Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-14


DAYS work, and there are other COM
mittees considering similar PROPOSE
tons. You have your regular de-
nartments to maintain. Where are
you going to be when you ADJOURN
on the first of April?"
Mr.. Cole toward the close called
attention to the taking over of the
Fairfield and Hebron sanitorlums py
the State in 1915, and said that the
lawmakers were told that 1T would
cost SEE, 900 a year to MAINTAIN them.
Look up and see what they cost IN
1922" he added. "You will find that
the cost had increased to 100000 in
less than ten years."
Edward J. Callahan of Lewiston,
speaking in opposition to the bill,
said the important feature is Sec. :.
which says the State Department OF
Health shall cooperate with the
Children's Bureau in the admlnlstra-
ton of the provisions of the Shep-
pard -Towner act. He pointed out
that although this may appear harm
less, if there are restrictions and SUI
pervision by Federal agency of how
the money to be obtained shall be
spent, it becomes manifest that the
Children's Bureau is the directing
agency in every state. THE point to
emphasize" he said, lis not that the
State gets so much more money to
spend but that the enterprise is con-
Quoted by an agency miles away In
Washington"
1.-The vital point is. he continued.
chow this bureau operates. what is is
doing, what it is more likely to do.
If you are to join with any organl-
Mt fn I'm
are joining"
Nix. Callahan sketched a rapid his
tory of the making of the Sheppard
gress: he suggested that socialistic
forces had sponsored it and said that
doctors have opposed 1t.
Representative Dora Pinkham OF
the committee, who introduced the
bill for acceptance of the Federal
measure, asked Mr.. Callahan a rapid
fire of questions designed to test his
knowledge of the Federal bill and
several pamphlets of the Children's
Bureau to which he had referred.
DO you know " she asked, that
we submit our own program? If it is
not accepted by the Federal govern
ment, this bill now before the Lesis-
lature becomes null and void"
Can we submit only one set OF
plans?" asked Mr.. Callahan.
We would hardly submit a set that
we didn't want" replied Mrs. Pink
ham.
Franklin c. Palson of Portland OPP
posed the act on the ground of the
probable unconstitutionality of the
Shcppard -Towner law. and he also
declal, d that the provisions of the
: law watch this State is asked to ac-
cel:t gave the federal board control
over not only the money furnished
by the government, but that raised
by the State, as we'll
This law" he said, "is part and
parcel of a policy which. unless
checked, will eventually concentrate
| in Washington the powers now IN
herent in the states.
Mr. Payson quoted the opinion of
the attorney general of Massachu-
sets that the Sheppard owner law
would seem to he an attempt to
usurp the authority belonging to the
! State. and he said it would be well
to await the decision of the supreme
court on its constitutionality before
taking any action.
II am willing to admit the need of
all the things covered in this bill" he
said and the good name of the State
of Maine demands that something
should be done. | disagree with the
proponents of the act, however, as
! to the methods"
| During his address he said that he
! had been assured by the president of
the Business and Professional Wom-
ems club that when petitions in ia
Nor of the act We're circulated, it was
law simply meant aid for mothers
and children. When the real mean
ing of the measure was learned,
there was a marked change in SEN
timent. Il am authorized to bring
that message to the committee he
added.