Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-01-11

~.
ING last otate Valuation upon winch
tne TAKE rate Oh two ana tnree-quarters
MUS was assessed was S352,22S.897.-
w. anu yieioed Ior TWO years rev.
ehue OF Sl,s4o,Soi.o4. me present or
new state valuation is $366,514.O14.
showing gain In valuation OF
Sl4,zSo,lliO0.
A tax rate OF Two and one-quarter
mills on this new valuation Will yield
Tor TWO years revenue OF $685.
O91.36.
The total receipts for the years 1908
and 1904, including $22S.1S6.94, the
amount received from the United
States Government, were S4,S5S. 1890.
The total expenditures for the years
1903 and 1904 were $5,052. 41207.
The estimated regular receipts for
1905 are $2,249. 10000; the estimated
regular receipts for 1906 are $2,116,-
10000.
The estimated regular expenditures
for 1905 are 1897 100000; the esti-
mated regular expenditures for 1906
are s1.s07 100000.
Among the convictions held by our
people which seem to be in entire
accord with the theory and principles
of self-government, is the belief that
every citizen Ia entitled to know the
exact amount of the compensation re-
ceived by State and County officials for
the services they are called upon to
perform, and that this knowledge
should be obtained from open records.
The law provides in many instances
that those officials shall charge and
collect fees in return for public acts
and services rendered by them. and
that all or part of the fees so collected
shall be retained by them as a pay
ment for such services. This plan of
compensation may have had some
merit in the past. and there may be
some cases where its continued use is
justified now, but upon the whole 1t
seems to be contrary to the spirit of
our institutions and to the wishes of
our people. The reasons for this are
obvious. The official 10 q public sery-
ant, with no authority other than that
derived directly or indirectly from the
people, and ali money coming into his
possession by the exercise of such au.
thority In In a sense public funds and
properly subject to an accounting. His
exact and regular compensation can
never be determined IL Il depends upon
the receipt of fees, and 1t often hap
pens that he receives for his services
annually a much larger sum than was
contemplated when his office was
created, and one far in excess of a
proportionate or even liberal remuner.
alton. 1t is not unlikely. too that an
unusual or unexpected diminution of
fees might seriously and unfairly i'm.
pair the income of an official who re.
lied upon them to afford a reasonable
salary. This question engaged the at
tention of the last legislature. and the
two leading political parties in the
State have publicly and formally de-
clared themselves in opposition to the
present method of paying certain State
and County officials. therefore rec
ommend that the fee system, so-called
be abolished. and that in its place you
establish by legislation a system pro-
viding for the payment of a fixed and
adequate salary to all those persons
who have been placed in Office by the
people or by the legislature, and who
in a public capacity serve the State
or Counties.
In referring to the recent death Of
Ezra Curtis Stevens, late Superintend-
ent of Public Buildings, am very sure
LudL tne many among you VINO knew
him. will recognize the propriety OF
using this occasion for the purpose OF
paying brief but sincere tribute to
his memory. Mr.. Stevens was most
efficient State official. His term OF
service was long and in different ca
pacities, but it was in the care and
improvement Of this building anc
these halls that he particularly ex,
hibited his abilities as a competent,
energetic and conscientious public
servant. All who met him will recall
his fine qualities of heart and mind.
his gentleness and unfailing courtesy,
and we whom KIND fortune made MS
friends VIII hold MIN always IN CRATE
iul recoiiecton'
1t has not seemed to me necessary
or expedient in this paper and at this
time, to present for your considera-
ton information OF the condition of
the State except in most general
terms Inc reports submitted by the
various departments boarus anu COM
missions contain the colnplete ana pre-,