The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-09-06

how Candidate Davis got Slo'aoV u
his ISL 900
The largest item of real increase -
In the salaries OF the judges Of the
preme Court, granted after mature oe
liberation by the Legislature ana uons
by consent of the people VINO reaIla ed
mat the best men available were neeu
ed on the bench of our state AM
should b. adequately paid. can d
Davis was q member of the leglsiatIVe
salary committee in 1901 When tne
salaries C the judges were rasseu 49,
each. and was in the House IN lsoS
when a second raise was mace anu
there is no record OF his dissent III
committee or in Legislature to the pas
sage of the bill-admitted by both par
ties to be Just and deserved, on the
contrary, he adocated the salary IN
crease. SO there is $4,000 more OF
the increase about which Candldate
Davis is whining and Candidate ia
Wis organ is squeaking with the ois-
cordant note OF a rusty hinge on
hen house door.
There are the salaries OF the entire
staff in the Eastern Maine Insane
Asylum, amounting to $1,000, to De
added to the salary list of to-day and
also the pay of such new officers as the
State has seen fit to call for-assist-
missioner, and their clerks. Mr.. Davis
in his policy of stating half-truths
gives the figures OF increase and stu
diousy avoids mention of why and
wherefore, undoubtedly realizing that
he could not fairly recommend reduc-
ton by even penny this additional
expense.
But the larger part of the apparent
increase is only in bookkeeping and
entails no added expense to taxpayers.
The legislature has determined upon
certain changes In methods of paying
10 ri 70 Inc In IN n hnlitinn
of the fee system certain nominal and
meagre salaries were raised but on the
other hand the State now requires the
fees to be paid into the State treasury.
In many instances the State has thus
made an excellent bargain-notably in
the cases of the Secretary Of State
and the Attorney General-their fees
amounting to more than their salaries.
So, although the salary list shows an
increase, as noted by Candidate Davis
in his half-truths, analysis of the
schedule shows not one item to which
Mr. Davis can take exception. Let
Mr.. Davis stand forth and state one Of
flee he would have abolished--one
State salary he would reduce were he
Governor of Maine! Insincerity is q
mild term to apply to man who
makes such staten ents as he makes
and has no detailed plan of remedy to
offer or even suggest, In case he really
believes his own allegations. His fling
at mino- extra expense OF various
State offers. trustees. etc. amounting
to two or three thousand dollars more
in 1905 than ten years ago Is answered
by the fact thai the State has more in
stitutions requiring more care in SUI
pervision. etc. For instance. in the
department of the banking commission
or there are now 113 banks, trust COM
panies and loan and building associa-
tons to examine against 90 In 1891.
The tax IS now $476,528.75 against
$344,276.60 in 1S91-not because the
tax has been raised but because there
is this much more business. Practi-
cally every department in State affairs
can show the same kind of develop
ment and the same natural increase in
expense-but only such moderate In
crease as conditions actually demand.
Candidate Davis. continuing his