Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-12

for three-minute campaign speech down
in Knox county. The increasing revenues.
the liquidation of our entire temporary
loan, the better adjustment of the
troublesome problem of taxation, tell the
story of pledges fully redeemed-the story
of public men true and devoted to pub
lie interests.
For the year 1901 the running expenses
of the state were N,1O6OU. or this
amount about 3S4 per cent, or more than
one third of the actual expenses, was
% per cent for charitable and reforma-
tory institutions.-the aggregate for these
purposes representing a total of y, l4S-
600. These items are of especial and Pc
culiar interest to the taxpayers OF Maine.
II should be of interest to know that or
the Si.106Mo disburscd by the state in
1871 $65sU0 went directly 10 the people
for the support Of their various schools.
For the present year this amount will
exceed S700.00e. the largest amount ever
returned to the people in any one year
for educational purposes. Regardless OF
the direct aid to academies and high
schools. there were at least two hundred
towns in Maine last year that received
more from the school fund and mill tax
tnan they paid the state in taxes. Where
did these benefits fall? Surely not upon
the cities and larger municipalities. for
Portland paid $91 900 more in state taxes
than it received from the school fund and
mill tax; Bangor paid $4,000 more than 1t
received; and Lewiston paid $4,000, and
Auburn 5000 more than, they received
$685. 900 then. should not be regarded
strictly as an item of expense, but rath-
er as a collection and distribution on the
part of the state of so much money.
whereby the wealth of the corporations
and cities and larger communities IL
made to bear its just proportion of thu
expense in training our boys and girls
for intelligent citizenship. The other item
for charitable and reformatory institu
tons, amounting last year to $4,000, Is
more properly and strictly speaking an
Of CIV "a
that you and l, and all loyal citizens of
Maine, most willingly bear. 1t affords
relief for the poor and unfortunate,-it
affords protection to our homes and SO
ciety. While even this item may appear
large to the average individual, ii may be
well to remember that 1t Is more than
balanced by single item on the other
side of the ledger, viz. the s5O0.000 of rev.
erue received by the state from that class
of people whose money is deposited In
our savings banks.
Are we doing too much for our schools?
Surely not, nor can we so long as our
system of education Is inferior to that
OF any state in the Union. Are we too
liberal with our charities and reforms?
Surely not, nor can we be so long as we
have poverty. misfortune and crime In
our midst But we should not forget the
fact that If the expense of our schools.
our charities and our reforms. were elm
mated from the disbursements OF the
state, or il the expense of these were
raised by direct municipal assessment
our present rate Oh Stdte tdN, =
would be reduced to fss than one mil on
every dollar of taxable property.
The legislation of 1901, supplemented y!
the wisdom and economy of the present
administration have made 1t possible. up
to the present time. to pay s2s6.0oo OF our
temporary loan. and on the twelfth DAY
of next month the entire temporary loan
of sSS6,00O will have been discharged But
this is not all-in the meantime the
states permanent debt will have been
reduced by $4,000.
Such then Is the record Of the present
Republican Observation-Disclosures than
half a million dollars applied to the re-
duction of our public debt and this with
ont increase in the rate OF taxation.
Thus is manifest the wisdom of the pol
icy which seeks to place at the head or
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