The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-08-25

Some Plain Facts and Straight Figures for the
Consideration of the Voters of Maine.

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been nrofiiEate and extravaganza in the
expenditure Of the peoples money? DOES
not every intelligent voter who has
watched The course Of legislative events
kno" tnat no measures are subjected to
Closer scrutiny or run more critical
gauntlet than those that carry appropri-
atoms?
Mr.. Davis organ now charges the
legislatures of Maine with looting, but
MT. Davis own opinion Of the men who
made up the Legislature of 1901 Is hest
put in his own words. He said then.
I am fully persuaded that every mem.
Der brought to this Legislature a COM
sclentious desire to participate in wise
legislation to the upbuilding Of the
state and the best good of his com
stituency." Again he bore testimony to
me nigh character of the Legislature of
lsoS when he declared upon the floor Of
the House, on the closing day Of the
session. his conviction that 1.-The moral
ana material interests of the State" had
'held larger place. in the Thoughts
and plans" of the members than had
private enactments.~ Continuing he
ucation. State charities and the pph1;c
utilities have ell been carefully con-
sldered In the committee and in the
house. as whole, and If any Of these
interests have. suffered at our hands II
II because the common treasury has
been inadequate"
These were the public exnress,on. ~
MI Davis after serving In the list .nd
ZIG legislatures. They doubtless voiced
h's honest convictions. Now, however.
ne IS after votes, and the voters are
seiemnly Informed that the Legislatures
Oh Maine for the past quarter of a rem.
Jury have disregarded their obligat,on,
and rloted with the peoples money,
Let U.s. see whether or not the facts cub
stantiate this assertion For MANY dav.
MI. Davis has kept standing in his pa ner
III olg-1aced type the statement that
STATE expenditures increased 300 nor
cent IN the period between 1882 nd 1919
Let US see If this is so. The total St,ta
expenditures for 1882 were 81. ose Sao "a
If. therefore. Mr.. Davis is correct IN bis
assertion that they increased 900 ner
cent. in the next twenty years. the ev-
81, 2s9, 1922 The report of the State
treasurer for 1902 shows that the ex-
penditures of that year (deductino
temporary loan of s350O0O which for,,e,,
no part of them) were 81, 923, s3o31 r.
will seen. therefore, that Mr.. Davis
just $1,376. 1921 wide Of the truth y, ~.
300 per cent. increase assertion. Sin5,.-
discrepancies will be found in most NJ
the other assertions made by his organ
which are obviously put out with de-.
sire to catch votes rather than state
facts.
The reason why 1902 was selected for
comparison by the organ Of Mr.. Davis
was probably because in thu at wear there
appears as part of the State Expendi-
lures the sum of $500 AS a temporary
loan. which was largely on account of
the Spanish War expenses, but whic,.
item formed no part of the current ex-
penditures OF the Stale. 1t is true that
there was an increase-some Of it merely
arparent-of 1923, 491.37 in State expendi-
lures during the period between 1882 and
1902. The taxpayer will not object to
this fact, however, if it can be shown
that these expenditures were wisely
made and for the best interests Of the
people of the State. Let US look. there
fore, at the principal items of this in
crease, viii eh are:-
$29,356 County taxes collected and
paid back in 1902 in excess Of
same for 1882.
31,204 Dog licenses collected and paid
back. No such item in 1882
24743 Railroad tax, related.
Zoo Salary of Railroad Comms-
sioners. their clerks and ex-
penses. Paid by the railroad
companies.
S9S003 This sum is purely apparent
and does not constitute any
part of the real expenditures
in 1902.
$261. 1853 School fund and mill tax re-
turned to towns in 1902 more
than was returned in 1882.
86,927. Railroad and telegraph tax re-
turned to towns and cities in