Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-09
STATE ECONOMY.

Although the war debt has increased
taxation in the State, the management of
our State affairs will bear comparison
with their management at any period since
the State was formed. The growth of our
State institutions for charity, humanity
and education has nearly all taken place
since the republican party came into
power The Hospital for the Insane, though
commenced before the republican party,
has been much enlarged and more fully
occupied since the State has been in re-
publican hands. The Reform School, Ag
ricultural College, Normal Schools, have
all been established since that period. An
Industrial School for Girls is now build
ing. Formerly there was no educational
department in the State, and the State
raised no money to support schools. Now
the State has an educational department.
supports Teachers Institutes, and raises
money by tax for the support of the COM
mon schools. But after deducting what
the State pays for interest and reduction
of the principal of the war debt. and what
it pays for the support of education, our
expenditures are more economical than in
democratic times. The State tax in 1856
was one and three fourtl's mills on the
valuation in 1873 the tax was five and n
half mills on the valuation, but of this four
mills on the dollar of valuation went to
pay the interest and reduce the principal
of the war debt and for educational pur-
poses. leaving the tax for other purposes
three fourths in 1856 Recollect that there
was no war debt in 1856. and at that time
the State raised nothing by tax for schools.
This shows that for the ordinary expendi-
lures common to the government at both
periods, 1886 and 1873, the expenditures
in the latter period were less in proper
ton to the valuation than in the former
year
As an example of democratic manage
ment, let us look at the State Prison.
There was loud call last winter for an
investigation into the affairs of this insti-
tuition, against which charges of gross cor
ruption, fraud and extravaganza were al
legged. An investigation was made by an
able committee, of which democrat was
chairman, the result of which was to con-
vince the legislature without distinction of
party that the Prison was ably and honest
=, l.. Al - tI,n
LEGATION comparison was made of iinan
cial results in the ten years that the Prison
had been under Warden Rice, and the ten
years Immediately preceding his assuming
the Wardenship, while the Prison was
conducted on the old democratic system,
The following were the facts brought to
light;
Cost OF the Prison to the
State from 1893 to 1863 SS3, 67
Paid to the State by the
Prison from 1868 to 1873 S22.249
Difference in favor of pres
ent management as com
pared with the democratic
system. SUD S2O
la plain language the Prison drew from
the State Treasury the first ten years $685.
GIL, for which the people were taxed;
while for the last ten years it paid into the
Treasury $22 ,249. A portion of the time
the first ten years the Prison was in repub-
can hands. but it required time to get rid
of the old system of management and
abuses fastened upon the institution by the
democrats, and the reform was not COM
peted until the present Warden was
placed in charge. Were we to 90 back
another period of ten years, from 1913 to
1858, we should find the evidence in favor
of rnnnhlinan aconnmV greater still