Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-23

aSceWa1nlng our wants IN 30 fA4 as
the wants of the State Library are
concerned
Mr.. WOODRUFF Of Brunswick:
Mr.. Speaker, I wish to say that
agre with the gentleman from Au-
burn, Mr.. Wing. I should like, how
ever. to make a motion thar this re-
solve be recommitted to the Commit
tee on Library for further considera-
ton.
The SPEAKER: The motion to
recommit has precedence over the
motion to indefinitely postpone. The
question is therefore on the motion
to recommit this resolve to the Com :
mittee on Library. =
A viva voce vote being taken, :
The motion was lost.
, The SPEAKER: The question
now recurs on the motion Of the gen.
tleman from South Portland, Mr..
Hinckley, that this resolve be indef-
1nitely postponed.
Mr.. DOWNES Of Rome: Mr.. Speak
er, with all due Difference to the re-
marks of my esteemed colleague from
Auburn, Mr.. Wing. it seems only At
ting that we pause here for just a
moment to consider the importance of
this action. While we all well realize
that the library conditions here are
particularly unsatisfactory. It does
seem that there is a marked move
ment along the line Of retrenchment.
For instance, note with extreme in
terest that the proponents OF the
agricultural appropriations have been
asked to retrench to the amount of
nearly 100000 1t seems to me that
we have no more important industry
in the State of Maine, than the agri-
cultural industry, and while the work
OF this specially appointed committee
might be at some time advisable, il
seems to me that at just this present
time it might be deferred, and that
we might get along somehow under
existing conditions without causing
the expenditure of and additional
amount of $4,000 at the present time:
and for this reason I hope that the
motion of the gentleman from South
Portland, Mr.. Hinckley. will prevail.
Mr.. WADSWORTH of Winthrop:
Mr.. Speaker, + think the gentleman
from South Portland, Mr.. Hinckley.
perhaps may be misinformed In re-
gard to the meaning of this bill. I do
not think it was the intention or the
proponents of this measue to either
build building or to consider build
ing building that would be located
IN some other part of the city of Au-
gusta. l think the iptention was that
1t should be connected in some way
with the State House. It is not pro-
posed, as I understand it, under The
provisions of this resolve to start
upon the building of a new library.
even though we may need it at this
time. 1 am informed that he have
now in the library something like
10000 volumes, and of that number
there are only about 80, 900 volumes in
the library, and there are a large
number of volumes stored up in the
cupola of this building, and there are
a large number also stored down In
the basement, and there are a great
many valuable records which at the
present time are packed away.
Now, Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen.
we will not build library building
this year. and we will not vote any
Will be coming here in two years and
they may have an idea that they
may want it, and they may not have
the facts and figures and plans: and
the purpose of this resolve is simply
to get preliminary plans at O. small
expense. l wuld like to say that if
the motion of the gentleman from
South Portland, Mr.. Hinckley, does
not prevail, l would like to offer an
amendment to the effect that the
money for the purposes of this resolve
should be taken from any moneys not
otherwise appropriated.
Mr.. WOODRUFF: Mr.. Speaker.
feel that many members of the
House may not be intimately ac-
quainted with the real problem which
confronts the library here. I have
been through all Of it's departments
under the guidance of the librarian.
and have seen it for myself, I have
seen the difficulties under which the
work is done at the present time, and
wish the members of the House
might take the time to do this. and
to see for themselves the great diff
nculties which confront this depart
fnent or course it requires a great
deal of room to accommodate the ac-
QUESTION of at least 5000 volumes q
year, and a great many of these are
stiil in the packing boxes and there
IS no shelf room for the mand for that
reason they are not available for uss
The object of the resolve was not to
proceed Immediately with the con-
struction of library building, but to
get estimates for a thorough study
and investigation and find out the
best solution for this problem, and
make a report to the next Legisla-
ture giving detailed statement of
all the facts ascertained so that prop
err action at that time might be TAX
en- to relieve this great CONNECTION and
make the library in future still mora
useful than it has been in the mast.
for the highest degree of efficiency
cannot possibly be reached if this CON.
dition is allowed to continue.
My object in making the motion
that L did, to recommit this to the
committee on Library. was to remove
altogether from the resolve the an
preparation Of $4,000, and provide Sim
ply for committee or a commission
to study and investigate this question
thoroughly and make its report to the
next Legislature.
Mr.. HINCKLEY: Mr.. Speaker. Il
do not know Just what the gentleman
yryh IN md HI