Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-06


every American citizen.
The enactment Of this bill would
not create q commission or incur
administrative expense as Is SO COM
mon to measures Of this nature. Not
q single person could obtain q pen
sion without the approval Of the
Governor and Council. and the tax
burdens would not be increased
penny, for our towns and states are
already taxes to support needy citi-
zens. 1t would simply replace our
inhuman laws governing the care
Of unfortunate persons with economic
and progressive legislation founded
and builded on the milk Of human
kindness.
Pensioning Of worthy citizens IS
not a new principle or an unheard Of
innovacation. even In our own state,
the Supreme Court Judges, our SOL
diers and sailors. postoffice officials
school teachers. railroad and indus
trial employees share in this method
OF preventing old age dependency.
Why close the doors: why pre-
clude equally deserving >hd more UNI
fortunate. the workers OF industry.
the tiIIers Of the soil. who through
illness and business reverses are
banishcd from friends, home and fire.
side?
1t may be claimed that to encour-
age Is to destroy; that an assurance
for old age will make US less in
dustrious and more unmindful Of
| future years. Anyone who analyses
| his own mentality will appreciate
| the fallacy OF such an idea. 1t Is
, natural ambition to go ahead, to
| strive for better food. better clothes.
better environments and for the
| comforts of old age. Who would
| suggest that pensions granted to the
boys in blue made them lazy. idle
and indolent citizens? Who would
| withdraw that aid so recent
~ given the mothers of our State?
God knows that both are Iaudable
contributions. but. that no recipient
| can be more deserving of assistance
| than are those poverty stricken faith
| ers and mothers who are drifting in
| the shadow OF the great beyond.
| Mr.. President neither your father
| nor mine, who were so recently call
| ed from our affections, would have
needed the protection of this meas
ure. but in every community there
| are fathers and mothers who are
waiting for the last call. that are
ragged and hungry. rather than to
beg Of charity or meet disgrace at
the city farm.
| The percentage Of our helpless old
| men is gradually growing larger. in
/ creasing at the rate Of four % per
| cent per year. Medical science can
! not cope with the unnatural drain
| on the working mans energy re-
! sulting from the remorseless force
| and merciless precision of modern
machinery which has not only short
| ened the period of effective service.
| but is gradually shutting out from
! gainful occupation the failing eye
| SIGHT. feeblcd nerve and the unsteady
| hand of old age.
I There are those who will contend
that there is no need Of poverty with
has given this subject careful and can
did reflection will arrive at such an un-
pa rdonable conclusion.
| rnskilled employees represent one
third Of the total amount Of labor. To-
day the average price paid in the
United States is $500 per day. make
, allowance for vacations and shut
downs, pay for rent, food. clothes, fur
| niture. educate the children and live
respectfully, how much have you saved
| for the inevitable rainy day when old
age and sickness comes?
| 1t is glorious to present bills to
create great reservoirs as 1t has been
my pleasure, to be able to rebuild the
Constitution with that skill so charac-
terislic of the senator from Cumber-
I land. TO challenge the cause Of an ex-
! position building with the ability OF
I that favorite son from Aroost ook, to
| father the teachers pension act with
j that dignity so common to the diStin-
| guishcd senator from York. but it is a
| million times more glorious to extend
the hand of help to those in need.
/ When the old family horse has per-
! formed its last work we place II in
! kindly hands and in green pastures.
| When the pet dog can no longer re-
spond to its masters call every mercy
is extended this faithful animal. But
the old man in his declining days goes
! among strangers over the hills to the
| poor house.
My friends. instead OF this stigma
Of charity let us place the mantle of
respect on those fading years by pro-
viding an adequate pension for those
unable 10 care for themselves. For
some day, by fellow senator's. when our
| work is done we may have longings
for peace. for comfort. for affection.
| for some little nook in which to sit and
think and dream of life's race we'll
run lfc's work we'll done. lifc's victory
| won.
The one thing constant in this life.
! the one peak that rises above all 9TH
| crs. the one window in which the light
I forever burns, the one star that dark
! ness can never Quench. is mothers
| devotion. Is there a senator within
| the confines of this chamber who
would challenge that devotion by send
ing anybody's mother through those
gates ajar from whence no traveller
returns. with poor house insignia
stamped upon her fair face?
Mr.. President. l hope that this bill
may not be considered from the stand
point of sympathy or from the view
point of dollars and cents. but in the
light of decency and of justice.
l cannot believe that this Senate will
vote against the only labor measure
out of $50 bills that have been present.
cd here during this term. and when
the vote is taken 1 would like Ito be
| by yea and nay vote. (Applause.)
| A sufficient number having arisen a
yea and nay vote was ordered.
| The PRESIDENTS: The pending ques-
! ton is on the passage to be engrossed.
Those in favor of its passage to be
engrossed will vote yes" those op-
posed will vote mo-"
| Those voting YES" were Messrs.
| tAuduis, Alien, DENIS, buZZclI, CARTON,
| Clark. Cram, Croxford, Elliot. Emery,
Harrington. kirschner. Morneau. Phil
| lips. Putnam, Ryder. Smith, Speirs.
Stevens. Trefethen, Wadsworth-21.
Those voting mo" were Messrs. Hinck-
| ley. Hussey. Morrison. Sargent. Spen-
| Ger. Wilson-6. Absentees. Messrs.
Bailey. Brewster, Eaton. Powers.
Twenty-one senators voting in the
| affirmative and six in the negative the
| bill was passed to be engrossed.