Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-02


from Bangor. Mr.. Barwise, upon that
question, asks for a division of the
House. All those in favor of the ac-
ceptance of the report will rise and
stand in their places until counted.
/ A division being had.
One hundred and seven voted in the
affirmatz and Is in the negative.
So tho otion prevailed. and the re-
port was accepted.
i The SPEAKER: The next matter
for consideration upon the calendar
| is the report of the committee on Sea
and Shore Fisheries on Bill, An Act
relating to the use of travis and nets,
tabled pending acceptance of the re-
port on motion by the gentleman from
South Portland, Mr.. Hinckley.
| Mr.. Hinckley then moved that the
bill and report by recommitted to the
committee on Sea and Shore Fisheries.
The motion was agreed to.
The SPEAKER: The next matter
for consideration upon the calendar
is House Document No. 145, Bill,
An Act relating to- fishing In Kenne-
bago stream, tabled pending it's
third reading on motion by the
gentleman from Fairfield, Mr..
| Weeks.
On motion by Mr.. Weeks, the bill
received its third reading and was
passed to be engrossed.
| The SPEAKER: The next matter
| for consideration upon the calendar
is House Doc. No. 81, Bill, An Act
relating to poll tax, tabled pending
its third reading on motion by the
gentleman from Portland, Mr.. Muir
ray.
Mr.. MURRAY of Portland: Mr..
Speaker, wish to say that tabled
that bill for the purpose of Offering
an amendment. I have the amend
ment all prepared, but before offer
ing it, wish to take it up with
the other members of the Portland
delegation, and for that reason I
will ask that it be re-tabled and be
especially assigned for consideration
tomorrow morning.
The motion was agreed to and the
bill was again, tabled.
The SPEAKER: If there are any
matters under the heading of "ta-
bled and unassigned" that can be
disposed of at this time, it might be
well to take them up now.
On motion by Mr.. Winter of Au-
burn. Senate Doc. No. 81, Report of
committee on Salaries and Fees on
Bill. An Act relating to the salaries
of justices of the supreme judicial
| court, was taken from the table,
Mr.. WINTER: Mr. Speaker, 1
yield to the gentleman from Per-
ham, Mr.. Bragdon.
Mr.. BRAGDON of Perham: Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen of the House,
for the purpose Of bringing this
matter into IA debatable condition, I
will move for the indefinite post
pcnement of the bill. The subject
of salaries and fees is one of the
difficult and troublesome questions
which will engage the attention of
this Legislature. Every person on
the payroll of this State, and every
I person on the pay-rolls Of the sew
eral counties of the State have been
coming to us requesting an increase
in salary, and intimating that if
\ such increase is not granted, they
/ will be compelled to vacate the
/ various offices which they now hold
The situation seems to be in line
with these strikes which have been
! prevailing SO much in recent years.
! If you should learn that the rail-
road brotherhoods had served notice
! that unless they were granted a
substantial increase of salary at
once, that the freight and passen-
ger business of the country would
| be tied up, no doubt the cold chills
would run up and down your spinal
! column, and in view of your past
experience you would wonder if the
supply of sugar. and other neces-
saries of life. would be sufficient to
hold out until conditions had again
resumed normal. But as resigna-
tons among our public officials in
the past have been or far less fire.
quent occurrence than have been
strikes in the industrial pursuits, we
do not perhaps appreciate the grav-
ity of the situation. Maine, how
ever rich in scenic power, and in it's
wealth of honest and true-heartcd
men and women, is, when measured
by the standard of dollars and cents,
a poor state; our tax rate is becom-
| ing burdenSome; we cannot afford
to support our public. officials ac-
cording to the standards existing in
Massachusetts or in New York; we
cannot afford the highways of Cali
| fornia; we cannot afford in our own
homes the comforts ana convenient
ces that are enjoyed by the citizens
of our sister states, and our public
officials should be content with
standard of living which is in keep
ing with the wealth of the State.
Any other course would simply tend
to stimulate the growth of Bolshe-
vism.
Now, Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen.
this particular branch of the SUBJ
ject of salaries and fees is one
which the layman will naturally
approach with feeling OF hesitan-
cy. The position of justice of our
! supreme judicial court is the most
| important and honorable one that
has been created under our Con-
stitution. 1t has almos, invariably
been filled by the most honorable
men that the State of Maine has
ever produced; their value to our
State can never be measured in
| ~oor,s e. van That <1,;c