Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-21

ont that there is one reform Tor which
tho Argus gives the Republican party
~ credit That il the abolition Oh lhe
fee system and the substitution 81
straight salaries. Formerly seVeral
officers. including the secretary Oh
state the bank examiner and the at
tornev general, received certain fees IN
addition to stipulated salaries inns
was changed in 1903, since when the
salaries have been turned into the
State treasury. The change lnVoiVeo
an anparent salary increase, in the
case of the three offices mentioned, OF
$500. and this is probably included III
the Argus's figures, but in TACT lhe
state has profited many thousand DOL
lars by the change.
Expenses of the Legislature have al
most doubled. says the Argus. These
expenses were $4,000 in 1895, not m
Guiding printing. BY putting in every
item that can be raked and scraped,
including printing. they are marked up
to SOL 900 in 1907. That is not al
most doubled" and besides it includes
an item of Legislative printing W.
900" which in the State treasurer
report of the former years does not
appcar at all in the itemiZed state
ment Of the expenditures of the legls-
lative department but is put under the
head of printing. binding and sup
niles. If we suppose the cost of leg
isIative printing to have been the
same in 1895 as in 1907, that would
make a material change in the COM
parative showing. The pay rolls Of
nr1ctlc9llN
the same of course. but the contingent
expenses both of the Legislature ana
of the legislative committees were
considerably larger, as was the cost
of advertising the laws and of books
and stationery. Prices We're hlgher
in 1907 than they We're in 1898.
The expenses Of the fish and game
commission We're $4,000 in 1898; last
year they were $4,000 and it is mon
ey we'll spent. out of this amount
$4,000 went for the building OF new
fish hatchery, and for the repair, en-
Iargcment or rebuilding Of three
others. The receipts from hunting
and fishing licenses last year We're
S42 OOO-there We're none in 1893 80
that when we take account Of the eX-
traordinary expenditures on account
of buildings and when we deduct from
the gross cost the receipts, we see that
the cost of the department has not m
creased unreasonaby, while the pollcS
of stocking the waters of the state
with food fish and inducing sportsmen
to come here has been the cause OF
much good to the state. 1t is a polcH
that cannot be successfully challenged
The Argus says the increase in eX-
penditrres has been out of all proper
ton with the increase in population
But that is not the proper criterion
China, India and other countries thar
might be mentioned have teemlne
populations. but poor. There power
to endure taxation is feeble. 1t IS the
taxable wealth and not the number OF
polls that is the test Today the State
Of Maine has total valuation OF
about $425 100000 and in addition &c
that is the property of railroads, saw
ings institutions and public service
amounting to some s300,000.O0O more
| The state has been spending more fol-
| public institutions and improvements
| and for educational and charitable
purposes because these things We're
| needed and they could be afforded.