Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-06

of the institutions now supported or
| aided by the state. The State has been
generous always in its concern for
| them, and there is no likelihood of a
| different course being pursued now
| Every sentiment of humanity. justice
and Wcll-being demands that those i'll
stitutioGs be furnished With means
sufficient t" enable them I" fulfil their
legitimate purposes in Il creditable am.
| progressive manner. Due consider
alton also should be given to the con-
stantl: charging field OF the states
charities. aids. and general public ex-
| i'"nditures. and to the natural anu
proper desire of her citizens that WORK
Of this character should be commensur-
ate to the public means.
| NGt. do l advocate ut this time the
appropriation of money for new insti
tutions. 1t is fact that many public
1sriritcI men and women are consider
ing the advisability OF asking the state
10 provide institutions tor the shelter
| treatment. support and education of
certain unfortunate ones. who. if afford
cd the opportunity TO live even for
time under different conditions and
|
might be restored to health or might
become useful members of society.
There is much to be said in favor OF
these propositions. for they appeal
alike to our sympathies and to GU"
ideals of civic duty. Ru. the time may
not be altogether proTiticus for the
inauguration and development Of these
plans. Their consunmation must dc
| Of l,A 80.
provide the necessary financial support.
and | am not prepared to say that the
eyigency is 50 urgent that the State
should imme !iately respond.
,'hiie. therefore, it. is to be assumed
T.. YOU will examine the reports of
! tl.,. Departments and Institutions and
consistently provide for their needs and
| efficiency. yei 50 far as any unusual eX-
| p.nditIre is concerned. either for those
| now III existence or for those in con-
temptation. ! have preferred to refrain
from making specific accommodating
but urge instead that this whole Gues-
| ton be left for your consideration. and
| that your decision be made after you
have heard each case discussed upon
| its merits. in accordance with the usual
| routine of legislation. There is no end
| TO the demands made upon the State
| treasury. but there is an end to the
| ability of the treasury to meet those
| demands without imposing excessive
| burdens upon the taxpayers. | am
| fully aware that in many cases involv-
| ing public expenditure. the State can
| not afford to be unduly economical.
| There are too many pressing needs for
| that. and such a course would be too
narrow and contrary to the spirit OF
progress and humanity. But there is
| Il middle ground of true economy, not
readily found nor easy to stand upon,
but one which after all should be the
goal and abiding place of financiai
| Legislation. l believe that the people
of the State will not tolerate Il lavish
expenditure of public funds. and be-
lieve as fully that even our present
splendid financial showing furnishes no
sound reason to justify an expenditure
of suCn character.
If appropriations are excessive new
| sources az revenue must be found or
debt incurred If the energies Of q
Legislature or of tax assessors are to be
| directed constantly toward seeking new
sources of revenue for the purpose of
keeping pace with eXtravagant appro-
| pfiationS. Il grave injustice may be
done to property oWn"rs. The equal
| iZdtion of Vdi'leS for taxation is second
i'll Importance only to the revenue it.
self. and under the circumstances Just
named, the tendency will be to lose
| sight Of the principle Of ecualZa ton
| and to increase the taxes upon classes
| of property peculiarly open to attack.
| 1t is true that the present State tax OF
two and three-quarters mills is neither
! large nor burdensome. But it is
equally true that if it can be reduced
consistently. such reduction should be
| effected. one argument against a re-
| duction of the State tax seems to be
| that at some future time it might he
| necessary to restore the old rate or
| even increase il. and that the attempt
to do this would prove to be embar-
RAISING to political party or to an adj
| miniStration. But this is more an eX-
| cuSe than 4 reason. 1t is to be as
| sumed that if Il reduction is made. it is
| because it is right and necessary to
| make it. ana the same as to an in
| crease. In either case the legislature
| would give the matter most careful
| consideration. and the people of the
state would surely have full knowledge
| Of the facts ana motives governing
| Legislative action. and would render
| their judgment accordingly. The queS-
| zion of changing the tax rate is purely
Il business one dependent fer It's Solu-
| ton upon existing conditions and if we
m" greed upon this proposition it is
simply a truiSm to say that the au-
Z rrity to effect the change is in your
! H.. Is and yours alone. | am of the
opinion that the revenues of the State
have grown to that point where if pru-
dcncc is observed and yet not parsmo-
~, You can safely reduce the present
| tax rate and at the same time cause no
| unjust unrea sonabIe lessening Of
public efficiency. l believe, too that
such action on your part would meet
| with the prompt. cordial and very gen.
eral appreciation of the people of the
| State.
| l recommend, therefore. that the
| State tax be reduced from two and
| three quarters mills to two and one
quarter mills. The following figures