Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-15

| son l should much prefer to keep my
seat and acQuiesce with the budget
program, for ! am a firm believer in
| the budget and l am sure sometime
we will have . budget that we can
adhere to.
All committees are likely to make
mistakes. and what would appear
necessary to one group OF men might
be considered entirely unnecessary
by another.
The resolve for new cells at the
Maine State prison at Thomaston
seemed an actual necessity to yoHr
committee. And we made a thorough
investiga CATION before we reported
ought to pass on the reoslve. We
made the trip to Thomaston, nine
members of your committee OF ten
and inspected the institution, giving
especial care to the cells. both in the
new wing and in the old one. And
l believe the entire committee was
open minded and gave due considera-
ton to the fact that no recomme nda-
ton for new cells was made by the
budget committee. But it seemed alb
solutely necessary to us that the new
work should continue and all the un-
fortunate inmates OF the institution
be confined in sanitary cells and the
old rock, cave like" cells be dis
carded.
There are now IS new cells made
OF steel and cement. with running
water, electric lights and flush closet
sanitary cells with good light and
ventilation in the new east wing.
But in the west wing there are
still 104 Of the old rock cells with no
sanitary arrangements whatever. Just
as they were built 100 years ago, ex-
cept that each cell has an electric
light.
Recently there has been an inve.-
t1gatton of the Massa chusetts prisons
and the investigator called the SAM
tation in Charlestown prison bar
barrie" The same word might well be
used in connection with our prison
as applied to this west wing.
We have made a god start in re-
modelling this institution and should
continue the work, especially regard
ing the cells. and l urge the passage
of the resolve.
There are now ia inmates at this
institution; one year ago there were
about 200; two years ago about 100
This does not necessarily mean that
the number is increasing but that it
varies and the average is practically
zoo. Sanitary cells should be built
" ,NNS NaiV VI iliiS uuUlDpf.
The resolve would build GO more
new cells and that many more OF
these unfortunates would be taken
care of in sanitary cells.
In an institution OF this kind the
men are necessarily confined in their
cells more hours than they are out
side in the work shops and the cells
should be built to be conducive to the
good health of the inmates. The %
new cells are sanitary. but the lOf
old cells.-I don't really know how to
express it. but / don't think health
officers would call them sanitary.
YOUR committee was unanimously
in favor of the passage of this re-
solve. And we were supported b. the
board of prison commissions.
l urge the passage OF this resolve
because l honestly believe the unfor-
tunate wards of the State should be
housed in sanitary quarters.
Mr. BCZLELL of Waldo: Mr.
President. and members of this Hon
orabie Senate: l very much appreci-
ate all that has been said here. but
the budget committee is functioning
today as legislative creation.
believe that they are doing good
work in the State of Maine. | have
been in favor of unanimous reports
in this Legislature. but it appears
that the unanimous report and the
action Of this Legislature docs not
meet with the Governors approval.
Now this committee that passed
unanimously upon this bill viewed
this bill from all the evidence that
they heard there in committee. Tn
QUESTIONABLE every dollar that they
ask for, if expended. would be war
ranted-that expenditure would be
warranted. On the other hand. what
about the budget committee: They
take into consideration all the wants
Of the State of Maine. and do you
believe. my fellow senator's. do YOU
believe but what they have acquaint-
ed themselves with all the facts IN
connection with this proposition: DO
you not believe that they know all
of the facts and all of the things that
the two fellow senator's OF ours have
told us about here today, and do you
not believe that they would like to
make that expenditure: But there
arc other people in the State OF
Maine besides these poor untortu-
mates in the state prison. There are
other people. They are on the in
side looking out. All others in the
state of Maine, who are taxpayers in
the State. are on the outside looking
Ill, anu lttS are W dtCulIlS us. iltN
know that this budget committee,
consisting Of the Governor and the
treasurer and SO on. they believe that
they have acted wisely. And | for
one. feel if | should act and act alone,
that l am gong to take the position
that the budget committee in this
matter is right.
Now / do not know about the lob
! bying as spoken of by the honored
senator. 1t matters not to me about
this proposition or that proposition
or the other proposition. l am willing
! to let each individual measure stand
or fall on its merits. l am not go
ing to take part and share in lobby
! ing or attempting 10 let one meas
urc influence me in connection with
another. and l say that in the inter-
ests of tax rate. and in the inter-
ests Of all the people of the State of
Maine, that | am not in favor OF the
action as indicated by the honored
senator who spoke first on this prop
osition.
| There are things that we want to
! take into consideration. Just bark
! back for a moment to the days OF
| 1919. 1920. 19"1. 1922. The tax rate
| in the State of Maine in 1919, seven
. mills and a half-1920. seven mills
and a Quarter-1321. five mills and a
! lalf--1"22, six milis--too low in 1921
and 1872, admittedly so. and we who
were members of the last Legislature
! know it. That condition has reflect
! ed itself into this Legis 1ture. and
! the members of this Legislature of
! both political colors want to take
| into consideration that we want to
| go from here with reasonable tax
rate and one that all the people of
| this State know is right.
The PRESIDENTS: The question