Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-31

Total S212OO0 1886. 622 80
The difference between the appropriations
of 1860 and 1873 is S6S4.74s SO. and in the
above six items 1854 1862 80 of this amount is
accounted for. No one will claim that the
interest on the war debt or the sum for mill
tary pensions are appropriations. The
difference in the amount for insane State pau
pers and for deaf mutes shows simply the in
crease in the number of the State beneficial
ries. The large amount expended for educa-
tional purposes includes the mill tax, the
amount paid to free high schools and 81 800
to the State Normal school at Gorham. and it
is for the people of the State to determine
whether money expended for the improve
ment of our schools and the advancement of
the cause of popular education, is mis-spent.
In the appropriations for 1873 we omitted to
mention the sinking fund of $50, 479 95,
which with the amount already given, ac-
counts for S735, li2 "a of the difference be-
tween the appropriations of 1860 and 1873.
and leaves less than $50 900 to be accounted
for. Among the appropriations of 1873 are
the following, some of which are exceptional
and none of which were called for in 1860
Industrial School for Girls. So. 900; Maine
General Hospital, 5000 Propagation of
Fish, 81 200; and statue of Gov. King - 900;
amounting to Sl5.2 200.
of State officers have been increased all
around, since 1860. and though they are by
no means extravagant it may be that some
of them can be reduced. The governors sal
ary has been increased from 81. 500 to So
500 the treasurer of State from 81 800 to
50 900: Secretary of State from 81 300 to
$500; Dept Sec. of State from 81 900 to
81 800: Supt. of Public Buildings from 5000
to 81 ,000 the Supreme Judges from 81 800 to
$1,000. Two new courts have been created,
the Judges for which have an aggregate sal
ary of 81 700 Others have been proportion
ally raised, and the clerical force in each
of the departments has been increased The
appropriations for salaries of State officers in
1860 was 1913 600. and in 1873. 500, 900. The
appropriation for clerks hire in 1860 was &c.
300 in 1878 twas Ss. 500. The adjutant gen
erals salary has been raised from S4OO in 1860
to 81 800. and $1,000 for. clerk hire None of
these salaries could be called high during the
imitation times, and even now they are much
lower than the salaries corresponding officers
of other States. The work in the Treasury
department is largely increased in consequence
of the war debt, and that of the Adjutant
Generals Office on account of having charge
of the State pensions. We have thus far
compared appropriations only, which are al
ways based upon estimates and not upon
Actual Expenditures.
1t seems to be supposed by many that ap-
preparations are made to cover the precise
amount required, and we notice that the OPP
position newspapers speak of the appropria-
tons as so much money expended. Now it
often happens that quite large amounts are
left undrawn because the appropriation ex-
ceeded the sum actually needed. We will
cite few instances and we could extend
them. if we had the time. In 1870 there
remained undrawn the sum of S43ll6 80;
in 1871 S6i, 6S0 Is; 1872, s26,3l4 10;
in 1873, sll9,5l4 IA; in 1874, 1872
"a; in 1875, Slll,25s II; 1876, $780,
$50 rs. This money all went back into the
treasury, or rather it was never drawn out
1t will thus be seen that mere appropriation
bill is an unsafe document on which to base
the charge of extravaganza. As we have be-
fore stated there may be places where the
expenses can be somewhat reduced without
detriment to the public service, but we do not
believe that the intelligent people of this
State will permit the efficiency of their
schools TO be impaired, or their charitable in
situations to langush for the sake of saving a
few dollars. OBSERVER.