Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-24

4uele oeanS no Objection tho Sec
rotary conveyed the message to his
Excellency. and subsequently reported
that he had delivered the message
with which he was charged. and that
the Governor would come in forth
with.
Thereupon the Governor came in
attended by his Secretary.
The PRESIDENT: His Excellenc-
desires to return certain Senate Docu-
ments and wishes at this time to
communicate with the Senate.
His Excellency, the Governor.
To the Honorable Senate:
Senate Document No. SO in favor of
the Town OF Whitefield. is returned
herewith unsigned.
There is no objection to the amount
OF the Resolve o. the purpose Of the
expenditure, but the objection is on ac-
count OF the uncertainty OF the total
amount you will appropriate for Ways
ana Bridges as explained in my pre-
vious remarks regarding the Resolve
in favor OF the Town Of Dresden.
/ trust this bill will be properly cared
for at the proper time in the regular
appropriation bill for this purpose.
OAKLEY c. CURTIS,
Governor.
Feb. %. 1915.
To the Honorable Senate:
Senate Resolve No. II, in favor Of
Bridges in the Town Of Dresden pre-
scented to me for approval on the 18th,
inst, Is returned herewith unsigned.
In stating the objections. as required
by the Constitution. your INDULGENCE
is requested. that sufficient latitude be
permitted to explain the conditions
prompting such action.
There is no opposition to the sum Of
nve hundred dollars, as proposed in the
Resolve, no objection to the purpose OF
the expenditure. and no autagcnisln to
the town OF Dresden or any other town.
No doubt the proposition is worthy,
and the assistance asked for is needed.
or otherwise it would not have been
recommended by your committee. and
hnaily passed by both branches of the
Legislature
This Resolve chances to be the first
presented to me to be included in =
specific line Of appropriation under the
title of Ways and Bridges"
The exact weight of a Resolve pro-
posing an appropriation is no. entirely
clear to me. 1t may have been the
torce OF law, or it may be in the ma
ture OF recommendation to include a
specific item in the final appropriation
bill.
1t may be question whether a Re.
solve proposing an expenditure of
money which is duly passed and an
proved and not included in the regular
appropriation bill carries any force of
Law
II a Resolve has such force, what
is the need of an appropriation bill, and
II ootn the Resolve and the appropri-
atlon act are Law. is it double appro-
priation, If it is included in each?
If Resolve has no force of Law.
tnen OF course an Appropriation bill is
necessary. If it does have such weight
then II would appear, that it must be
paid whether IL is included in the ap-
preparation bill or not, but Article 5, of
the Constitution provides, that no
money shall be drawn from the Treas.
ury but by the Warrant of the Govern
or with the advice and consent of the
Council. and in consequence of appro-
priations made by Law
The appropriation Act is the only
Law which authorizes the Governor TO
draw his Warrant on the State Treas
urer. The Resolve does not carry thi.
authority.
AT any rate it is not my intention
10 sign number OF Resolves Of this
nature, and then. later on. possibly be
forced by lack OF revenue to send back
others Of greater importance.
We have three classes Of appropria-
tons to care for. enc is the necessary.
another the mandatory whether it is
necessary or not, and the other is op-
tional.
The fixed charges are necessary and
the mandatory might be termed the
same, as the law commands it, bit
many expenditures under this title
should be optional.
Under the optional there are such
items as ways and Bridges" "Chari-
table and Benevolent" New Build
ings." ETC., and of course some Of the
fixed charges may be optional by de-
creasing or increasing the efficiency Of
the service.
There appears to be no question. that
Ways and Bridges" and Charitable
and Benevolent" items are purely op-
tional and peculiar to themselves.
Apparently we are practically forced
to consider them after the fixed CHARGES
have been provided for, and then If
there is any available revenue remain
ing, it can be used for such purpose.
No doubt, there are people who will
argue, that the taxes should be in
creased for this purpose, but that does
not seem advisable to me under the
present conditions.
Each year appropriations are made for
Ways and Bridges but the aggregate
amount of the appropriations is depen-
dent upon the Ways and Means" to
provide the funds
Numerous requests have been made
from all sections Of tho State, and all of
more or less importance. and there ap-
pear to be calls for about $4,000 for con-
sideration.
A certain number of such resolves will
undoubtedly be passed by this Legisla-
ture: but many more must be refused
for want Of revenue to meet the demand.
In view Of the fact that it Is impossi-
bic for you to allow all Of the requests,
it is difficult to see how you can give a
correct analysis Of the compound propo-