The Somerset reporter., 1906-08-09


salaries pad Tor what ls conceded TO be
effective pubic service are 30
small as 10 DO pathetic II is not &c
essary 10 60 into details Any 10 Al can
read the salary list in The Maine Reg
lister
The public of Maine are not general
ly familiar with the nature of the du-
ties of public officials nor conversAnt
with the great volume of business tran
sacted yearly under the gilded dome at
Augusta Ii is a place of incessant APP
pllcation in all departments, because
state business means succession OF In
flute detail. That the State OF Maine
has such loyal. able and assiduous of
ficials at salaries that would make even
a third-;ate lawyer smile is piece Of
good fortune for the state, and even
cursory analysis of the facts makes
Candidate Davis assertions seem ridicu-
lous
Candidate Davis is not personally a
believer in meagre salaries 1t is known
that he offered well-known Maine man
for three months of his services as edi-
itorial writer on the Davis organ during
this campaign more money by thous-
and dollars than any State oticer-with
one OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for years
work. II will be noted that (andidate
Davis considers the best is none too
good for Citizen Davis In his anxiety TO
get hold of State Government, but when
it comes to administering the affairs of
the biggest corporation in Maine-and
that's the business of the state Govern
ment-he Is anxious to pare below the
limite of efficiency, II he is honest in bis
asseverations. He is denying TO the
State the results of its own progress and
prosperity.
Such attitude on the part of bust
ness man and a supposedly loyal and
progressive citizen of Maine, anxious to
forward honest and legitimate public
utilities is hardly excusable, even con-
sidering that Candidate Davis is willing
to stoop to- any sub;erfuge to catch
votes.
About as profitable reading as tax
payer can peruse in this connection is a
comparison of some figures regarding a
few state departments in which an in
crease of expenditures may be noted IN
the past twenty years.
Take the office of Insurance Commits
sioner Here are the figures from that
UTduCu VI tue pupilC oCl NlIo'
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
1882. 1908.
Tax on Insurance
Companies, s79iL4S sIo4,S97,5z
Cash from Insurance
Commissioner, 5,t72.6f IS,SI2.5o
II oS4o9 1870 %
Commissioners salary, 100000 10000
Deputy Commission
er's salary, 10000
Clerk hire and eX
penses, 10000
10000 100000
Amount received, II,oS4o9 i53,7Io.o3
Salary and expenses, 10000 100000
9.SS4.o9 IIG,5Io.o3
A glance reveals the truth.
In 1882 one man did the work-the
commissioner. The total receipts we're
Sill 0S4 90. One man could do that
amount of business There were few
companies to issue licenses to and to
keep track of Consider how the de-
tail has multiplied by the accession of
new companies, and all the manifold
duties required in their control. Last
year the receipts of the State from that
branch were 1923, ITO 03-more than ten
times the volume of business done TWEEN
ty years ago in that year of 1882 TO
which Democratic orators are pointing
with so much pride. And yet the ex-
penses of the Office, salaries and clerk
hire, are but "a 200 against 81 200 in
1892 If MIR. Davis or Mr.. McGIIicuddy
can figure out of that showing anything
except a condition of affairs advanta-
geous to the State of Maine, then their
aoumen as business men grows duh as
they turn from their private business
to consider public affairs.
Moreover, the commissioner and his
deputy act as the fire wardens of Maine,
Investigating causes of fires, holding
hearings and protecting property holders
their services for such work covered
by their salaries above noted
1t is small wonder that with this
showing as only one instance of the
damning verify of detail, Candidate
Davis avoids anything except generalties
when declaiming against extra cost OF
service in the Maine departments.
Does Maine voter want his State 4
business attended to as it increases OF
OF neglected by reason of petty parsi-
mony in providing public servitorsP
But if the showing in the insurance
department is thus 80 emphatically sue
cessful from business standpoint, the
Secretary of States Office reveals a con
dItion that may well cause voters to 81
up and open their eyes.
We're this a private business under
3 h. inn. mt hf