Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-06

now here before US. II HldheS 40 oA1ASA
ence, the question that presents itself Is
whether we are going to stand by the
vote taken in the Senate caucus held IN
the judiciary room that We would adopt
the majority reports of the committee
on salaries and fees. Thus far. we
have. This is the first time that any
Senator has proposed that we should
break away from that vote.
Now 1t may well occur to many of you
that very likely Senators from other
! counties. if it had not been for that
| vote that they would have come hear
| to press their claims for salaries, but
We have felt we were bound by that
vote up to now.
Is there any reason why kennebec
county should stand on any different
level from the other counties on the
increase in salaries? If we accept this
report it is unfair to Senator Butler.
The same matter came before the Sen
tae and on the suggestion of somebody,
/ think myself, that we had voted in
this caucus that we. would accept the
majority reports oftthis committee, he
withdrew his motion, and is that fair,
just between man and man, to increase
the salary of the register of deeds of
Kennebec County.
| Mr.. FULLER Of Knox: Mr.. PreSi-
dent, 1 had hoped, fellow senators,
that there would be no further discus
sion on matters Of this kind. l have
confidence in my fellows and l have
confidence in their integrity. I quite
agree with the senators from Kenne-
bee. / quite agree with the senator
from Hancock. That was the position
that l took originally, that it was no.
body's business what salaries we had
in my county except to the people of
that county. And l took the position
that inasmuch as in the case of the
clerk Of courts in my county. who ask
ed for an increase of $500 and that in
crease was asked for by the board of
county commissioners, who are the fl
nancial guardians Of the county. and
on the unanimous petition of the men,
bers of the bar. I thought. and so stat
ed to the committee. that it ought to
be left to our people to determine
whether we wanted an increase or not.
But they reported ought not to pass.
I We need an increase. gentlemen. just
as much as you do in kennebec. We do
not appreciate the treatment we have
+
! tee on salaries and fees. We believe we
know just as much about what sala-
ries our men ought to draw as the COM
mittee on salaries and fees. perhaps
more. And l speak with no dsrespect
for the committee. I think they tried
to be faithful in the discharge Of their
! high duty. 1t is a difficult position
/ they are in.
whaYn pantlnmpn1
have been making history. The distn-
guished senator from Yarmouth, not
Portland
Mr.. DAVIES: You have that correct.
Mr. BUTLER: has very courteously
referred to my situation. He has re-
ferred to the Senate caucus which we
had where | was out-voted, where one of
the senators from Kennebec was out
voted. l think the vote was eight to five
against us. And then we came into the
Senate and / had a matter on the increase
of clerk hire in the probate office in my
county, and the senator informed me that
we were bound hard and fast by the eau
Gus. And | stated to this Senate that
if that was the understanding among
gentlemen that l would withdraw my mo-
ton, and I did withdraw it,
Now if we are going to make any diff
ferent rule l shall move to reconsider
that vote
Mr.. WOOD: Mr. President, ! just want
to make myself right. l want to say that
if / was present at that meeting l was
in a trance or under some influence. I
was not present at the meeting. Ny at
titude has been the superior court
stcnogra pher bill that it WAS none of the
State of Maine business in way if the
county of Kennebec was willing to pay
it's stenographer $1,000. or if the county OF
Cumberland was willing to pay it's stem
ographer 5000, and | have argued since
the beginning Of the session. but it did
not meet with approval higher up. But [
have taken that position and l shoull
have taken it on this matter had | been
present in the committee. l simply want
to say that | try to play the game fair
according to the light / have and not to
kick over the traces. Bro. Davies, but in
this particular case l did not know there
was any such agreement, and it seemed
to me perfectly fair. and I have heard
some pretty strong expressions from Ken
nebec where they thought they had a
, TlSnt TO say what tneE should nave II
they were willing to pay for it, and it
appealed to me in the spirit of fair play
that they ought to, and therefore I spoke
so and | am not going to back down only
to say | was not present at that meeting.
Mr.. GILLIN of Penobscot: I just rise
to say one word. that is all 1t is entirely
unnecessary for the distinguished senator
from Hancock to arise to make any ex-
PLANTATION about his position. Every SEN
. ator in this Senate knows that he is the
soul of honor. and is spotless in every
particular and would like to argue with
him and vote with him. for ! feel the
same as he does. But unfortunately am
bound by 1t.
Mr.. GRANT Mr.. President, I want to
say, in addition to the Senator from
Knox county, the Senator from Cum
berland. and two from York county
have withdrawn their cases on account
of that vote.
Mr.. SWIFT of Kennebec: The sena-
! tor from Cumberland, Senator Davies
has referred to the meeting which was
held in the judiciary room, and If my
memory serves me correctly there were