Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-09-05
how Candidate Davis got $10.s0e OF

his $4,000.
The largest item of real increase IS
IN the salaries Of the judges OF the Su-
preme Court, granted after mature de-
liberation by the Legislature and zone
by consent of the people who reanzeo
that the best men available were need
ed on the bench Of our State ana
should be adequately paid. Candidate
Davis was a member of the legislative
salary committee in 1901 when the
salaries OF the judges were raised $oVv
each, and was in the House IN 1SV3
when second raise was made. ano
there is no record Of his dissent in
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 Candidate
Davis is whining and Candidate Da-
Wis organ is squeaking with the dis
cordant note Of rusty hinge on
hen-house door.
There are the salaries Of the entire
staff in the Eastern Maine Insane
Asylum. amounting to $5.400. to be
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-
ant attorney-general. highway COM
missioner, and their clerks. Mr.. Davis
IL
gives the figures of increase and stu
diously avoids mention of why and
wherefore, undoubtedly realizing that
he could not fairly recommend reduc-
ton by even a 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
salaries. For instance, in the abolition
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-G y-Gcneral-their fees
amounting to more than their salaries.
So. although the salary list shows an
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
fee he would have abolished-one
State salary he would reduce were he
Governor OF Maine! Insincerity is a
mild term to apply to a man who
makes such statements 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 minor extra expense OF various
State offers. trustees, etc, amounting
to two or three thousand dollars more
in 1905 than ter years ago is answered
by the fact that the State has more in
stitutions requiring more care in SUI
perviSion, etc. For instance, in the
department Of the banking commission
er there are now 11S banks trust COM
panies and loan and building associa-
tons to examine against SO in 1891.
The tax is now $476,52S.75 against
$344,27660 in 1S9l-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