Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-21
Legislators Make
Statements on Gov.
Raxter'S Recent Speech

Three members Of the last Maine
Legislature made statements Thursday
on the various points covered by Gov
ernor Baxter in his address before the
Maine Federation of Women's Clubs In
annual session at Bar Harbor.
In his speech the governor charged
that the weak men Of the Legislature
were influenced by rum used by the
lobby; that some members Of the lobby
had great quantities of liquor in their
rooms which they furnished members
OF the Legislature.
He said. further. that he had asked
enforcement officers to stop parties at
the Augusta House.
Senator Eaton of Oxford
Senator Fred .. Eaton of this town.
who was chairman of the finance COM
mittee on financial affairs and appro-
priations. Thursday morning said:
Il wish there was some way to stop
this telling of half truths instead OF
the whole truth. The governor stressed
the point that he had made saving in
the stationery bill OF the State House.
hut he did not tell the women that he
has a quarter of mill more State tax
this year than the appropriations com
mittee deemed necessary. He insisted
on ii being included. as all members or
the Legislature well know.
THE governor did not say anything
about insisting that we include In the
appropriation bill an item of $25,OO0
for the Maine Water Storage Commits
sion, the bill for which he said in the
morning he would sign. but which he
did not That $4,000 was included and
assessed against the people of the
state, through the governors act the
commission for which it was appro-
priated went out of existence.
"This putting whole lot OF bunk rs
tiresome. II isn't facts.
81 know nothing about the lobby ana
so | can't discuss it. All have to say
about the governors reference to the
weakness of the Legislature is: If 1t
was such a weak crowd of men why
didn't the governor influence them more
than he did,"
Pep. Edwards Of Bethel
There is doubtless some truth in
what the governor says" said Rep.
resentative Fred l.. Edwards OF
Rethel. but this isn't any time to
be talking about it. l didn't see any
thing of the kind myself, though l
knew about it. And anyway it was
different last winter from what n
has been in years past; for that mat
ter don't think there was as much
liquor in the rooms as there has
been in other years"
Rep. Maher of Augusta
With reference to Gov. Baxter's
speech at Bar Harbor, Representative
Maher of Augusta when asked of his
impressions concerning it said that
the outstanding feature in his mind
was not description Of past perform
ances or prophecy Of future. but a
condition of lawlessness. formally
charged by the governor to exist m
one county.
II assume" said Representative
Maher. that these charges being SO
seriously stated from such an impec-
cable source undoubtedly the gov
ernor inasmuch as he has not pro-
ceeded under the constitutional
amendment passed by the 10th Leg
islature and accepted by the voters,
Sept. 10, 1917. comforting full power
on him and the council to remove
sheriffs guilty of dereliction. con-
templated calling the Legislature in
session in order to share with that
body the responsibility of cleaning
the 'Augean stable.
an such, an event without DOUBT
the Governor and Legislature would
be able mutually to exchange views.