Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-21
Mr.. Davis on the Court Stenographers.

u.
The Republican papers undertake TO
account for part OF the enormous
Increase Of salaries of State officlalS
by pointing out that $4,000 of 1t is the
salaries of court StenoSfhpiierS'
formerly paid by the counties ana now
by the State, the implication being
that the increase is not actual Dut
simply shifting the burden. But II the
counties were allowed to furnish their
own etcnographers for their own
courts. they would employ any com
rct,nt persons they chose, and DO IL
much more economically, saving
travelling and hotel expenses and Civ
ing TN. work to their stenographers, OF
which every county has plenty OF
Fompetent Waterville Sentinel.
Here is 4 characteristic attempt OF
the organ of Candidate DAVIS I'd
"dodga and bubble" over matter III
which he has been proven wrong.
In undertaking in n recent speech 10
shaw an unwarranted increase in the
salaries of State officials he included
the salaries Of county attorneys ana
stenographers of the Supreme Court
both of which were formerly paid by
the Counties but are now paid by the
State. Instead therefore of these
salaries being an increased burden up
on the taxpayers as Mr.. Davis would
!. have 1t appear they have been largely
|, lifted from their shoulders. Under the
County system such salaries were paid
directly from taxes levied upon county
property. Under the State system 65
per cent of them are paid by interests
that do not pay county taxes and
which, in II large measure. are located
outside of Maine. The banks and the
wild lands, and the great corporate
interests largely owned by men who
live for the most part in other states,
pay about 65 per cent. of the State
taxes. 1t is evident therefore that
where the State has assumed the pay
ment of county salaries the taxpayers
as a whole have been relieved of such
burdens to the extent of 60 per cent.
Davis. does not believe in giving the
taxpayers of the counties this substan-
1ial measure of relief. Referring to
the assumption by the State OF the
salaries of the court stenographers
formerly paid by the counties amount
ing to s10,5OO which Mr.. Davis in
cluded in his list of increase of State
salaries. the Waterville Sentinel de-
clares that:
"If the counties were permitted to
furnish their own stenographers for
their own courts, they would employ
any competent persons they chose, and
do it much more economically, saving
travelling and hotel expenses and Civ
Ing the work to their stenographerS of
which every county has plenty of COM
petent ones"
1t IS evident from this that Mr.
Davis is opposed to the State paying
the salaries of these stenographers
believing that this burden, on the
grounds of economy, should be borne
by the taxpayers of the counties and
that the, great interests largely cor
norate-which pay only State tax
should be entirely relieved of any par
of this expense! Under the old count!
.,,st,m the whole of this sum $10,5v,
was borne by the county taxpayers
Under the present State system onl!
1855 of this amount falls upon TIL
-f.o,,n+,, t.xpayers. the rest of it being
now paid by those great interest,"
chiefly corporate-which today pay 8
per cent. of the State tax. Here !