Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-08-26
STATE ISSUES.
Mr.. Pillsbury's Misreprescnta-
tons
EX-GovERNoR DINGLIY EXPOSES THIN AND
SHOWS THE TRrTu.
+ From the Lewiston journal. 7

From the Lewiston Journal.
The Gazettec publishes Il stcnographic re-
port of the speech which +. i. Pill>bury.
ESD, is making in various parts of tie state.
We could hardly believe. until we read this
verbatim report that any man of standing
would be willing to make 50 unjust and IN
several cases 50 reckless statements and IN
situations, even for partisan purposes. rs We
find here attributed to Mr. Piil>hury. The
fact that Mr.. Pllshury deems il necessary to
raise mock issue ~ this late day, ~ order
To divert attention from the real ISSUES which
he himself raised in the resolutions reported
by him to the late democratic State Conven-
ton is very significant
Mr.. Pilsburv opens his address with Il
crafty alusion to the losses of Maine since
1860 and leaves his hearers to infer that this
is the result of republican policy, and not the
consequence of II war brought ON rs by the
Southern wing OF the democratic party.
WASTE OF PUBLIC LANDS.
Every solitary acre of land, gon" for ttl' ar moth
ing under Republican state administration SAYS Mr.
Pillsbury.
Most of the State land and the best. went
under democratic State administrations pre-
vious to 1857 and went for prices, too. much
lower than similar land was sold subsequent
". The grant to the European 4 North
American Railroad Co., on condition that
they would build railroad into northern re-
gions. wa, favored ny nearly all the demo-
Gratis in the legislature at the head of whom
vas Mr. Dickey of Fort Kent. one of the tu-
sion leaders last winter.
THOSE ISLANDS.
In 1876 the State sold sixtysiX islands. and II cost
$50 more get rid oi them than they brought, say
Mr.. l..
These islands were small and barren, and
a. D.. 81
were anxious to get a title The legislature
unanimously authorized Gov. Conner and
council to examine into their condition and
ownership. and to sell such of them rs the
State owned, nj public auction-not rs a mat
ter of profit. but simply as Il favor to dcscw-
ingcitizcn,. \ committee of the council visited
the islands To examine them, and counsel wa,
sent TO Massachusetts to obtain information
as to disputed titles. The islands were sold
bv public auction and brought all anybody
would pay for them.
THE STATE PRISON.
II will take $4,000 make mp the deficiency in the
State Prison appraisal, says Mr.. Pillsbury.
That is, a commission recently appointed.
appraises the State Prison property ISL 900
less than an appraisal made under republican
rule. Surprising they do? Apprai>als ut
different periods are very likely TO vary, cs-
pccaly in such times as these through which
we have passed-particulary when it is de-
sirable for new warden to make u good
showing Mr.. Pillsbury does not charge that
Warden Rice has improperly taken any prop
erty of the State. 1t is all there. 1t is only
three or four years ago that the Legislature
appointed Hon. j. C.. Talbot. a prominent
democrat. to investigate the State Prison af-
fairs, and he reported them all right.
THE CENTENNIAL
In 1916 GOV. Connor and staff were voted 5000 to
attend the Centennial, and we d. not know what he
came of the money, half of which would have sui1c-
ed-says Mr.. PlllsbuIy.
over $500 was returned to the State
Treasury and was credited in the Treas
urcr's report. Nearly every State in the
Union expended proportionally much more to
secure an official representation, and demo-
cratic Connecticut ten times as much.
PAY OF COUNCILLORS.
Councillors have receiucd pay for more DAYS than
they nave served-says Mr.. Piilsbury.
SO they always have, reckoning their com
pensation at 81 per day. The law gives cddn-
cillors $50 for the Legislative session. Just
as it does Senators and Representatives, with
out regard to length of session or number of
days present. All that is required is to keep
quorum during the Legislative session.
Unicr tn old d nocratic rule, when the Leg
islativc session averaged one hundred days.
councillors received 5000 for doing just the
same as they do now for $50.
THE ''MIssING" TRUST FUNDS.
"A little 100000 trust funds are missing from
the state Treasury" charges Mr.. Pillsbury.
This is a serious charge, and is false in in
ference and spirit. If the fact that the So
called school and lndirn trust fnr.ds have
been used from year to year for State cNpcn-
SEES, as they were paid into the Treasury, is
evidence that they are .'misSing" in the sense
of being stolen or improperly diverted and
unaccounted for, MS Var. Pillsbury leaves his
hearers to infer,-thcn the great sinners in
this matter were the democratic admi .istra-
tons previous to 1851. which received and
used up a large proportion of these trust
funds. Hon. Isaac Reed, democratic State
Treasurer in 1856, reported over 5000, 900 OF
such trust funds, but every dollar was even
then ''missing."
The fact is that these 'missing' school and
Indian trust funds were the proceeds mainly
of sales Of land in past years. which proceeds
were always, both under dem cratic and re-
publican administrations. paid into the treas
ury and paid out for current expenses as re-
ceived and the treasurcrs report for each
year has always shown precisely the amount
paid and accounted for it as receipts for the
current year lust the same is any other rev.
cnuc. And this policy OF using the so-culed
trust funds, and then paying the interest on
them to the Indians and to town, to aid com
mon schools, was one originated by the dem.
ocratic party. Not u siHgfe dOUal Of THIS
faHd hDs ere, been fosf. BIT ere,y cent has becA
oppiied to expenses If the Stote ant dHiy ar
couHted for. Ind n tatge part has been 50
applet Hder democratic administrations.
STATE EXPENSES.