The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-10

VI, In 1906 it Is 1894, 1872, 800, a gain in
two years of $2S.21S,976. Under the
local valuation placed on property in
the cities, towns and plantations in
/ the State, the average rate of taxation
on $1,000 was $20.57 in 1904, $21.O in
| 1905 and $20.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,
| Bonded debt Jan. l, 1907. :. 81 ,093, 900
Since 1901 $4,000 of the State
bonds have matured each year, but
under the provisions of Chapter 6,
Private and Special Laws of 1903, a
part of this issue having been previ-
ously purchased, there was left to ma
ture $4,000 for the year 1905 and $780,
600 for the year 1906, which were re-
deemed at maturity, and under au-
thority of the act above quoted, an
additional purchase of s2S0O0O was
made, SO that during the last two
years the bonded Indebtedness has
been reduced $4,000.
The last State valuation upon which
tax rate of 1-2 mills was assessed,
was $S66,514,01 yielding, for the two
years, together with the tax of one
cent ON each poll, a revenue of
$1,S56,346.20.
The present valuation is 1894, 732,-
$50, showing an increase of $2S,218,-
976.
A tax rate of IL mills levied on
this new valuation, together with the
poll tax, will yield for the two years,
revenue of s1,977,474.06.
The total receipts for the
years 1905 and 1906
"eie 20, Z92, o6S.13
The total expenditures for
the same years were... 1888, 1897 81
The estimated ordinary re-
ceipts for 1907 are. .S2,5O9 49,. 90
The estimated ordinary re-
ceipts for 1908 are. 49,. 1850, 100000
The estimated ordinary
expenditures for 1907
are Observation-Disclosures. 2,2O2,70S.4
The estimated ordinary
expenditures for 1908
are ......... 2120, 900 60
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 three-quarters 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
S250,000, 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 l have every reason to
believe that before the expiration of
another month the bonds will be in
the possession Of the State.
l 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 a 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 a credit to the State and a
tribute to every sentiment of human
1ty and progress cherished by her
people. 1t would be better for the in
situations and for all of us if our citi-
zens generally would acquire a closer
knowledge of their methods of admin
istration and their accomplishments, J
for the pride and satisfaction such
knowledge would surely bring would
not only be deserved appreciation of
the devoted and unselfish. 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 several Depart
ments and Institutions has steadily
increased. The reasons for this are
obvious. New legislation is constant.
ly creating additional powers and re-
sponslbllltleS OF public nature, and
the obligation to exercise them in a
that shall be in accord with
the spirit of 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 a COMPARE
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
host CAREFUL 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
a faithfulness to the best interests of
the State. They must continue to i'm
prove, aad it 10 40 reflection upon any
Of them to respectfully call your at
tentian to the fact that 1t 10 your duty
and pdwcr to examine to the fullest
extent their operations in order that
you may supply deficiencies and rem.