The Republican journal., 1919-02-20
Letter from Augusta.

Especial correspondence of The Journal
AUGUSTA, Feb. II. The present Leg
islature is unlike any other which the
writer has ever seen. 1t has been seven
weeks since it convened and not single
crank has yet pushed himself into promi-
nence. Perhaps there are those who
think Representative Rounds of Portla ld
is crank. If so, they have made mis-
take. Mr.. Rounds is man who makes
his own conclusions and shapes his own
course He is not cratic and does not
pussyfoot. He is not secretive. He is
always ready to tell what he thinks about
any public measure and what he says is
| clearly understood. He may not be in
varably right, no man is, but Mr. Rounds
tries to be. If every man in public office
would do that there would be less nom
sense in legislation, not only in Maine
but elsewhere. There is need of more
such men in Legislative assemblies.
The Senator and Representatives from
Waldo County are attending strictly to
business. There is not Stacker among
them and they keep themselves we'll in
formed concerning all proposed measures.
Taken as whole our delegation is sever
; al notches above the average. Feb. 7th
Governor Milliken sent a somewhat
/ lengthy message to the Senate and House.
and 1T was a depth bomb dropped into
the placid waters of Legislative routine
The waters were certainly moved, but no
wreckage has yet appeared. The Gov
ernor told the legislators that the time
had come when they must exercise eco
nomy in making appropriations, or, in
other words, that they must choose be-
tween the pork barrel and the budget,
There is no evidence that the Legislature
has any intention to be extravagant. 1t
is true that an enormous sum of money
has been asked for, for State institutions
and for State and semi-private uses, but
even the applicants do no expect to re-
ceive what they have asked for.
AS relating to economy in the making
of appropriations it is probable that the
Governor and the Legislature will not
differ greatly as to the aggregate sum.
The real controversy is concerning GER
tain resolutions, totallng about 5000, 600
which have been introduced, asking for
various sums for repairing or rebuilding
bridges or for improving roads, in speci-
fled towns and places. The Joint Com
mittee on Highways and Bridges have
had hearings on these resolutions and
have reported that they should be favor
ably considered and that the amount
asked for should 60 in as a part Of the
budget. Governor Mlliken says no.
Two years ago this same condition ex-
isted with the exception that the total
then was Sl500O0. Governor Milliken
yielded to pressure, but he will not do so
this year. There will be a fight Both
the authority to make appropriations
and the duty to make them, reside solely
in the Legislature. The Governor has
the right to veto any enactment or ap-
preparation which the Legislature makes.
The Legislature may, by two thirds
vote in both Senate and House, overrule
the Governors veto. These are the rules
of the battle and both sides seem deter
mined to test their strength. Whatever
may be the result of this contest it seems
that there is widespread and growing
dissatisfaction with some of the methods
which are followed in expending money
appropriated for improvement of our
roads. Many of the legislators say that
they and their constituents want less red
tape, less blue prints and more practical
results in return for the money spent.
Whether this Legislature will strike at
the roots of the matter remains to be
seen.
A very spirited verbal tournament oc-
CURED few days ago in the rooms of
the Appropriation Committee. A prom
inent attorney from Bangor appeared be-
fore the committee to oppose the grant,
ing of little appropriation for the WAL
do County Hospital and asked that re-
hearing be granted concerning it. Rep
resentative Buzzell of Belfast having
heard about this, came in with battleaxe,
lance and sword. He pursued the Grant
knight from Bangor all round the lists
and utterly vanuuished him. If the hos
pital does not get it's much needed aid
from the State, no blame can be attached
to its champion.
One would suppose that by this time
the corridors of the State House would
echo with booms for would be candi-
dates for Governor in the primaries next
year. Thus far very little has been said.
Although half score of men are believ-
ed to be in listening and hopeful atti-
tude, no voices have yet been heard in
the wilderness, calling them into the
open. The people of the State of Maine
are not talking politics very much this
winter. A. I. BROWN.