Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-11

1t appears quite evident that be-
tween the Kennebec Journal and Ex-
Auditor Callahan, they have succeed
ed in making a political controversy
out of my remarks to the Council.
and while it was not intended to be of
a political nature l am very glad to
take up the burden believing that my
contention can be absolutely proven.
Owing to the fact that the situation
has been misrepresented to an ex-
IRENE degree, it seems due the public
that a statement be given explanatory
Of the real facts
At the Council meeting of August
3ist, 1915. a question arose of the
danger of a certain State institution
exceeding its appropriation, as it APP
peared that so much of its money had
been spent, in comparison to the ex-
penditures of other years up to that
time. that there would not be enough
left to last through the year, and as
it was known beforehand that the
question would arise. had few
copies of certain figures tabulated
months ago. These figures were in
The nature of financial statement and
showed that according to former State
Auditor Callahan'S own figures as
given in his report under date of De-
cember 81. 1914. there was then a
deficit in the current assets Of the
State amounting to S75,1S7.64. Be
sides this amount there were S,234.19
of tax bills which could not be COL
lected and $529.15 of bills receivable
which were of no value. which should
have been charged off the assets. and
in fact the SS,234.19 was charged off by
the Treasurer. Had this been done on
the Auditors books the deficit would
have been increased accordingly. max
ing the total $S4.550.9S; but it was not,
50 the present administration must
assume the burden.
The figures showing the deficit were
prepared for the benefit of the Council
to show that we could not consistent
ly allow any appropriation to be eX-
ceeded, and that instead of authoriz-
ing any unnecessary expenditure we
would be compelled to cut down ex-
penses wherever possible because of
the deficiency which faced us at the
beginning of the term of our office.
1t must be understood that the
financial statement was given out to
the councillors in the regular course of
the business of a council meeting. 1t
was not intended at that time for
newspaper politics; but a kennebec
Journal reporter who was at the
meeting asked for a copy and it was
l.; IL.
stated that I would explain the
statement at the first opportunity.
1t was perfectly proper for the news
papers to state the facts Of the bust
ness meeting Of the council. but it was
not expected that they would attempt
to create political controversy.
No criticism was made Of any
specific administration Of the State,
and no administration other than our
own entered into the business of the
day. Any statement that I criticized
the Haines administration on it's
financial standing is not so.
1t was a regular stated meeting of
the Executive Council in which bust
ness comes before politics and the
present business is more important
than affairs of the past.
The question before us was as to
how the State stood financially and
the sole purpose of the statement
furnished to the councillors was to
show them where the business stood
on January l, 1915. The highway
bonds were inadvertently omitted in
making copies from the original. but
this would not in any way change the
figures of the deficit.
Following is the statement as OBJ
tanned from the former auditors re-
port of Dec. 31st, 1914.
SEE AUDITORS REPORT
CURRENT ASSETS.