Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-01-08
SOUTH PARIS MAINE TUESDAY, JANUARY g. 1907

the State, the average rate OF taxation
on $1,000 was $20.57 in 1904, $21.03 IL
1905 and s20.S7 in 1906.
The finances of the State are in ex
cellent condition, as the following
summary and comparison will show
Cash balance on hand Jan. l,
1907 59S, ,OO'
Bonded debt Jan. l, 1907. :. 81 ,O93, ,0O(
Since 1901 $4,000 of the State
bonds have matured each year, bu
under the provisions of Chapter
part of this issue having been previ
ously purchased, there was left to ma
ture $4,000 for the year 1905 and $50,
600 for the year 1906, which were re
deemed at maturity, and under AL
thority Of the act above quoted, al
additional purchase of $2S0O00 was
made, so that during the last two
years the bonded Indebtedness has
been reduced $4,000.
The last State valuation upon which
a tax rate of 1-2 mills was assessed
was S366,514,O14, yielding, for the two
years. together with the tax of one
cent on each poll, a revenue OF
S1,S36,346.20.
The present valuation is 1894, 1872,
900, showing an increase of $2S,21S,-
976.
A tax rate of 1-2 mills levied on
this new valuation, together with the
poll tax, will yield for the two years, a
revenue of s1,977,474.06.
The total receipts for the
years 1905 and 1906
were .................$5,29 ,292, ,3GS. .73
The total expenditures for
the same years were. ;. 4,939, 1897 .62
The estimated ordinary re-
ceipts for 1907 are. ...$2 sos, $500
The estimated ordinary re-
ceipts for 1908 are. 80. 2,55OOOO.OO
The estimated ordinary
expenditures for 1907
are ................... 2,2O2, ,7Os.42
The estimated ordinary
expenditures for 1908
are ................... 2,120,000.0G
1t should be borne In mind while
contemplating these figures and re-
suits, that the last Legislature re-
duced the rate OF the State tax from
two and threequarters mills to two
and one-half mills, and may mention
that at no time during the last two
years has it been found necessary to
make temporary loan.
1t will be noticed that the cash bal
ance now on hand Is unusually large
1t was expected that before the close
of the year 1906 an additional pur-
chase of the States bonds would be
made amounting to not less than
$3.50 900, and thus show a reduction
of the bonded Indebtedness during the
last two years of nearly 100000. Ne
gotiations to this end were progress.
ing satisfactorily when they were
abruptly terminated by the death Of
one Of the parties in interest. These
negotiations, however, are about to be
resumed and | have every reason to
believe that before the expiration Of
another month the bonds will be in
the possession Of the State.
| have been afforded the privilege
to visit intimately all the institutions
supported and managed by the State,
and have visited many of the others
in which the State has vital, al
though indirect, interest. No one
can become at all familiar with them
without being tremendously i'm.
pressed by the magnitude and charac-
ter of the good work they are doing,
or without wishing that the opportun-
tiles they so splendidly utilize might
be further enlarged and sustained.
They are credit to the State and
tribute to every sentiment OF human
ity and progress cherished by her
people. 1t would be better for the in
stitutions and for all of us If our citi-
zens generally would acquire closer
knowledge of their methods OF admin
istration and their accomplishments,
for the pride and satisfaction such
knowledge would surely bring would
not only be deserved appreciation Of
the devoted and unselfsh services of
the men and women charged with
their direct control, but would remove
forever all doubt as to the wisdom of
their existence and the urgency of
their needs.
The States business transacted
through and in its sev'>al Depart
ments and Institutions has steadily
increased. The reasons for this are
obvious. New legislation is constant.
ly creating additional powers and re-
sponsibiities of a public nature, and
the obligation to exercise them in
manner that shall be In accord with
the spirit CT the laws and the wishes
Of the people has entailed larger ex-
penditures and more careful and de-
tailed supervision. No better proof
of this change and growth can be pre-.
sented than is shown by compari-
son of the reports issued by the De.
partments today with those Of twenty
five or even ten years ago. These
later reports of the States steward
ship are now so elaborate and exhaus-
tive that further description and
analysis OF the scope and practical
operation OF the Departments Is un-
necessary here, and this occasion does
not seem to require me to do more
than to urge you to bestow upon them
most carefqul thought and study.
During the last two years have en-
deavored to learn and know some
thing of the States affairs and to ia
miliarize myself with the methods un.
der which they are being conducted.
In almost every instance the Depart
ments are producing splendid results,
and their management Is character.
lied by intelligence and efficiency and
faithfulness to the best interests OF
the State. They must continue to i'm
prove, and 1t Is no reflection upon any
of them to respectfully call your at
tention to the fact that 1t Is your duty
and power to examine to the fullest
extent their operations in order that
you may supply deficiencies and rem
edy defects.
In addition to the money that will
naturally be appropriated for the or
binary maintenance of Departments,
Institutions and Commissions, and for
the fulfillment of all other legal obli-
cations, this Legislature will be asked
to make special monetary provision
for many new and important projects.
All are desirable and some are abso-
lutely necessary. Without assuming
to determine the order of their i'm
portance, among the former may be
classed an Institution for the Feeble
Minded, those unfortunates whose
uncontrolled life and movements have
been shown by science and expert
ence to be a terrible menace to the
social order and constant economic
burden to every family and commun-
ity that shelters them. The blind, too,
make strong claims for our pity and