Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-31


many of these llnfortunates in aims
houses, and town farms, and to help In
poor and destitute homes. For the
Pessamaquoddy and Penobseot tribes
of Indians, $25, 444.55. which is derived
largely from shore rents and interest
in invested funds. For the school for the
deaf 1922 900. For the state library, $685.
00e For the Maine State prison, $751;
450. For Fort William Henry. $500. For
pensions. burials of soldiers and sail
ors, 1882, 900. For the support of State
paupers, S77,500, which is just so much
burden relieved from the towns ana
cities. For the education of the blind,
$4,000 Paid over to towns for railroad
taxes collected, $195, 900. For temporary
loan, which may or may not exist. as
the treasury receipts from time to time
are or are not sufficient to meet cur
rent expenses, 100000. For interest
on bonded debt, $4,000. Damages paid
for destruction of sheep or domestic
animals, from dog taxes collected, $780,
O00 Interest ON reserved lands paid
over to plantation schools, $4,000 To
the agricultural department for the
sanitary work among live stock, $4,000.
For the protection of shrubs and trees.
S5U,bJU. i
$1,000. For Improvement and analysis
of seeds and food, $4,000. For apple
packing and genealogical societies, So
500 For agricultural statistics, $1,000;
for improved methods of marketing,
$4,000; for agricultural societies, Sl4, S42-
70: for four State fairs, $3.50; total for
agricultural interests. S12S,042.12. For
fish hatcheries, 100000. For State aid
highways, 100000. Other different APP
preparations for highways and bridges
in different parts of the state. $106,000,
all of which is just SO much relief
from the burden of municipal taxation.
And this has no reference whatever to
any moneys received from sale of
bonds for improvement of State roads.
Thus you have total expenditure,
II / have computed these figures cor
rectly OF s4,410, 1856. and the balance
of S46S, 256.30 is the total expense of all
your departments of government,
among which are included many sun
dry items exceeding 200 not strictly
an expense of government. This in
eludes all the expenses Of your judicial
department, including your supreme
judicial and superior courts, your
county attorneys for Is counties, your
secretary of State, attorney general,
adjutant general and military depart
ment, State treasurer and State audi
tor, sea and shore fisheries, your inland
fish and game, inspection of steam ves-
sels dams and reservoirs, prisons and
jails, insurance department banking
department., labor department. State
assessors, public buildings, department
of agriculture superintendent of public
schools, State board of health State
historian, commissioner Of pharmacy.
board of Cancellation and arbitration,
and executive department. THIS you
see only about 10 per cent of your mon
ey fer 1914 is used for strict purposes
of your government, and that 80 per
cent is used as an equalizer, largely to
relieve the burden OF municipal taxa
ton, and for TIE necessities Of modern
life calls for from some public treas
ury.
Every Department. Answerabie.
One other feature OF our State gov
eminent is very prominent. There are
no subordinate officers.
Each department of the State govern
ment IS answerable only to the people.
Their acts are as fully regulated by
the statutes as are the acts of the
Governor The old feudal idea of sub
ordinates is done away with. Each de-
partment has its assistants, clerks and
other emplS yes, but these departments
look to no other individual or officer
for guidance or authority. They
.ooN only to the constitution and laws
of the State. They are the agents and
of the people-each In
dependent IN his special department.
With this independence goes a respon-
sibilisy that is felr by all who occupy
Office. There is no chance to lay their
errors or shor tcomings tc the advice or
orters of others. This is as ii should
be- This wide division INTO depart
ments of the executive work of the
State government gi-es ns clear
honest, efficient and satisfactory adj
of public affairs, with al
most no criticism or farlt-finding by
the renrle.
| doubt if there is eli, :; government
anywhere in the world that
is as economically administered, SO
far as the salary of public officials and
agents of the State is concerned, as in
the State of Maine.
And il is a remarkable coincidence
that this State has been governed for
over so years, with the exception OF
two years each-30 years apart-by
the unobstructed hand of the Republi-
can party In these days when we
hear so much about graft, and IN
of public servants, and
in public office. we. the
of Maine, can always
point with confidence and pride to our
own State government. 1t is gov
eminent which has grown as the de-
of the people have called for.
1t is a government where official re-
sponsibility is greatly divided.
Governor has his responsibilities and
duties to perform. They are defined
by the constitution and the law. So
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