The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-09-06
how Candidate Davi. got ,lo,5oo q

his $4,000.
The largest item Of real increase is
in the salaries of the judges OF the SUI
preme Court. granted after mature de-
liberation by the Legislature and done
by consent of the people who realized
that the best men available were need
ed on the bench of our State ana
should be adequately paid. Candidate
Davis was member of the legislative
salary committee in 1901 when the
salaries Of the Judges were raised $500
each. and was in the House in 1900
when second raise was made, and
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
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 a
hen-house door.
There are the salaries Of the entire
staff in the Eastern Maine Insane
Asylum. amounting to $5.4oo, 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-
ant attorney-general, highway com
missioner and their clerks. Mr.. Davis
in his policy of stating half-truths
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
lor ;ac inc 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 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 noe 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
mild teri, to apply to a man who
makes such statements as he makes
and has nc 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 ten years ago is answered
by the fact that the State has more in
situations requiring more care in SUI
pervision, etc. For instance, in the
department of the banking commission
err there are now 11S banks, trust COM
panies and loan and building associa-
lions to examine against SO in 1891.
The tax is now $476,52S-75 against
$344,2766O in 1891-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