The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1919-04-10
ADJOURNED.


The Legislature has adjourned 1t has
been very deliberate deliberative body
of law makers. A person looking on
while session of the Senate or House
was being held would perhaps get the i'm
preston that the members had very little
interest in what they were doing. While
it is true that the Senators and Repre-
Sentatlves are not on the verge of nervous
prostration by reason of their labors, it is
also true that in few legislatures has there
been more careful and thoughtful at
tentlon given to the consideration of I'M
portant matters. Most of our real legis-
lative work is done in committee rooms
where hearings are had, and arguments
made for and against proposed measures
The committee work is done in afternoons
and evenings and frequently several COM
mittees are at work at the same time
The general public sees little or nothing
of this work although anyone who wishes
may be present A legislator who is
much work to do if he performs his duty
to his constituency and to the State "A
man who is not good worker in commit
tee has little influence on legislation, aside
from his vote. Seldom, if ever, have
there been so many veto messages sent
to the legislature as during this session.
In several instances the veto prevailed,
but in several other instances the legsa-
ture almost unanimously overruled the
veto. Our limited space will not permit
US to discuss the merits of any of the
acts involved The appropriations for
I919-20 exceed those for 1918 but the
increase was largely due to the increased
cost of our public institutions and other
causes incident to the war. The follow
ing appropriations in which Belfast is di
fectly interested were made: for Chill
dren's Aid Society Sl75o, for Waldo Co.
Hospital $3.50 and for Old Ladies Home
S2OO, tor 1919 and the same amounts for
1920 In addition, the city will get So, 600
in 1920 to aid in making good road from
the lower bridge to the Swanville line. In
order to secure the above sum the CITY
must appropriate an additional sum of
81, 900 MIR, BuzzelI, our representative
has been tireless in looking after our in
terests. Freedom Academy gets $1,000
Tor 1919 and the same for 1920, and well
deserves this help. 1t is an institution
part Of our county in which it is located.
For special road work Knox gets $3.50.
Ihorndike $500, Unity $1,000, Brooks 5000,
and Durham $500. All these appropria-
tons are conditional that the towns shall
appropriate specified sum for the same
purpose. Morrill, is given $500 for bridge
work provided the town adds $500 for the
same purpose. These appropriations have
been looked after by Senator Clements
and representatives Colcord, Cowan, GRAY
and Adams, Last week, on the motion
to Indefinitely postpone a resolution en-
dorsng the league of nations as now
presented was the first really partisan
debate and vote of the session The reso-
luton was postponed by vote of about
three to one. The visit of General Ed
wards to Augusta, his reception and his
speech in city hall, made, all together,
the most notable and interesting event of
the winter in the Capitol City. We pre-
sumo almost everybody has read about
what occurred, but those who failed to hear
what the General said missed something
which was more than worth while. Cen
eTal Edwards is a man who is tan, well
knit and fine to look at, but when he
stood up to speak one forgot all that and
isteIed, just listened, as he talked to the
fathers and mothers, to the boys who had
been over there and to the folks back
home. 1t was kindly direct and grip
ping speech which held one spel}bound
till the chin quivered and the heart thrill
led. The political gossips have not yet
decided who is destined to succeed Gov
ernor Milliken. Thus far they have named
only eight possible candidates for the
primary handicap. We notice that the
wise ones are making no wagers, and we
predict that when the race is called there
will De only enough in the field to make
the event interesting.