Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-06-22

Wow that the work Of the caucuses 1. ON
the opponents Of Governor Burieigh. a,
vu predicted by the JorEsAL, ar. c:ren.
sting the most false. absurd and maiieioa,
,torie. concerning him A number Of then
arr fally laid at rest by Hon. Nicholas Pes.
.enden In letter which we are allowed r.
usblish for the benefit Of yoters in othe,
psrss Of the district who may be besef with
sinilAr yarns
STARE o. MAINE,
OFFICE OF SECRETARY Of Starr.
Asasrs, June 20, 1891. ]
Mr.. .L,ha H. Raxoa, iSofon, Ne.
Dr.g SIG: In reply 70 yours relative q,
statements circsisted about the extra. !.
zance Of Governor Bngieigfi's simfa;xsfa.
ion you can say that ~.
statement Of his excess 10 expenditure. sy.r
The administration Of Governor Bodwefi i
/. web Of misrepresentation. To b4ein
With every appropriation Is referred u, .
france committee al each legislature
egidenees Of the necessities for zuet
smonnfs, as viii be- necessary to meet
the expenses Incurred under the aif.
ferent appropriations. are placed be-
fore this eomraistee and they report the
amount TO the Legislature which passes up-
% the .eyersi items for the ensuing years
The Governor has no more 10 do with the
amount. Of the appropriation than any
other citizen Of Maine except 10 approve ri.s,
bills passed by tbs two branches " the leg
l.istnfs.
The legislature of Maine made up hy the
people IL jast responsible and every in
diysdaai member Of the legislature IL JUS,
"a responsible for the size and amount of
the appropriation a. Governor Barleigb.
!.s to the expenditures of these appro-
priaiions A bill for every item eo,ue.
throggh this office, it Is referred By me to
committee Of the executive council
reported By the whole council from
that committee, a warrant drawn for
the amount In this Office This warrant /.
signed by the secretary Of state and the
Governor. This Ia the only way in which
one cent Of an appropriation tan be drawn
from the treasury.
You or any other intelligent citizen Of
Maine viii readily see that the Governor
has no more 10 do with the size of the
appropriations or the expenditure Of then,
than any other citizen Of Maine. To attack
his integrity on this score is TO attack the
iHteg gritty of every member Of the last
Legislature Who are directly responsible for
the sizs and amount Of every appropriation
The postage account is $1,000, In Bodwelrs
administration it was $500. Since thai
time, the volume Of business has in
creased 80 per cent. the seven or eight
different departments all draw their postage
from this appropriation, my department
alone using about 81 100. The receipt. on
hie In the Treasufer's office will show 10
any one that the amount Of postage used by
the executive department this year is not 10
excess Of any other year. There have been
tw0 new departments added since Bodwell's
administration. The same private secretary
serves who served Governor Bodwei at
about the same salary. He has a stenogrsph-
rf At $3.50 per year. As to the portcrs and
laborers, large addition has been made
to the state House. containing marble floors
a complete new system of steam heating
and ventilating, all of which require more
help.
This appropriation, the Governor has
nothing whatever to do with, and it is in no
wise IN excess of the needs created by the
additions to this building and the general
Improvements made by the last two Legis-
Iatures. Yours Respectfully,
NICHOLAS fEssESpFS,
Secretary of State.