Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-07-09
Riddles Democratic Charges Of Ex
travaganCe in Speech at Washing
ing County Convention---Con-
greSSman Guernsey Speaks.


judgment. He is Il young man, but
one of ideas; ne is full to the brim
of energy. He knows what he wants
and when he gets it. He is the man
for the place. Washington county and
Washington county Republicans es-
pecially should feel proud of the part
this young man has taken in the de-
velopment of the roads of the State.
You all recall how this movement
began. You know that in 1901 the ap-
preparation for this purpose was $15,-
600 and in 1907, $1,000, but do you
realize that in 1909 it was just double
that amount and this year it is $321.-
600 Do von know that in that year
there WIS constructed All pieces of
State road, averaging in length over a
quarter of a mile each? Roughly,
those are the figures. That means
much. III excess of 100 miles of perlna-
nent road improvements in Maine
That, too, in single year. Added to
what has already been done in this
direction and the aggregate is large
DO you think that money has been
wasted? l don't believe you do
think that You and every other think
llS IfdN III llilS Stdtc Is convinced
that money SO spent is good thing;
that it enhances the property of the
place where the work has been done:
that it brings people here who will
spend money, who will give us a rev.
enuo far in excess of what it costs us
to do this work.
Touching the financial question,
which has been raised by the Democ-
racy, the Governor declared that no
individual or corporation need feel
alarm about the money which was due
him from the State. The State paid
its bills; always had always would.
1t was false when many declared the
treasury of Maine was empty and that
he State was bankrupt Nothing of
he sort. The finances of Maine were
in excellent condition.
Governor Fernald declared that it
was true the disbursements of the
treasury We're $3,SS9.561.72 as against
$3.425, 1850 in 1907 the next last leg
isative year with which comparison
could be made, but he said that this
increase was a natural one and one
which was unavoidable. So plain was
it that in his Inauguration address he
told the Legislature that the eXpendi-
lures of Maine would be $3,S56.000 or
within $4,000 of the actual amount
Used that year. He then discussed the
State tax rate, calling attention to the
fact that the rate was the same in
1909 as in 1907. but that the State
valuation was increased. He pointed
out that the fact that owing to the
operation of the initiative and refer
endum amendment to the State con-
stitution the revenue producing laws
of the Legislature of 1909 did not be-
come operative until 1910, so that the
State secured no benefit from them.
IN single case there would be an
increased revenue of $105,000 more in
1910, than in 1909. This was the rail-
road tax. 1t was true that the expen-
dtures for 1909 were $464,00 more
than in 1907. This money expended
for the good of the State, where did
it go? That was the question upper
most in the minds of the people.
Not a cent of this money was wasted.
In 1907 the State gave to the municipali-
ties of the commonwealth for the use of
common schools the sum of $5S2,0o0 but
last year we turned back to the cities and
towns the grand total of $S39,0OO. To the
Normal schools, one of which was grant
ed your county by the last Legislature.
s101.OO0 against $4,000 two years before.
The law regarding school unions is no
different this year than in 1907, but in
1909 we gave to towns comprising them
$4,000, while in 1907 they got but 5000.
Why was this, you ask. The towns are
taking more advantage of the law. In
1909 the State gave $1,000 more than in 1907
for the schooling of children in morgan
lied places To agriculture and it's close
ly connected interests we gave $l6l 600
more last year than in 1907 and as he had
before said the road appropriation for
1909 was sl32OOO against $67 900 in 1907.
But there was more to this expenditure.
great deal more was done in 1909 for
charities and beneficiaries than in 1907.
In the latter year the total appropriation
was $125yOOO, but last year it was 5000
Was there anyone in the convention be-
fore him who wanted to see a dollar
taken away from these institutions? He
did not believe there was. They were do
ing a splendid work. They helped the
people of Maine. Maine proposed to help
them 1t would help them. he felt GER
tain, whether a Democratic Legislature
made the laws and fixed the appropria-
tions and Democratic Governor admin
istered and expended the money or
whether it was a Republican administra-
tion. 1t was the policy of the State. The
State would not countenance any other
course.
1t cost $1,000 to pay the Legislature Of
1909. whereas the cost of that body two
years before had been but $4,000 This
must not be blamed onto the Legislature
Of last year. They had nothing to do
with it. The Legislature of 1907 passed
the law which raised the compensation
Of members from $50 to $500 per session.
Following this the Governor discussed
Continued on Page Twelve.)