Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-30

another speaker on a previous occs
sion. / will not repeat II here, nut
briefly stated ii can be said that over
1851 900. more Went to towns and
cities to be spent by them for public
schools. 100000, more went in 1909
than in 1907 for other and essential
purposes OF education. Agriculture
and allied interests received $4,000
more. We spent $4,000 more for good
roads. We paid about 100000 on the
home for feeble minded. an admirable
institution of which the Democratic
Senator from Knox county has been
called the father in the Senate. Char
liable homes. hospitals. refugees, etc.
received $4,000 more There was
So, 900 increase in salaries to members
of the Legislature. Here in these and
in few ether items. all objects that
commend themselves to everybody,
1.-THE State disbursements of 1909 were
increased $751; 900 over those OF 1907
l am not here TO say that it is proper
or iudicious to expend money that yon
have not got and cannot get. even for
such meritorious objects as these, but
| co say that when the purposes TO
which the money goes commend them
selves to every taxpayer and cilZen,
when in many cases suffering. poverty,g
the demands of new conditions OF life
| erysoutsipr these things. and when
St4te CA Abundantly afford to give
them and can supply the funds reaui-
site thereto.i without any increase or
| tie direct tax ueon,tbe people, thersl
| is small basis for 'criticism at suclIN
expenditures. BY one act of TIE leg ,
islature of 1909. supported on the moor
to Loo
we increased our appropriations fonS'
schools more than S6oooUo over
previous year But this is returned
directly to the towns and cities on the
basis of one-third as per school popu-
lation. and two-thirds as per Vaina-
ton. This law was enacted that we
might increase the revenue from WHO
lands. Other new legislation will ar
feet the financial condition IN l9lo.
through largely increased revenue
from indirect taxation. the railroads
alone paving $685. 900 more in 1910 than
in 1909 SO that l am confident and
other state officials more closely con-
nected with the details of the flnan-
cial features of the state than ], are
confident that we shall turn the state
over Oh January /. 1911. in as hne
took it on January 1, 1909
have endeavored as carefully as
possible in this brief time to state In
broad, general and comprehensive
terms my honest understanding of the
financial condition of the State. snail
refer to it more in detail on some 9TH
er OCCASION but before closing, | shall
endeavor to answer the questions pro-
pounded by the chairman of the Dem
ocratic State convention. Hon. ID. j.
McGillicuddy, in their hall two weeks
ago.
Mr.. McGillicuddy asked them, l pre-
sumo, in good faith; ! shall try to an
swer them in good faith.
why" says he, should the people
be left in the dark in regard to the
present condition of our finances"
NV answer to this is, that the State
treasurer or the State auditor will
|courteously place at the disposal of any
taxpayer all the information available,
and, that so far as l am aware, there
never was time when the matter was
so much in the light as il is now.
Second. rs il or is il not true, that Z,
our State institutions are borrowing
moneY?" The answer to this is, yes,
they are borrowing money. They al
Ill
the year. | presume they are doing so
now and that they will continue to cd
so every year to the end of time. or so
long as the fiscal year begins and ends
at the time it now begins and ends
Under the operation of the initiative n,
ard referendum no appropriation can
become available to any State institu-
ton until 90 days after adjournment
of the Legislature. or about July OF
that year 1t is safe to assume that .,
in 1911 State institutions will borrowSslt
in confident anticipation Of the actfonst
of the legislature rather than that the h
inmates of any one of them should
suffer or starve. Would Mr.. McGillii-
cuddy do otherwise? a
Third lis it true that Bates C.A-
lege has had to borrow money to pay
for the heating plant that the lsgisla-
ture appropriated money to pay fpr2'
] regret that ! cannot tell you what u
Bates College is doing. | am not a
member of it's board. But know what
the State is doing and has done for
Bates College. The legislature appro-
priated $4,000 to-. Bates College to
build a heating plant. sl5,OD0 was to
be paid and was paid to Bates College
in 1903; $4,000 was to be paid In 1910.
anu StS.1S0.bZ WAS I'dlu Ut TIE JUNO
meeting of the Governor and Council.
and the balance of less than S12, 900 will
be paid later in the season. We do not
know how Bates College financed its
heating plant, but we feel that the
State is generous and prompt in it's
payment. and we feel that there Is no
obligation whatever upon the State to
do otherwise than fulfil its promises
within the time agreed. whether or not
that excellent institution borrows or
does not borrow. -
Fourth. "Is it true asks he, "thaE 4
the $3OO,000 extension of our Statesss
house mas been practically taken over,
by the banks of Augusta?' No sit. II
is not true. 1t is true that the commfs-
sion who has in charge the building 0f
this extension assumed the bills them
selves for one month. in Accordance
with their agreement with the CONTRACT
tors. and that asfew days later the
State repaid the commission therefore,
And as governor I feel proud that we