The Portland daily press., 1879-08-25
MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST %.

are S125, 900 less than last year. If So then all
the so-called deficiency will be paid this year
from the tax of last year. Not cent will re-
main at the end of the year to pay from the
mill tax assessed this year, which will not be
paid till next year.
Our query is, why has the tax of this year,
which will not be paid in till next, been made
quarter of mill higher than was sufficient
for the State expenses of 1877? Does II not
look as if the fusion leaders themselves see
that many of their so-caled reductions OF ap-
preparations only suspensions OF approprla-
tions and likely to leave calls for increased
amounts next wear? 1t will be remembered
that the Democratic Congress reduced appro-
priations, and made great noise over what
they had done; and the next year busted
themselves in passing deficiency bills.
REDUCTION OF EXPENSES.
The Republican party has unnecessarily multi
piled Offices and unnecessarily increased expendi
lures 1868, 227-says Mr.. Pillsbury.
If we have unnecessary officers, how does 1t
happen that Mr.. Pillsbury's legislature did not
abolish single one, except judgeship, (and
the Greenback Bangor Commercial says that
must be restored in order to hold all the courts)
but actually added State Pension Agent,
when previously the duty had been pat on the
Adiutant General.
If expenditures have been unnecessarily i'll
creased over sos, 900, how does it happen that
Mr.. Pillsburys Legislature, according to his
own claim, reduced them only S125,000. But
the fact is that the only real reduction of ordi-
nary expenses made, was about $4,000, or at
most, $4,000 Oh salaries and few items. The
free high school appropriation OF S3S, SS7, and
the Agricultural College appropriation of So
500 were suspended; $4,000 less was appropri-
ated to pay principle of public debt; several
thousand dollars less for printing, because of
the suspension of the printing of the agricultu-
raj reports and other documents; several thou
sand dollars less for expenses of Insane Asylum
and Reform School, without any change in the
method of running these institutions. These
and other items are not for the most part saw
ings but either the cutting off of educational
advantages, or the postponement of obligations
till after election. e., to next year. We can
tell great deal better next year just how
much good work Mr.. Pillsbury's Legislature
did.
So far as the real reduction OF State expenses
is concerned, it was inevitable that, as we came
down to a specie standard last winter, any leg
islature would cut down salaries and lop off
expenditures in the new order of things. In
deed, the Republican Senate led off in this
work, and Mr.. Ellis, a Greenback Senator
from Waldo, reproved the Greenback House
for not coming up to their duty as well as the
Republican Senate. This work of reduction of
taxation has been going on since 1870, as our
State tax was 81 mills in that year, and only
81 in 1876.
THE STATE DEBT.
The Republicans have increased the State debt
500 per cert.-says Mr.. Pillsbury.
Mr.. Pillsbury can but know that all our
State debt contracted since 1860, was incurred
for war expenses-and a war, too, brought on
us by the Southern wing of Mr.. Pillsbury's
own party, and prolonged by the trigs which
many of the same party put in the way in the
North. Every dollar of the expenditures for
other than war purposes has been paid each
year by the current revenue. Last year our
revenue was devoted to expenses growing ont
of the war to the extent of $3.50 900, and about
$780, 900 to aid towns in maintaining schools
STATE PRINTING.
81 am ready to go under bonds that your State
printing shall not onehaf what it did last year
says Mr.. Pillsbury
If so it is because the printing of the Agri-
cultural Report and few other State docu-
ments has been suspended this year. But why
does Mr.. Pills5ury avoid the practical point that
the Fusion House voted to give him the contract
for printing, Notwithstanding his proposal ,cds
16per cent. higher than h0t Of other parties rho
happened to be Republicans! Republican leg
islatures always gave the printing to the low
est bidder, but "reform" House, after Mr..
Pillsburys own heart, votes to pay him a large
sum more than other parties would have done
the same work for. This is a point which Mr..
Pillsbury avoids.
We ask what real reforms can be expected
of a fusion which starts out in this way? Let
them get fully seated i'll power, and then see
how little true reform and economy will come
from the men who are running the fusion
movement. The purpose is to throw dust in
the peoples eyes by high-sounding claims of
superior virtue and economy in State matters.
in order that Maine may be made to send en-
couragement to the Democracy,of the Union.