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

The government of Maine Was establish
ed and exists for the purpose of benefit
ing all of our people. 1t is not simply an
arrangement by which a portion of the
people maS~gan an easy livelihood at the
expense of-the remainder.
Vicious Finance Condemned.
In Connection with the condition of thu
state treasury and closely related to it.
| call your attention to the Importance
of ascertaining the financial standing Of
our State institutions. The custom of
financing these institutions on trustees
and treasurers' notes. thus adding indi-
rectly, an unknown amount to the liabili-
ties OF the State. H. a vicious feature of
the system under which our state gov
ernment has been conducted and is an
other custom which should be changed
Before an appropriation is made by the
LEGISLATURE for the use of State institu-
ton YOU should consider it your duty to
ascertain the exact state of its finances
Their requirements should be fully can
vaSscd so as to first establish the amount
OF aid to be granted by the State and to
Thereafter remove the necessity for any
such borrowing in violation of the con-
stitutional law Means must be found TO
prevent the contracting of excessive on
of the State.
The income of all institutions and de-
paftmentS should be paid directly to the
State treasurer and all expenses. after
proper audit, should be paid from the
State treasury.
should b. certain in amount. The pres
ent provisions of law with regard to the
appropriation of money for the use of
the State highway department and by
the National Guard are not satisfactory.
In the one case the law imposes tax of
thrSe-fourths of a mill on all the proper
ty " the State, in the other one-tenth of
a mill. In place of these provisions l be-
lieve there should be appropriated a fixed
amount. sufficient for the needs of these
departments. Then the people will know
what we are spending their money for
and how much We are spending. sug-
gest that reasonable license fee be col
lected from owners of automobiles COM
ing into our State and that the money
nance of the highways which the State
has already built.
At present the fines and licenses col
lected by the fish and game department
are appropriated to the use of that de-
partment making its income uncertain
and variable. These fines and licenses
and such amount of money appropriated
as you deem necessary TO pay the eX-
penses of this important department
There are similar matters which Will
come to your attention, In considering
them trust that you will adopt the gem
eral principle that the financial dealings
Of the State should be so conducted as to
be easily understood by the average citi-
zen and that the Legislature should re-
tain that fun control OF appropriations
which the constitution confefs upon YOU
and not part with it by passing general
laws which bind future legislatures.
Progressive Legislation Proposed.
Besides promising the people of Maine
an economic Gal government. conducted on
business principles, we promised to enact
certain progressive legislation for which
tnere appears to be popular demand
Law. Guided by the experience of Other
states, | believe il would be wise in
enacting such a law to apply the plinci-
offices only in which the people feel the
deepest interest and the candidates for
which are likely TO be well known to the
elmor and Representatives. to Congress
may we'll be made by direct primary In
my opinion it would be unwiSe to go far
Their than that until the new system had
been fairly tested
We shall. without doubt ioin other
states IN asking for an amendment To
the national constitution permitting the
election Of United States Senators by
direct vote of the people, Pending the
adoption of such an amendment. I sug-
gest the Enactment of Il law. relating to
tho choice of senators, similar to tho one
now in use in oregon.
y corrupt practice act should be enact
ed. This law should be drawn with great
he possible by legislation to prevent
bribery al elections. There is ono way
that is certain and that is hy educating
the voter to appreciate the value of the
ballot and by creating sound public
sentiment which will make the man who
buys his way sintaEpfiice an object of pub-
lie contempt. But something can be ac-
complished by legKIation. The proof of
the purchase of a Single vote in favor of
a member of the British House of Con-
nous vitiatas the election aud vacatcs
the seat of the member. \ like provision
in our laws might effect an agreeable
change in the method of carrying cleo
tinns In this State.
The people have been promised that we
VIII approve the proposed amendment to
the national constitution authorizing the
levying of an income tax. That promise
should be kept. Our government was
supposed to have that right and indeed
exercised it. up to cry few years ago
In approving the proDosed amendment
We are not comforting any new right on
the nation nor are We taking away any
right now reserved To the State The
State still possesses the right to tax in
comes IL 1t desires to do and so far
as the nation is concerned We are simply
affirming the existence of a power which
it was supposed to have until very re-
Gently.