The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-03

absolutely require that our expenditures
| shall not exceed our receipts, and that
the state should have surplus at all
times available in its treasury.
1t is duty that is imperative upon us,
| in the administration of the affairs OF
the state to practice frugality, to care
fully scrutinize all appropriations and
| confine them to the narrowest limits
consistent with the welfare of the peo-
| pie, the state and its institutions, and
endeavor to reduce the rate of state tax
| alton. While we are striving to secure
new and additional revenues to the state
| from various sources, it will be of little
avail in relieving the tax payers of the
state, If it serves only to encourage ap-
preparations which are not absolutely
necessary.
| The legislature determines the amount
| of appropriations after investigation and
| hearing. No other department. of the
| government has the right to exercise
| that authority. The discretion and pow
er rests where it should. with the chosen
| representatives of the people; and as l
have suggested in a former communioa-
ton to the Honorable Senate and House
| of Representatives, the whole subject is
within your control. ''It concerns every
citizen of the state; it is your G. cd judg-
| ment that must govern; and every meas
ure should be considered upon its oacn IN
t2'insic naerits.''
And before the session closes. in the
performance of the constitutional duties
committed to you by the suffrages of the
people, yoW egiU determine the rate OF
taxation for state purposes, for the COM
ing two years, upon the valuation of the
state; and that rate mast depend upon the
good jMGgnaent and Wisdon1 Of the Jegisld-
ture iIa makiag appropriations from the
public treasury.
The Supreme Court of the State of
Maine has held "that the power of taxa
tion for the defence and benefit of the
people is limited only by the good sense
and sound judgment of the legislature"
Our court has also held that ''it is not
for the judicial department to determine
where legitimate taxation ends" 1t is
the province of the legislature.
I do not favor illiberality toward any
of the interests or institutions of the
state. l would deal with them justly,
even literally rather than penuriously;
but we should, in considering all of
these questions, constantly remember
that 1t is the money of all the people aue
are oppropr5atjng; that appropriations
of money demand taxation; and that the
little streams of revenue flowing from all
sections of our state into the public
treasury, from which these appropria-
tions are made, are the fruits of industry
and toll, and should be guarded as vigi-
lantly as the sagacious man would pro-
tect his private means.
l carefully refrain at this time from
expressing any opinion for or against
any of the proposed appropriations be-
fore your honorable bodies for considera
ton, but I have deemed it my duty to
present to the legislature the accompa-
nying statements from the treasury de-
partment, with the foregoing sugges-
tions.
The people have imposed great trust
upon the legislature and the executive,
and earnestly urge the utmost conserv-
atism. Our appropriations should be
governed by the actual needs; ives ould
strive to keep our expenditures within
reasonable limits; then we shall have
conformed to the imperative demands of
the occasion and fulfilled the confident
expectations of our constituents.
HENRY B. CLEAvEs.
The figures submitted by State Treas
urer Beal show the following expenses
and resources:
Regular expenses, partly esti-
mated and including all bills
making appropriations ap-
proved by the Governor to
MdfcQ La. xl,5J4, 900. OF