The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-02
State Tax Rate will Have to Be
Increased.
REDUCTION OF TWO YEARS AGO
RATHER UNFORTUNATE.
Resolutions Already Introduced carry
Appropriations 100000. Above the
Estimates-Kepairs on State Prison
Fish and Game Hearing.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J

! ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.j
Augusta. February 1.-Treasurer
Simnson's estimate of the states expenses
for the year 1897 is 81, 200. 900. This seems
to be in line with the call of economy
which Governor Powers sent out in his
address. but the wauchword of the ad-
ministration. though IL may be effectlve
| in the long run has not hindered the
legislature from introducing up to date
measures which if passed will run the
years expenses up $500, 900 higher than
the state treasurer's estimate. Mr.. Simp-
son is a Carmel man, and should he hang
I'D in front of his Office sign reading
"there will be no more sacred concerts IN
CARMEL Eastern Maiue people would
know what was meant. 1t is the ac-
,epted down east language to call q halt
in any proceeding and might be in
terpreted to mean that there will pe no
unusually big appropriation for the state
college, no new normal school, no anter-
national bridge at Fort Kent, few, II
any. new Offices or increases Of salaries,
no photographs of Maine scenery aud
nossibly not quite the $500, 1000 for the
Eastern Maine Insane hospital. A fine
picture of what this institution will look
| like (outside) when 1t is completed Is on
exhibition at the State House.
| INCREASE IN TAX RATE.
The estimate of Treasurer Simpson ap-
plies to regular expenses covered by law,
| but the aggregate of these appropriations
is elastic for obvious reasons. 1t has
been officially determined that the state
tax rate will have to bs "a mills. AS
will be seen by the trsasurer's report 1t
was reduced last year from sH mills to
~, but will have to be jumped up to 2A
this year to cover the increase in the
total of the regular appropriations. The
same officials who have arrived at this
conclusion are reported on good authority
to be of the opinion that the plan to de-
crease the tax on savings bank deposits is
endangered by the present needs OF the
state and the means at its disposal. As !t
| is by no means certain that the regular
appropriations of the state can be reduced
| below the figures given in this estimate
commonly called the regular appropria-
tion resolve it Is emphatically stated by
men who feel the responsibility in the
matter that resolves for new state under
takings must be passed with caution.
These points are some Of the things that
are being discussed at the Capitol ct the
present time.
THE AUSTRALIAN BALLOT.
OF course no person has authority to
say What a deliberative body will do, but
men here who are prominent in state
| fairs say that in their opinion the Aus
tralian ballot.talk caused by the intro
duction of the two bills previously de-
soribed will bring the whole matter
down to the question Of whether Maine
wishes to retain her present form Of
ballot Just as 1t is or return to the old
stlye party ballots
THE MERRIAM PACKS.
| There will be introduced to the legisla-
ture this session resolve appropriating
$4,000 for the purchase of Merriam packs
for the National Guard. These packs in
olude box with compartments for the
soldiers private effects and extra ammu-
milton. The blanket, overcoat and one
half Of q shelter tent is rolled and laid
over the top and down the sides of the
box, and the weight of the pack is put
ON the hips by means of light sticks rest
ing in sockets attached to the belt.
Many off Gers favor the packs and many
more priyates of the present day and
those who carried knapsacks In the war
are opposed to anything of the kind.
IMPROVEMENTS AT STATES
! PRISON.
| State Prison Inspector Augustus W..
Gilman, who was at the srate prison at