The Portland daily press., 1879-09-06

Lewiston Brass band furnished music. Hon.
Jesse S. Lyford presided rnd introduced Mr..
Pillsbury as the siIver-tonged orator OF the
Kennebec Valley. Before introducing Mr..
Pillsbury, Mr.. Lyford announced that the
Greenback fiat apostle, Rev. Mr.. De La Matyr,
would speak at the Greenback meeting, Satur-
day evening
Mr.. Pillsbury then proceeded to repeat his
Auburn Hall speech, which we have hereto
fore published and commented on-with the
additions noted below. After representing
that all the difficulties which we have en-
countered since 1860-even the sweeping OF our
commerce from the ocean by Confederate
cruisers-were caused by Republicans, MI. I.
proceeded to charge that the hepuDllc:ans
have sqnandered our public housekeeping
that the most of our public lands had been
"squandered' under Democratic rule.
THE SALE OF ISLANDS.
MI p. then reiterated his charge about the
sale by Gov. Conner of the sixty-six small
islands which the state had never considered
of any value-the expenses OF hunting up
titles, and of examination and sales, with
amounts refunded, exceeding the receipts. to
the amount of $4O4. The fact was that no.
body regarded the islands as a source of reve-
nue. to the state, and that the investigation
and sale were directed by the Legislature
merely to meet the requests of fishermen that
By some mistake a few islands were sold
which the state did not own, and the owners
were recompensed by the state. On this fact,
Mr.. Pillsbury comments
''Goyernor Dngley says that these sales were
made in the interest of poor fishermen. fancy mat
see the Governor. standing on the stage with
large dry Goldfish under his arm shedding tears Tor
the poor fishermen. Qaughter) Why don't he
state that the sale of these Islands was really very
expensive to the poor fishermen. They were oblig-
ed to go to Augusta and employ counsel at a large
expense, to protect their titles"
This comment is simply shrewd dodge to
divert attention from the fact that the trans
action was intended to simply settle the title
to few small and almost valueless islands on
the coasts, and not as source OF revenue
Part of the islands, mere rocks, were not oc-
cupied, and were sold to the highest bidder for
all they would bring. Nearly all the others
were purchased at auction by the Inquest bid
ders, who were the occupants. A few island s
were sold by oversight, which afterwards
proved not to be owned by the state. We sub
NIT that political orator must be hard up
when he holds up such transaction as evil
dence Of corruption.
THE STATE DEBT.
Mr.. Pillsbury then repeated his charges that
the State debt had been increased from $685.
900 in 1856 to $4, SOC, 900 in 1878, and added
Governor Dingley says that the State debt is due
to the war. l can remember when the war was in
progress, and they were making it cost us SO where
it ought to have cost, 81 When we Democrats
debt is a national blessing.
We never before heard of the suggestion
that ''a national debt is a national blessing"
Every one knew that the debt was an immense
burden; but certainly if we could not have
purchased munitions of war, etc.. on credit,
we could not have prosecuted the war an
hour. Unquestionably the length and cost OF
the war were increased by the great difficult
ties we had to encounter, chief OF which was
the fact that there were SO many men at the
North-not one of them Republicans-who put
rCta 70 fD nt n
out that the rebellion, which necessitated the
increase of debts, was inaugurat3d by the
Southern wing of the fusion party.
STATE TAX.
Mr. Pisbury then repeated his Auburn Hall
charges that the State tax has been increased from
one mill or $211 900 in 1856 to SS9900O in 1878.
The answer to this charge is simply this:
Of the tax in 1875 there went to pay princ-
pal and interest ON war debt, PENSIONS sup
port of soldiers asylum, the sum of $3.50, 369.-
So; and there was collected and distributed to
towns for common school purposes, the sum OF
$226, 6.91-simply reducing municipal taxes
for schools to that extent, as in 1886 the towns
raised this sum by their municipal assessments.
The account thus stands:
1856.
State Tax for Ordinary Expenses. SILL, 3S4.6o
ISIS.
Whole State Observation-Disclosures. -. S99, 7l2.70
Tax for War Purposes . $500, 369.95
DlSUIlputeu 10 1o"Hs "a, -.
for Schools. .........-. 20, l4o.9l
Total War and school Tax -. 716,516.87
Balance of Tax for Ordi-
nary Purposes OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Ioo, 100, Oh
This shows that less of the State tax was
devoted to ordinary purposes in 1878, than IN
1856, instead of $50 per cent more as charged
by Mr.. Pillsbury.
Putting the matter in nut shell, the tax
for ordinary State purposes in 1856 was one
mill. The tax in 1878 for war purposes was
over tro mills, for distribution to towns for
common schools one mill, and for ordinary
State purposes less than one mill.
STATE EXPENDITURES.
Mr. Pillsbury continues
Take out every item that can be charged to the
war; and your ordinary expenditures have increased
$50 per cent.
Now when spoke in Auburn accidentally read
footing from this report holding up Treasurers
reportl which included an item of $3.50 cash
on hand. They actually have the hardihood to
charge that did this Intentionally, and meant to
deceive. 1t is not so. 1t was mistake. The item
of 81 81, 900 should come out, and have taken it
out in my subsequent speeches.
Mr.. Pllsbury has at last taken notice OF the
fact that at Auburn Hall he represented the
disbursements of 1878 to be 81 .43O, 1921, while
they were really only 81 ,273, 1861. We accept
his explanation that it was a mistake on his
part, but at the same time we ask how much
reliance can be placed upon figures SO careless
ly made up for partisan purposes, as to increase
the expenditures one year S157 ,2o6.2O above
what they really were.
Mr. Pillsbury admits that $3.50, 900 of these
disbursements, leaving about $3.50, O00,were for
war purposes. But when he tells his hearers
that the remainder was for ordinary State ex-
penditureS, against S24O 900 in 1886, he is guilty
of conveying a wrong impression to his hearers;
because he knows that about $4,000 Of the
disbursements Of 1878 acre not for ordinary
State expenditures, but acere discussed to toaons
to aid them in supporting schools, thereby lessen
ina municipal expenditures to that eItent.
This is the one important fact which MI.
Pillsbury conceals from every audience which
he has addressed, and fully illustrates the
maxim that half truth is more dangerous
than fall falsehood. Deduct these school
MONEYS and also railroad and county taxes and
Indian shore rents, which simply pass through
the State treasury, and the ordinary State ex-
penses of 1873 were only $o6O,O00 And de-
Quoting further the expense of Normal Schools,
Industrial School for Girls, education OF deaf
and dumb, and IS 600 given to Maine General
Hospital and the actual ordinary expenses in
1878 were only $320,000, against %24O,OOO in
1856.
Now if Mr.. Pillsbury had stated that the ex-
penses of our State for ordinary purposes had
increased nearly $4,000 since 1S56-which is
the fact-and based all his arguments and ap-
peals on that, it would have been a legitimate
argument; but when he represents that the
increase oil ordinary expenses Has Deeu ONtI
$500 900 since 1856, he misleads his hearers,
and conveys to them an impression that the
treasury has been plundered, when the truth
is there is no foundation for the insinuation.
Our State expenses have increased somewhat
in consequence of the flush times through
which we have passed, but not so much as pri-
waite expenditures, and not half so much as the
expenditures of Democratic States.
REDUCTIONS PRESENT YEAR.
Mr.. Pillsbury proceeded to claim that there
was deficiency of $310000 last January,
which the present state government had to
provide for. This conveys a wrong impress
sion. In consequence of the mistake OF reduc-
ing the tax of 1877 to three mills when 1t
should have been 3 81 mills (he same as in
1876 it became necessary for the state to hire
S150,000, which amount is to be paid this year
from the products of the mill tax OF 1878.
which is being paid this year.
On page 3Sth of Treasurer Banks last re-
port, he says if the disbursements of 1879
should be as large as those of 1878, then there
would be further deficiency of nearly $780,
600 at the end OF the present year. But there
could not be as large disbursements in 1879 as
in 1878, for the reason that in 1878 there was
paid $25 900 on the principal of the state debt
when none comes due in 1879. The savings
bank tax to be dsbursed to schools in 1879 is
$50, 900 less than in 1878: the railroad tax ST.
600 less: and other items, making i'll all over