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

and it's equivalent must DE raised by
some form of State taxation, and
should be substracted by the towns
themselves from their own expendi-
lures. Is this plain? And being
true, as well as plain, would you con-
slider it fair and honest to charge that
amount thus expended by Maine to
extravaganza and to swollen appro-
priations? Does not every fair
minded, honest hearted taxpayer be-
lieve that such expenditures as these,
though they may look large in figures.
are beyond criticism on the score of
extravaganza? And is not this a
proper reply to what l am forced to-
regard as wlful misinterruption of
State expenditures by our political
opponents?
Thirdly. The State has a very low
bonded Indebtedness, only 1858, 900. Only
a few days ago / noticed in one of the
newspapers an abstract from the
United States census showing that the
total bonded and tioatingajpdebtedn
of the State of Maine and spf all the
towns and cities of Maine pm, together,
had decreased more in the Ast thirty
years than in any other Mem England
state, and than almost any l4tHer state
in the Union. Some criticism mas been
made because the bonded Indebtedness
of the State was not reduced sirf 1909,'
but all the bonds that BECAME Que last
year. amounting to $4,000. had iaiready
been retired and paid for. from tWo to
five years previous to their MAJ rity.
$40, 600 VRs paid in 1904. and $4,000 in
1907, so chat the only way to reduce
the bonded Indebtedness was by the
purchase of unmatured bonds, proba-
bly, at premium. lnasmuch as they
bear only three per cent. interest and
the banks pay the State two per cent
for its deposits, it would hardly seem
to be good business proposition to go
into the market as the purchaser OF
securities that the holders are reluc-
tart to sell. SO far as the financial
credit and the standing of the state
goes there is no occasion for this COM
ment; for tine State can make show
ing to the world and to the markets
thereof today that is not eXcelled TO
any marked degree by any other gov
eminent upon the face of the earth.
Now. our Democratic friends in this
hall few weeks ago had good time.
And l am glad they did. With free ac-
cess to the books of the State, which
they had been Investigating for months,
they came here with nothing but dark
and mysterious illusions, such as:
"Why is this thus" IF this is so why
not tell us?' is it true that such q
thing cxists?" OF the few direct state
ments made at that convention on
State affairs the most important which
they made was that disbursements OF
1909 were greater than in 1907. They
were greater: | admit it. They were
1854 324.2 greater, and they were With
in $50, 900 of the exact sum they were
estimated to be by the state depart
mentS and so announced in my lnau-
gural address in January 1909. Where
did that $464,324 go to? ! hesitate TO
tell you because the chairman of the
convention assured the people that II
would do us no good to snow that IL
went to good and useful purposes" Nc
matter how good the purposes, SAID
the chairman of the convention, lit
makes no difference; it is no excuse, it
should not have been spent until the
means We're at hand
Our Democratic friends are interest
ing if not consistent. Good or bad the
purpose. it makes no difference to them
/
is a large measure of the reason why
the Democratic party has been so great
a failure in so many responsible posi-
tions in which it has been placed. over
in nv own county, for instance, where
they have had control of affairs for
number of years, they have cleaned out
the treasury until it is as dry as COW
cred bridge Six years ago the Repub- |
1nr< lar, nd
900 above all debts, bonded or other |
wise, and today after six years they
are running on borrowed money and
are $t7 900 worse off than when they
took it.
But if they had spent this money
for good uses. would it not have been
to their credit? And is it not to their
discredit that they have spent great
part of it for special liquor deputies.
who have put in most of their time
and energy either as chairmen of
Democratic city committees or in large
and varied personal and political ac-
tivities? My friends. believe me when |
| say again that there are good and
sufficient reasons why the Democracy
sees no difference whether the money
goes for good uses or bad! But.
thank the Lord. the Republican party
does see a difference. and the tax
payer does. and the farmer and the |
mechanic and the merchant does. If |
he sees his taxes go to permanent i'm
provements: to good roads; to schools:
to the protection of the purity of |
the milk for children and in
valids: to the salvation of sufferers
from the scourge of tuberculosis: to |
HOSPITALS. where the poor may today
receive better care for nothing than
the rich could have received with all |
their wealth twenty years ago; to |
schools for deaf and blind. to hospi- |
tails for little children, to orphan asy-
lums, where all. without regard to /
sect or religion or birth. may find |
shelter; to the care of the insane poor |
outside of the wretched conditions in |
county almshouses; to the encourage !
ment of agriculture: to the protection |
of our beautiful trees; to the propa- |
cation and preservation of fish and |
game; to the encouragement of that !
great industry of summer visitors. |
which will make this the Switzerland |
of America; to the schooling of chill |