Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-16

content among our people as to the pres
ent condition and business management
of our State finances. .
| There is a prevailing belief among we'll
Informed men that our present hnancial
condition is the worst the state ever
knew. There seems to be feeling that
it is worse than the people know. l do
not want to make unjust criticism, but l
believe the people have a right to know,
and know fully. and in detail CONCERN
ing the finances and financial condition
of our State. And they should know 1t
now before election so that they may
have intelligent information in regard to
the same. They should knoWAit from the
responsible head of the State government
and not be expected to accept the state
ments of some campaigner on the stump
In 1904 Gov. Fernald was candidate
for the office of Governor in his party
In signed statement to the taxpayers
of the State he forcibly called attention
/ to the financial condition of the State as
it then existed and sharply pointed out
| the large and constantly increasing ex-
penditures and appropriations:
What did Governor Fernald mean by
this? Did he not give the people to I'M
derStand that if he were elected Cover
nor he would call halt and institute a
| reform in what he then called the mar
that time. He pointed out in that state
ment that the appropriations increased
| from $1,26o,soO.lO in 1890 to S2529, $50. 10 in
| 1904. an increase of over 100 per cent.
| believe that our appropriation of State
| funds has increased out of all proportion
to our growth in wealth or population.
This marvellous increase is not wholly
the work of the last Legislature, but has
been constantly growing until the more
conservative taxpayers believe something
should be done to retard it's progress. |
call attention to these matters simply to
show that the people are alive to the sit
natl II and demand an administration on
, to lines of economy
He has since been elected Governor AMI
held the office nearly full term. In the
first year of his administration the total
expenditures amounted to 81, 131 13, an
increase of $l.61 ,SSl3S over 1904. What
| explanation has Governor Fernald or his
party to make of this enormous increase
| over the very expenditures which he him
self criticized as too large? Is this the
response which he makes to the pledge
that he gave in 1904 for 'an administra-
ton on the lines of economy" Comment
l think is unnecessary.
Again when Governor Fernald's adj
| ministration opened. January 1st. 1909, he
| found in the treasury $56S, 534 "A in cash.
| At the end of his first year this large bal
| ance dwindled to $75.S2355 and since that
| time the state Treasury has been In
about the condition of Mother Hubbard S
| cupboard.
| But worse yet it is fully believed that
| the revenues of the State for the balance
of 1910 will not be sufficient to take care
OF the obligations of the State and it is
confidently predicted that there will be
a deficit January 1st. 1911. of from $3.50 900
| 10 N~n.@H A serious situation for the
taxpayers of Maine to contemplate. This
is the result of making appropriations
and not providing the money to meet
them. 1t is not only bad business manage
ment but is practising deception upon
the the people Of the State. There is no ex-
cuse for it. Revenues and incomes
| should be carefully and accurately esti-
| mated as well as disbursements
Judging with figures by financial ex-
1,s.Ix
ments that the appropriations were for
good purposes will be of no avail. for
| however good the purposes WERE they
never should have been considerd unless
ways and means had been provided to
take care of the expenditures involved
1t IS not the good purposes of the ap-
preparations but the unbusinesslike man
agement of our States financial affairs
| that is the just subject of criticism.
Show the kind of business management
that financial or business affair is re-
ceiving and you can pretty accurately
tell what the results will be. If this is
| the kind of business capacity that the
finances of the State of Maine is re-
ceiving it is easy to account for present
deplorable conditions.
Again why should the people of our
| state be left in the dark about the pres
ent condition of our States finances and
financial condition? Why should we not
know?
1t is quietly limited about the State that
many of the States institutions and
heneficiarieS are borrowing mnpoy &c
different banks of the Stato nn "
notes to meet obligations which tho, ' i'a !.
every right 10 beIieve would IL 'sN hau
the state. Is this true?
Is 1t true that the State Industrial
School for Girls at Hallowel is borrow
| ing five thousand dollars of an Augusta
bank?
Is it true that the University of Maine
through its trustees borrowed thirty-fivc
| 'h1uSand dollars "t a bangor bank?
| sane HosnitaI at Augnsts b o1 our IN
borrowing thousands of dollars of the
riISt National Bank OF Portland and
Loan > p'' oe'' upon the
Is it true that in order to carry on tho
building operations for the Home for the
borrow m,nnn, 'he trustees nave mad to
| Is 1t true that Rates College has hoo,
obliged to borrow money at a local bank
~ pay ioi heating plant for which an
Legislature and Tho Stat oE r ou. Sra, :,
unable to meet?
is u true that the three hundred thou
has been nra His,1.i 20 our state Rouse
| banks In Augusta, who are financing that
prnlert
, neonic he 'i1 nfn,., ere true should not the
! Is it the real nurpose of the nresent
"eal real rnnI III our state affairs to con-