Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-20
Editorial Comment.
=alIaeies in Democratic Figures.
Gewiston Journal.)

greater than in 1907.
They were $464 900, or counting out
the $3.50, 900, paid in 1907 to buy bonds,
they We're 900. The Waterville gen.
tleman mas also been subtracting $780,
900 paid in 1907 for money borrowed in
1907, to pay running expenses OF
1907. but it doesn't go. The money was
spent in 1907 for running expenses OF
1907 and you can't do any high-finance
democratic subtraction on that basis
We do not object to the $3S0,00O sub
traction. but it is manifestly absurd.
for as year come and go. there are al
ways obligations Overhanging and il
ii is feasible to subtract the payment
of bonded debt contracted in previous
years, why is ii not just as feasible TO
subtract the payment of debt of sl0o,-
900 contracted in previous year to-
build a home for predetermined. Why
not subtract the 100000 in bills left
over from Gov. Cobb's administration
to that of 1909? BY far the fairer way
is to take the figures as they are
found; do no Juggling with them and
look at them in the face--an increased
disbursement of $464,000 in 1909 over
9O7-corresponding legislative years.
Now in 1909, what happened? An ad-
ditional sum was appropriated 10
schools This was not spent, as the
Sentinel foolishly asserts, by can
cerous political ring at Augusta but
by the town and city officials to whom
il is paid. This additional sum figures
in the disbursements as an increased
State expenditure of $257. 000 but the
State didn't eXpend this money. Towns
and cities spent it,. Here in Lewiston
for instance, by reason of the increased
amount of State stipend for schools,
Lewiston was able to reduce it's own
municipal appropriation for schools
The present year it will cut down its
appropriation for schools $21 500, and
because of the States larger payment
for care of the insane, is able also to
reduce it's appropriation for the poor
department $4,000. Is this reduction of
appropriation by $4,000. bad business?
And is it inadvisable for the State to
raise this money or to take over the
care of the insane poor? We have not
heard the opinion expressed publlcllE
by anyone.
In 1909, $4,000 additional was spent
for education by the state on Norman
schools; the superintendent OF towns
comprising schoolunions (by a Ia"
passed in Gov. CObb's administrator
and for schooling of children in I'M
organized townships. We assume that
in view of the demand of the democra-
CIV for the open saloon, they Will not
object to the open school Here then
are s257, 900 and $S5 900 for education in
excess of 1907, or a total of 1892, 900, the
major part of which is offset as IN the
case of Lewiston by the cutting down
of municipal appropriations.
We do not contend that it is possible
to spend money and save it, But we
do contend that there is saving TO the
moor man when the State gets its mon
ey from sources that hitherto have es-
caped their fair share of the tax ana
annlies it to the help of the children
of the poor, to the relief of suffering
and to the building of good roads.
What further? In 1907 we spent s6',-
900 for goods roads. In 1909 we spent
1872 800 for good roads. Who favors
good roads, Do not all the people? Is
it not demonstrated that the people de-
mand good roads? If the Sentinel
doesn't think so let it wake up ana
read the good-road meeting at Angus
ia. $50
Tn 1905 il cost the State nearly $780,
600 more to take care of the insane
moor in Maine than it did in 1907.
In 1909 we paid the members of the
Legislature at Augusta S2'ooo more
Than 1907. The law for this was passed
in Gov. Cobb's administration. ana
the Sentinel asks. do we get any bet
ter laws?"-when so far as we know,
the Democratic members of the Legls-
lature We're insiStent for TINS advance.
Here are sums sufficient to account
for the whole additional expenditure
hut in addition thereto, GOV. tefnalo
found a bill of $4,000 to be paid Tor
the Home for Feeble Minded, heri-
tape from Gov Cobb'S administration
and a pet project of Senator Staples,
Democratic member of the Senate from
time immemorial who supported II
through thick and thin. Then there
was benuest of 900 to Hebron San
itcrium for the treatment of tubercu-
iosis, an institution that has been
highly praised by the. Waterville Sen
tinel and that has been endorsed by
a public subscription of more than $50
900 in the past few months The Chill
dren's Hospital at Portland was given
$45. 1000; the School for the Deaf 500, 500,
and the School for the Blind $4,000. In
short, the State gave $2S6,000 to these
institutions Which one of them would
our Democratic friends have stricken
out? The Sentinel says it would give
nothing to hospitals. But we don't be-
lieve that is the general public senti-
ment. The total amount given to the
charitable institutions of Maine was
1865. 900 or about $4,000 more than in
1907. 4
Herein. with the above commendaple
disposition of money is full account
of Republican extravaganza. 1t was
not a manifestation of party policy
either. The appropriations. with two
exceptions were unopposed-one
slight advance for fish and game and
the other the State House extension.
The latter. which the Lewiston Journal
opposes. has eXemplified Republican
honesty and economy. being built with
an appropriation and in the finest pos
sible manner. The other was cut by
Gov Fernald before he submitted to
its passage,
The gentleman who fights for mil
flo y,e{x. Of Maine