Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-08
THE INAUGURAL.
Continued from page %

running in debt or having our ax,,.
lures exceed our receipts and tins psnoi-
ing constantly increasing deficit ta ~.
tlded owe. ny temporary loans or funded
We nave arrived at point where a. i,
imperative that our expenditures MS u
be brought within our income. must
1t Is possible that this Legislature
be able to find some sources from r, nay
to derive revenue other than those wh WIFI
we now nave: but at present am unnbla
to designate or recommend any Other ,',. e
than by increasing the ratio Of direct way way
alton. 'aA
In the light of present experience thera
can be no doubt that we must restore tha
one-fourth mill. which was taken ar t rn1
aSS6 from the rate.and assess two and ono.
half mills for the years 1897 and 1sos
rms VIII be returning to the rate Of 1Ses
81 af't th .e,o. ana as undoubtedly every dollar
raised Will be appropriated to their ne
cessities and respond to a well-defined and
p, est pubic need; as it is clear that
most wise and rigid economy imperatively
calls FOR It: am confident that the tax
payers Will not seriously complain of this
increase. - NiA''
But should we raise the rate beyond
TWO and one-half mills | fear it might
SUBJECT US to adverse criticism, and per
maps 70 the charge of extravaganza.
feople are very sensitive to a marked
increase of taxation unless there is some
unusual public eXigency demanding it.
II is obvious then to my mind that there
mus, ana should be a reduction in the
amounts appropriated by you, as com
pared with two years ago, of near $l25,-
OO0.OO per annum.
II is for you to inquire and determine
now and where this reduction or saving
can be made. without Gripping or doing
serious INJURY TO any State institution or
worthy object of State aid
First. you must scrutinize every meas
ure which will open new avenues to the
treasury or create additional expenses.
and allow none to pass unless their use
and urgent.
Second. you must. in the exercise of a
sound discretion and wise economy. grant
no more than is absolutely necessary in
all cases where the State is bound to pro-
vide IN whole or in part.
lhere were many sums, most of them
not very large but amounting to con-
SIDERABLE IN the aggregate, all indeed for
very worthy and deserving objects. appro-
priated by the Legislature of 1895, which
perhaps yon may deem advisable. under
, our changed conditions and existing cir
cumstances, not to continue and there
were other larger sums which you may
decide to cut down to somewhat nearer
the amount which has formerly been ex-
pended for like purposes.
MY experience in legislation leads me to
believe that all or nearly all of the insti-
tutionS and objects. that have hereto
fore received aid. will return to each sue
ceeding Legislature generally asking for
increased appropriations,
ever plausible may be the reasons as
signed for so doing by their advocates,
would soon bankrupt the treasury
You in your judgment will doubtless be
able to decide correctly when and where
to cut down and curtail or refuse alto
gether.
have felt it my duty to call your atten-
ton to the actual financial condition. and
to suggest generally what rules should
guide you in dealing with this subject,
rather than to specify or enumerate any
ppt w
trenchment should be made.
What have said, however. i do not in
tend shall apply to any sums necessary
to educate the common people. to sup
port our school system, which we do and
should foster with no grudging hand. or
to provide or care for the unfortunate
Insane, or dependent pensioners of the
war of 1861.
1t is the imperative duty of this State
to see to it that no old soldier, or per-
son Immediately dependent upon him, sui
fers from want in his declining years.
To do this is not to bestow aims: but
rather to recognize and discharge a
whose valor saved the republic and
which, from our wealth and resources,
we can Willingly. and cheerfuliy pay
You will therefore make such an appro-
priatiOn for the State pension bureau as
Its necessities shall call for.
SCHOOLS.
The educational interests of our State
are of paramount Importance, and should
be properly and literally provided for.
The perpetuity and stability of our re-
publican. form of government are insep-
arably connected with. and dependent
upon, the general intelligence and en-
lightened PATRIOTISM of our citizens.
Every consideration of duty and safety
imperatively demand that all shall have
reasonable opportunity, free of charge
to acquire at least a common school edu-
cation.
Though the facilities for obtaining in
our common schools an elementary and
practical education are indeed very good,
do not fully satisfy or respond to the
wants of a large number of students
who have the time, the desire and the
ability to pursue a more thorough and eX-
tended course of study
In response to this demand, the State
has wisely created a free high school sys-
tenn, and also established three normal
schools, one in Pennington one in Cor
ham and one in Castine. l am confident
that very excellent results have been OBJ
tanned from these high and normal
schools.
We have also changed from what was
known as the district to the town system.
change was. voluntary In In others the act
of the Legislature in 1893 compelled the
change There have been frequent
changes in the method of teaching, text
books, and manner of supervising our
common schools. some of which 1t seems
to me. have been largely experimental.
but on the whole they may have produced
some beneficial results. yet the State su-
perintendent, and many other gentlemen,
who are deeply interested in education.
and who have carefully examined into
the present condition and workings of our
common school system. believe that some
radical changes are now necessary in or
der to be, in our school management and
instruction. equal to the demands of the
time and the best standards of other
States. Certainly the educational system
Of Maine should be of the very best. the
State is expanding each year over $O0-
600 for the purposes of education, and the
several towns and cities over $l,2Ooo0o
more.
This large sum of money should be used
upon business principles and with view
OF obtaining the greatest possible good.
The purpose and object, however praise
worthy it may be, will not excuse the I'M
proper use or needless waste of one dol
lar. and evidently it is worse than wasted
when schools are under the control OF
incompetent and unsuitable supervisors
and Teachers for in such cases 1t un-
doubtedly dfssipates not only the money
but the time and opportunities OF the pu-
pills are lost never to be recalled
In most Instances | am cOnndent that
the teachers and supervisors take q com
mendable interest in looking after the
schools In some cases. especially IN our
small towns. am led to believe II may
not be SO. 1T is not possible, in the re,
mote and sparseiy settled towns anu
l,x cab same