Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-15

or equallZlng taxes mas been accom-
plished. Rather do 1 see in his declar-
alton to that effect a purpose on the
part of his party to abandon that work
without having done much more than
begin it, The work of tax reform
should go on until every vestige of spe-
cial privilege disappears from our tax
laws. Such work the Democratic
party is especially fitted to undertake
for its whole existence has been and is
a protest against inequality and privi-
lege.
Ny position on the so-called liquor
question is well stated in our platform
believe in the enforcement of law by
officers elected by and responsible to
the people I endorse the demand of
the repeal of the Sthrgis law, law
which has carried in its train, not only
new and highly perfected system of
notification and political chicanery
hut an unnecessary and useless ex-
pense of $l50,000. l further believe in
submitting to popular vote the cues
ton of constitl tional prohibition. hold
ing that no authority is higher thar
the authority Of all of the people and
that to withhold this question from the
honesty as we'll as to deny them an
absolute right. If l did not believe in
resubn,iSsion I should not believe in
popular government. Believing in pop
ular government, l believe in resubmis-
sion. / 1esirc to take the liquor QueS-
|tion out of State politics and permit the
people of Maine to settle it at a special
election, called for that purpose and
that purpose alone, unconfused by any
other question.
The matter Of increasing State eX-
penditureS, of the financial condition of
the State and it's various institutions
and of the business methods employed
by the State are of great Importance to
every tax payer. In 1904 Governor Fer
maid, then a candidate for the Repub-
lican nomination against Hon. William
T. Cobb, called the attention of the
people sharply to the increasing State
expenditures of that time, presenting
figures which, showed an increase
from 81, 100000 in 1890 to 81, $4,000 in
1904 or about 100 per cent. in IA years
and said: II believe that our State APP
preparations have increased out of all
proportion to our growth in wealth or
population. This marvellous increase
has been constantly growing. until the
more conservative taxpayers believe
that something should be done to re-
tard its progress. 1t is sometimes sug-
gested that the State tax is an unim-
portant matter and that it makes very
little difference whether it is a few
hundred thousand dollars more or less.
But taxes are always a burden and af-
| "a of
ter all candid persons will agree that it
does make a vast difference. 1t
is not surprising that our farmers,
business men and people in general
are becoming aroused
call attention to these matters
to show that the people are alive to
the situation and demand an admin
istration on the lines of economy"
I have no doubt but that Governor
Fernald spoke those words sincerely.
The State thought so and elected him
as it's chief executive officer. Between
1904 and the day of his inauguration
State expenditures had continued to in
crease "out of all proportion to our
growth in wealth and population" In
1908 they had reached nearly to the
Sc, 100000 mark and today, the condi-
tions which Governor Fernald so elo-
quently portrayed in 1904. exist in a
much more acute form. Our State APP
preparations for 1909 and 1910 aggregat-
ed, in round numbers. $4,000 900. The eX-
pense account of our State government
for 1909. exceeded $4000,000 1t was al
most So per cent larger than the ex-
pense account of 1908 and more
than 100000 in excess of that of
1907. 1t showed an increase of 100
per cent during the last decade.
say without hesitation that such an eX-
penditure is unwarranted. unnecessary
and unjust to the taxpayers of Maine.
Governor Fernald claims that it is
necessary for Maine to spend $40O0.OC0
a year He defends now. expenditures
which he formerly attacked and de-
tends them on much the same lines as
did those who were responsible for
them when he attacked them.
I believe that a substantial reduction
in state expenditures is possible with
out the usefulness of any necessary
State department being impaired.
without the withdrawal of proper aid
from any State institution and without
the State placing upon the various
municipalities any OIL tDe DuIueiS ~"
borne by the state
# Governor Fernald deemed it nee
assary to spend 100000 in 1909 and
1910. he should have insisted upon the
legislature providing a revenue of sub
stantially that amount. In his 1nau-
gEral address ne charged the 1egisla-
ture to keep within the reasonable
limits of our ability and live so that we
nay pay our debts without placing
heavier burdens on the taxpayers"
The income of the State for 1909 was
SO, 400. 600 If the administration was
to live within the reasonable limits Of
it's ability" and refrain from placing
heavier burdens on the taxpayers"
the appropriations should have been
checked within the limits of $7,0O0.OOc.
Instead of that the cash balance in the
treasury, amounting to s56S,000, was
wiped out in the first ID months of
Governor Fernald's administration.
100000. the full amount which the
State is permitted, by the constitution,
to borrow. was borrowed and taxes
were increased for 1910 to the extent of
$4,000 on public service corporations
and S215.0OO on the general property of
the State.
Such record needs only to be under
n1o,, oil