Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-29


twenty days after the election, as re-
qured by the New York law, of the
contributions received by him and the
expenditures made by him or under
his authority in connection with that
election His residence and the dis
charge Of his duties in the State of
New York subject him to the law Of
that State as to all receipts of the
treasury Of the National Committee
from whatever source and as to all its
disbursements. His returns will be
under the obligations and penalties of
the law, and a misstatement by him
or the filing of false account VIII
subject him to prosecution for perjury
and violation of the statute. Ot
course, under the Federal law, he is
not permitted to receive any contribu-
tions from corporations.
If | am elected President, / shall
urge upon Congress, with every hope
of success, that a law be passed re-
During filing in Federal office of a
statement of the contributions re-
ceiyed by committees and candidates
in elections for members of Congress,
and in such other elections as are
constitutionally within the control of
Congress- Meantime the Republican
party by the selection of New York
treasurer has subjected all its receipts
and expenditures to the compulsory
obligation Of such a law.
Income Tax.
The Democratic platform demands
two constitutional amendments, one
providing for an income tax, and the
other for the election of Senators by
the people In my judgment, an
amendment to the Constitution for an
income tax Is not necessary. l believe
that an income tax, when the protec-
tive system of customs and the inter-
nal revenue tax shall not furnish in
come enough for governmental needs,
can and should be devised which
under the decisions of the Supreme
Court will conform to the Constitu-
ton
Election Of Senators.
With respect to the election of
Senators by the people, personally l
am inclined to favor it, but it Is hardly
party question. A resolution in its
favor has passed Republican House
Of Representatives several times and
has been rejected in Republican
Senate by the votes of Senators from
both parties 1t has been approved
by the Legislatures of many Repub-
lican States. In a number of States.
both Democratic and Republican,
substantially such a system now
prevails
lnaccuracy and lnsincerity Of Demo-
cratic Charges of Extravaganza in
Increase of Offices and Expenditures.
Our opponents denounce the Repub-
lican party for increasing the number
of offices $4,000. at cost of sixteen
millions of dollars, during the last
year. Such denunciation is character
istic of the Democratic platform. 1t
fails to specify in any way what the
offices are and leaves the inference
that the increase was resisted by the
representatives of Democracy in
Congress. AS a matter of fact the
net number of offices increased was
lust about half the number stated;
the Increase was due chiefly to the
enlargement of the Navy, the con-
struction of the Panama Canal. the
extension of the Rural Free Delivery
and to the new offices necessary in
the enforcement of the pure food
ton. arid land reclamation. forest
preservation and other measures
which Congress passed with almost
unanimous popular approval. The
Democratic platform SO far from at
lacking any of this legislation
specifically approves much, and con
dennis none Of it. and it is of course
disingenuous to claim credit for APP
lott =
nounce the expenditures necessary to
give it effect
Charge of Deficit.
Again, it charges that deficit OF
sixty millions of dollars between the re
CENTS and expenditures during the hs-
cal wear ending June 80, 1908. occurred
As explained by the Secretary of the
Treasury. at least half of this deficit Is
only an apparent one. The faiilng OH
in REGENTS was, of course, OccaSlonet
by the unusual panic. but there Is am
pIe free money i'm the Treasury to nee'
the difference, and the difference ltsei1
is not half of 1t properly deficit, be
cause involved in it was the retirement
of some thirty-three millions OF th'
bonds of the Government.
During the past seven years the IN
come and expenditures of the Govern
ment have been nearly equal. some
years showing a surplus. ana Others
fewer in number n deficit Taking one
year with another. including this year
there has been an average surplus, Inc
surplus last year. for instance. was
greater than the deficit this year
so that in fact. under the present adj
ministration there has been no defici
but surplus which is actually in the
Treasury.
The Democratic platform nowhere
points out the expenditures whlcf
might be reduced or avoided. 1t wouio
be found generally that to the increases
which have occurred. Democratic rep
resentatives in Congress made no OPP
position, hut rather supported tht
measures providing them. and now the
party has not the courage to indicate
4. what part OF government cost 1t woui'
end. 1t joins the Republican party
specifically in approving the outlay o.
Sl5o 600, 900 as pensions. 1t expressly Ia