Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-01-11

URGES ECONOMY AND fRO-
oRSssrvE LsGrsLATION.



Mun0ID Law BnPUDIArHD.
coveruor Fred ". Plaistsd. In his mes
..ce to the legislature, said in part:
The urs,ena administration has been In
,,usted with the responsibility OF ad-
r,;nistering the Affairs Of the State OF
Maine for the next two ysars. The party
in control Of tho State government 10 re-
.nousib BILE for all legislation and tor every
srnend,ture Of the public money. Tho
msior,ty cannot shift the responsibility
mon the minority. The people will hold
tho dominant party strictly accountable
n, every act Of this Legislature. We can
discharge our obligations only by bring
inc to the public service full measure Of
e.rnest zeal and honest effort. Every
nromise made in the platform adopted BY
the democratic party, and upon which it
v.eed its campaign, must b kept
,cusrely and fairly, without evasion or
squivocation.
srRrcr ECONOMY NncnssARY.
One Of those promises, and not the least
in Importance, was that We would admin
later the affairs Of this State with strict
economy. We are not only bound in
honor to keep that promise, but we are
forced BY stern necessity. Tho financial
condition of the State 10 such - to seri-
ouslv embarrass the administration at its
inception and to compel the most rigid
economy.
The large increase in the estimated ex-
penditures by departments and institu-
tions demonstrates that the most ex-
treme measures of economy must be
nrsctised. These estimates 80 far exceed
the possible revenues Of the Stste during
the next two fiscal years, and the large
dc ficit in the form Of unpaid warrants and
temporary loan present . situation never
before encountered in tho history Of the
state BY an incoming administration.
During the last two years the net debt
Of the State has increased y isl ,501.7 70, or
more than doubled. The deficit for the
year 1903, as will appear BY the ofiiciai re-
mort OF the State auditor, was e070, tn 90,
and for the year 1910, s1so,77s. 81.
We have the right to borrow $4,000.
That is the limit Of the borrowing ca
pacity OF the State. Beyond that limit
it cannot legally go; has NO moral right to
20. Notwithstanding this We hnd that
nearly year ago loans were negotiated to
the full limit prescribed, which loans re-
main unpaid, maturing January 20, 1911,
and that in addition thereto an indebted
ness OF over 100000 has been permitted
to accumulate which must be taken care
Of out Of the current revenues for 1911,
unless, indeed, the custom Of carrying
illegal debts is to become . part Of the
settled policy Of the State, an alternative
to which ehall not assent.
No amount of persuasion should in
huence your Judgment - to the necessity
for sweeping reductions In expenditures,
and yet no public serving branch Of the
government need suffer for want OF means
to properly conduct its Affairs. Depart
ments and institutions should be supplied
With only those appropriations which are
absolutely necessary for conducting their
Affairs upon Q reasonable and economic
basis.
ALI gratuitous appropriations and en-
larged expenditures must BE- set aside
pending the enactment OF those necessarily
incident to the administration Of the State
government There must b discrimina-
ton between measures which are deserv-
ing and those less deserving. It IL plain
that our favor cannot be distributed with
out stint, and that the demands Of the peo-
pie for less burdens OF taxation cannot
longer be ignored. Tho situation which
We are facing Is 80 unusual that we must
adopt unusual remedies to obtain reason
able results.
You are now facing . deficit created by
the last administration of q ISL sol. One
method of meeting this deficit would be
BY levyiDg . special tax Of two mills upon
all the property OF the State ~ an emer-
sency measure, and which by it's terms
would produce such revenue within .
specified period and in time to Iiquidate
our pressing obligations. This legislature
not responsible for the serious condi-
lions now confronting rs, but you are
charged with the duty Of meeting it il we
are 70 maintain the credit OF the State.
urge you to bear in mind the fact that
Whatever direct tax may be assessed, &C.
oofding to the practice heretofore prevail
ing, cannot be available for the current
yeafs expenses, 81 only . email portion
an reach the treasury before Jan. 1, 1912.
Inc total revenues of the State OF Maine
'0f the year 1911, based upon all known
sources and upon present tax rates, will be
.ooot fa,on 900. The total probable State
expenditures for the same period, includ-
lug also reasonable provision for State
''nenciaries and the return to the cities
'ua towns OF about 100000 increased
''nooi and mill fund authorised by the
~ ,ss' legislature, will approximate t4,000,-
~ exclusive Of the payments necessary
y hquidate the unpaid warrants and the
"mpofary loan. These figures do not in
sue any amount now being paid direct
~out institutions from outside sources,
o. .a winch may hereafter be paid into the