from active
business and assume the duties OF
governor for a short period Of time
for this salary, and then go back
again. l am not very particular
about the matter of salary. If il is
not right TO pay the governor $1,000
and he not devote his whole time tc
the duties of the Office, / would no,
raise any strenuous objection to that
II seems TO me that $4,000 is none toe
large for the salary Of man who
is capable of holding the office OF
governor OF this State, and let him
devote TO that office the time which
he should devote; it does not seen
TO me- 1t is a fair assumption for tbs
Legislature to make that any ma:
whom any one of the great politica
parties are willing to put UP ant
whom the State of Maine is willing tc
elect is going 10 assume the dutie.
Of that office and not attend to thos.
duties properly.
There are lots Of business men scat.
tered all over the State VINO do no
devote their entire time to any ons
business. and they do not want to re.
tire absolutely from their business
and 1t does not seem to me fair to as
sumo that a man who is elected gov.
'ernor Of the State Of Maine is not go
ing to give TO that office the same at
Iention which the office requires ant
should receive; and for that reaso,
l hope this amendment will be adop
ted
The question being on the adoptio,
of House Amendment A.
The amendment was adopted.
The bill then received it's thire
reading and was passed TO be engross
ed as amended.