Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-02
STEh0GRAPHIC REPORT
CONTINUED from Page Five)

substitute the bin for the report Of
the committee:
Mr.. FOLSOM: Mr.. President, and
gentlemen of the Senate, I do not
think wish to lake any time Of this
Senate in discussing the merits of
this particular case. I just wish to
say this: That the committee on
Salaries and Fees, as you know. has
had before it great many matters
involving prospective increases in
the salaries of the larger part of the
heads of departments and other off,
GERS throughout the State; that we
have spent a great deal of time upon
the consideration of these matters.
And that any report which we have
made has been made after careful
thought and consideration, and after
considering each case upon it's merits.
And also with the view to equaliz-
ing salaries of the various heads of
departments. In making our recon-
mendation in this particular case we
felt that we were justified along the
lines under which we were consider
Ing those matters.
l certainly should not feel that it
was proper for the salary of this par
ticular official to be raised from $4,000
to $4,000. 1t would not be justice to
other heads of departments, from my
view of the situation, and trust that
the motion of the Senator from Pts
cataquis, Senator Sprague, will not
prevail
Mr.. SPRAGUE: Mr.. President, if
in order I wish to offer an amend
ment at this time, an amendment to
this bill.
The PRESIDENT: The bill has
not yet been substituted. The Chair
will suggest that an amendment be
pared and offered Will the senator
prepare his motion in writing?
Mr.. FOLSOM: Mr.. President,
may I rise to a point of order?
The PRESIDENT: State your
point of order.
Mr.. FOLSOM: AS I understand
the question before the Senate it is a
substitution of the bill for the re-
port It seems to me that question
has precedence.
The PRESIDENT: If the bill is
substituted for the report then the
bill will be in order.
Mr.. MORRILL,: Mr.. President, is
this question debatable?
The PRESIDENTS: The substitu-
ton of the bill for the report is de-
batable.
Mr.. MORRILL,: Mr.. President
and fellow senators, 1 know it has
been considered at times to give
heed to and accept the reports of the
committees, but you will all recall
that at the commencement OF this
session this question of salaries came
I'D and was a prominent question.
I was opposed to the increase OF any
salaries this year, but you know the
history of this thing as it has gone
along. think it is well for us, as
we opened the door to the increase
OF salaries, to be fair in TINS matter
that is before US at this time. no
tice that the judges salaries were IN
creased a thousand dollars. and the
commissioner of agriculture was IN
CREASED a. thousand dollars. II i
pat If wrong YOU can correct me. Inc
state auditor was Increased one
thousand dollars, and the librarian
seven hundred dollars. The euate
treasurer is on the road TO an IN
crease in his salary that aonli'
do not know how much.
Later there will be other increases
Ia salaries. They are before us ana
even on the table atthls tlme' W."
,s this fair to the man VINO occupies
the nosition that the fish ana game
commissioner does? 1t has peeh saiu
at times that the commissioner oiu
MT NIT in all his time, but II ne does
his duty he has to put In MS llihe
and more, ard look the whole ota'e
over. His department is one OF the I'M
nortapt departments. The man VINO
occunies that position now is man OF
aa,ootion and influence in his own COM
munity and all over the state Oh
Maine, man who has occupied hlsn
positions and always fills the Dill ihis
man now takes the place Of three COM
,nissioners: we formerly had three
commits sioners and it was made over
into a one-man commission. inere'
fore there is a chance for MIN TO az
all the work that he wants TO- anu
there is no man in this room who does
not know that And to turn him down
after these other bills have passed
even if it is a unanimous report or the
committee, I do not call it fair play
II YOU think the amount called Ioi
here is too much, as compared Will
some of the other State officials VINO
have had their salaries raised, 1T woulc
he fair to give an opportunity Tor an
amendment to be offered. l appeal tc
Won senators if my talk in this line
does not appeal to your fairness.
will saw no more about 1t.
Mr.. SPRAGUE: Mr.. President.
would like to have the senators realize
lust what ! do. Here is man VINO
10 at the head of one of the most i'm.
portant offices in the State of Maine
It is not an office based upon any
sentiment 1t is hard-headed bust
ness proposition, if the State OF
Maine has got one at all. 1t is wei
settled, and has been within few
years, within year or two, by reiia-
BILE statistics that the summer resort
business brings in the State of Maine
s25. OO0,0 at least, each year.
Now it goes without saying, we
know, that the fish and game, the
wild life, that comes under the direc-
ton and control or the preservation
of the wild life that comes under the
control of this department is one OF