Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-13
STATE HOUSE.
Governor Hill Is Pleased With
Names Financial Standing.
Income for Years 1902 Shows H.
crease Of Half a Million.
Annual Report Of Inspector General hoyt
Speaks Nell Of National Guard.

In an interesting conversation re
gardinS the condition OF the States IL
nances on Saturday. Governor Hill
said:
, The cry of extravaganza cannot well
be raised against the last Legislature.
believe it would be hard to find 4
body of men more worthy to represent
their several towns. l found them &C
tuated by q very high sense OF their
duties and obligations TO the people
: they represented.
II am convinced. from careful
study of conditions in various states
that Maine gets better serice at less
rates from her various department
chiefs than any state of corresponding
standing. The departments are wisely
and economically administered and the
men at their head are able to give the
members Of the Legislature an intelli-
gent statement of facts when further
legislation is needed. The new legisla-
tor depends largely on these officials
and my experience has been that he is
willing TO give them full credit.
II do not think there Is much justii
cation for the claim that our State is
extravagantiy managed. There may
be some instances where appropriations
might with safety be reduced, but 1 do
not believe the sums thus saved would
make any considerable amount. III
private business it is essential that
good men, competent in the particular
branch of work which they understand.
should be placed In charge; and the
same rule should hold in state affairs.
Such men are entitled to a liberal and
remunerated salary. Surely, If one will
examine the list of salaries paid State
officials it will be noticed that they are
not in any instance unreasonably high
or in the least degree extravagant
Last year there was an apparent in
crease in the total appropriations but
this was made necessary in part by An
increase in the mill tax and railroad
taxes To be returned to the towns.
Then another Increase was caused by
the fact that temporary loans, made
n"CesSary by the Spanish war and IN k
of revenue i'll the past had % BE- pro
i1ed for. While these aplrupria tons
made III" total amount seem larger
than il ought to BE- yet it j. explained
that the rules of bookkeeping ncces-
STATED It, The temporary loans OF
1856 100 We're made in the appropriation
bill Ton iSol ana IN" same had to y" ill.,
corporated in mat for 1902; thug giving
The Inpre ssiou th1t temporary loans 10
the amount OF 500 coo werc made. OF
course this is not true. The temporary
loans now outstanding amount only 10
S350, 900.
-, - T. 20 4 -
state for IN. two years OF 1901 and 1907
will be ~ least 100000 and it will b,
possible for the State 10 start The year
1903 with b.. renporary loans paid IL
full ana ii last 100000 left in the
treasury, Then when Congress arpro-
pirates. hlch Ii viii probably do BE-
fore mid winter, the sum Of $i3. 600 Of
civil War claims, which has beer.
awarded til, state by the United States
court If claims. the surplus in the state
treasury Will reach 100000 at the be-
ginning of 1905.
During the legislative session. last
winter, II vas shown that the savings
in appropria tons for the various de-
partments and State institutions
amounted TO from $40, O00 to $4,000 over
he appropria tons for like purposes the
year before.
II am pleased with the condition Of
the treasury. and am satisfied that tn
people of the state will be glad to know
that we are far from being bankrupt"
Hon. W. ". Stetson. State superin-
tendent of schools, has many engag &C.
ments for the next few weeks. On
Wednesday, Jan. IA. he will lecture be-
fore the students of Freedom Academy
upon, some educational topic of interest.
ON Jan. is he will speak TO the students
at the Gorham Normal School. Then
he will devote several days to teachers
institutes as follows:
Standish, ian. II: Thoma ston, Jan.
n; Leeds, Jan. Is: Rumford. Jan. 81:
Jay. Feb. :: and Berwick. Feb. II.
Daniel ". Graves. one of the clerks
in the adjutant generals Office in 1885.
and whose picture appears in the group
Recently presented by Charles X. Part
ridge to the department was at one
time private secretary to Governor Co