Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-06

nv i'iioNllIS 10 tllI lSAN VI the
augural vi Governor Frederick w.
Plaistcd delivered Thursday. Jan. 5.
1911, before the members of the 18th
Legislature OF Maine:
Members of the Legislature OF Name
1t has long been the custom for the
chief executive of the state, immed
ately after taking the oath Of Office
IL address the Legislature concerning
governmental affairs. This custom
finds its warrant in that clause OF our
constitution which says that the Gov
rrnor shall, from time to time. give
the Legislature information of the
condition Of the State, and recon-
menu to their consideration such
measures as-he may judge eXpedient.
This provision of our organic law
would seem to clearly impose upon the
Governor duty which cannot be en-
tmcly fulfilled by simply delivering to
the Legislature AN inaugural address.
i; furnishes a valid reason for the de-
livery OF such an address but it goes
farther than that; ii invests the Gov
ernor with the right and burdens Nm.
with the responsibility OF taking
somewhat active part i'll your future
deliberations. 1t makes him at least
an advisory member of your body ana
authorizes him to initiate Legislation
so far rs legislation can be initiated
by advice and suggestion.
The line of denarcaton between the
legislative and executive branches Of
our State government is clearly drawn.
Neither YOU nor | will seek to over
step it, rnis explicit mandate of the
constitution. however. defines cont
mon ground upon which we may prop
erly meet and | shall not be unmiId
full Of the obligation which il places
upon ne nor feel that | have dis
charged it when we part today. I
shall from tine IL time furnish YOU in
formation concerning the condition Of
the state and shall suggest to YOU.
whenever il appears necessary To do
SO. such legislation as | deem wise ana
eXpedicnt With that course Of con-
duct in mind it is possible to omit in
this address. many matters OF detail
and to speak to YOU in more general
tsrtts than might be thought advisable
were this to be cur last conference.
The present administration. of which
Nuu 9re an important part, has been
intrusted with the responsibility" OF adj
ninistering the affairs OF the state of
Maine for the next t~o years. fhe
part in control of the State govern
meni is responsible for all legislation
and for every expenditure of the pub
lie money. The majority cannot shift
the responsibility upon the minority.
Tho people will hold the dominant
part.- strictly accountable for every
act of this Legislature. We can dis
charge our obligations only by bringing
to the public service a full measure
OF earnest zeal and honest effort. That
VIC must do to Justify the trust which
the people of Maine have repcst/ in
10. If VIC keep faith with the people
NC may confidently expect their ap-
proVal. Ii We are unnAndful OF our
obligations we shall merit their cen-
demnation. Every promise made in
tho platform adopted by the Democrat
ic party and upon which it waged It's
campaign must be kept, squarely and
fsirls-. without evasion or equivocation.
Those promises to the people should
be regarded by you. members of the
majority, as just as sacred as Your in
d'vidual word Of honor. have full
confidence in your ability and honest
poib'St " Cdtls oIt tNtIN
made to the people of Maine,
Strict Economy Necessary.
One of those promises and not the
least in Importance. was that we would
administer the affairs OF this state with
strict economy, We are not only bound
In honor t. keep that promise but we are
forced BY stern NECESSITY. The financial
condition "f he stat is such as to
al Its inception and to compel the Most
rigid economy.
The large increase in the estimated en-
penditures by departments and institu-
tons demonstrates that the most eX-
trcmc measures OF economy must be
practised. These estimates SO far eN-
coed the possible revenues Of the state
during the next two fiscal years and tn
large deficit in the form of unpaid war
rants and temporary loan present sit
nation never before encountered in the
history OF the State by an Incoming ADJ
miniStration.
During the last Two years the net debt
of the State has increased Sl,1ll ,50l.l9, or
more than doubled. Tho deficit for the
year 1909. as will appear by the official
report OF the State Auditor; was 500
12s.98, and for the year 1910 $780,. .3.Sl.
on January /, 1903 Was S56s,0oo- \ deficit
OF that amount might have been incurred
without seriously embarrassing US. but
when an amount more than the entire
bonded debt of the state is added to it
the public income for the coming two
vent our entertaining any idea OF lib
crafty in expenditure. We are permitted
to carry temporary loans aggregating
ONLY 100000. The constitution absolutely
forbids the creation of ANY debt OF
debts. liab ility or liabilities, on behalf of
the State. which shall singly. or in ag-
gregate. with previous debts and liabili-
ties hereafter incurred at any one time,
exceed S30o,O0O. except to suppress insuf-
rection. to repel invasion, OIL for purposes
of war and this clause is prefaced with
the further prohibition that the credit
of the state shall not be directly or In
directly loaned in any case.
We have then the right to borrow
100000. That is the limit of the borrow
ing capacity of the State. Beyond that
limit it cannot legally go; has no moral
right to so. Notwithstanding this we
find that nearly year ago loans we're
negotiated to the full limit prescribed.
which loans remain unpaid, maturing
January 20. 1911. and that in addition
thereto an Indebtedness of oyer 100000
has been permitted to accumulate which
must be taken care of out of the current
revenues for 1911. unless. indeed. the cus-
tom of carrying illegal debts is to be-
come part of the settled policy of the
state, an alternative to which shall not
assent. II is time some customs were
changed and this is one of them
No amount of persuation should ntiu-