The Portland daily press., 1899-01-06

Ice the state treasurer 70 borroW Tor any
but war purposes. wisely placed there by
an amendment since the constitution
was adopted. which amendment express
~ declares that the state shall not, ex-
cept for wsr purposes. incur debts in ex-
cess OF $500. 900, and at present we arsvery
near that limit. 1 recommend to you
a careful perusal of the reports of the
state treasurer. in which you will ind
itemized statements OF all the receipts
and expenditures for the past two years.
By so doing it will familiarize you with
many details. and be a valuable aid In
legislating for this and the coming year
/ also feel that IL devolves upon me
to invite your attention to some OF the
statements and facts contained In those
reports, which may. perhaps, enapie you
to better understand and appreciate the
exact situation. The receipts from al
sources, except loans. for the two years
past. have been S3.264.O42ss. Inc ex-
penditures for the same period, inciud-
ing 500. 900 paid in reduction o. the pup
lie debt. have been s3.452.Sls.ss. Al the
close of the year 1896 there was in the
state treasury the sum of s2oS,bOo bs. Al
the close of the year 1898 there was in the
state treasury the sum Of 1854, 1918.
The amount received from state tax
for the years 1897 and 1898 was sl.662,-
3s65 S. The amount received from saw
ings banks during those two years was
s775.s15.s6. one-half of which was re-
funded to the cities and towns of the
state for school purposes. The amount
received from railroads during those two
years was 1925, 0S1.46. The amount re-
funded to the various cities and teYns OF
the tax received from railroads, under
the law, was S126. 700.5S. The amount
paid out and expended during the years
1857 and 1898 In excess of receipts. ex-
cept loans. was s1sS, 1855.
The balance which Is found In the
treasury at the end Of the year is soon
dissipated and is rather fictitious than
real, as Immediately after. nearly all OF
It is due to the various towns on ac-
count OF the school fund
These statements of receipts and ex-
penditures contain none of the Liabilities
incurred, or money used in equipping
the troops called for to MI the quotas OF
the state in the recent war with spain.
Not one cent has been taken from the
treasury for military purposes during
those years except the usual appropria-
ton for the National Guard in time OF
peace.
There are, therefore, considerable sums
due which should be provided for and
paid. The railroads have willingly fur
nished all the transportation asked for.
and have not yet received any pay. This.
l think, is one of the largest claims to
be provided for and should be paid at
an early day. There are other and press
ing bills which I know 1t will be your
pleasure to take measures to meet.
Yet am confident that when the final
balances are struck. and when the stats
shall have received from the general
government the amount that is actually
due u.s. OF which the accounting officers
have already certified as correct, Vs.
so and there IL some $4,000 more not
certified as II has not been presented yet,
1t win be found that we have not in
CURED any very large debt over and
above the sum that is due US But the
states creditors should not wait longer.
In the meantime, until the United States
government shall pay, the state should
settle all its debts that are just and due.
which IL can do with a small temporary
or permanent loan for war purposes.
have not ascertalned the exact amount
of outstanding bills that need to be cared
for; that will be presented betore the
proper committee.
Neither the appropriations for war
purposes or any other have been over
drawn during the past two years. or ap-
piled to any other objects than that for
which they were appropriated or We're
intended. and there will be found that
balance of uneXpended appropriations
was carried into the treasury at the close
of the year 1897 OF $26,6i6n. and at the
close of the year 1898 of S3S 045.2S
The urgent necessity and sound bust
ness proposition that we should bring
our expenditures in times of peace with
in our incomes must be apparent to you
all, There should be a reduction of APP
propriations in all cases where II can )e
made without Gripping or inJuring
worthy objects of state aid until this
basis has been reached. Therefore, IT
would be well for you TO scruunize and
examine no only the measures or re-
solves presented to you creating new
avenues to the treasury, but also some OF
those acts now on the statute book. and
see If their necessity is plain and urgent,
and II the state is not, in some cases.
paving too much for what ii receives.
No one should obtain for anything done
for or furnished the state one cent be-
yond reasonable price.
So far as / know. and have examined
with care every department of the state
government has been and now is con-
Quoted with judicious economy, and with
an earnest purpose to promote the public
good That there is a tendency 10 in
crease expenditures in all, or nearly all,
of them is obvious when we compare
what they cost today. and what they ask
for with what was appropriated for
them a few years ago. still 1t must be
remembered the duties and demands on
them have largely increased within the
past twenty years
would suggest, that actuated by a
determination to use the states money
as you would your own, you determine,
Through the proper committee or COM
mittees, what is absolutely necessary
for the several departments OF the state
government and all its institutions and
confine all appropriations for them
within that limitation
There should be no gross sums appro-
priated to be used in common by several
departments for express bills or for any
other purposes, but each should have
assigned for itself such sum and no
more. for contingent and other expenses.
as you find absolutely necessary.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
After years of patient waiting and
timely warning and Intellectual negoti-
ating, the people of the United States
were compelled in the interests of hu
mainly and good government to call a
halt. and to put an end to the despotic.
chronic and inhuman conditions, very
injurious and detrimental to their intes-
aste that baH sn long exiSted in C$ha