Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-22
The ARGUS ANSWERED" Us.

knOWleOSeS lHdt IL hiio"o
about the States finances but that it
has absolute confidence in the Cover
nor. he said there existed deficit OF
s15,7s7s5 and the Argus accepts that
as part of it's claim of $4,000 dehcu.
The Argus bluff at answering" the
Journal is so pitiful that we hesitate
about publishing it. But the way our
democratic neighbor founders around
after diving into something that was
much deeper than it thought, is anus
ing.
Here is what it says
La referring to our editorial of May 10.
regarding certain dencits IN lhe ,,iMiss
irati0n. and which n, ARGUS state"
had been made good by the 1ul.11s n %"
ministration the kennebec journal ~"
asks TO see our ligufeS 20 pfoNe t'ie po''
600 deficit assertion ,-..r
The journal will remember that neVtr
nor Curtis gave a public statement or ,ie
2 deficit of s15,1S1.65. We are wiling To
stand on those figures, because IN 10y
ernor Curtis four years administrator
AS Mayor of ortland. and ms one se"l
l.
never yet seen is figures successluii!
refuted. go . .,
State Treasurer's office we believe 1t WIZ
find that previous to 1915 there was abat-
ed from the tax assessment, by authority
of the assessors. ss,&4l9 OF uhconec.a PIE
tax bills (Which were charged on by .ne
Treasurer, although they we're no'
charged off in the Auditors Department
and the Auditors Report. we be1eNe
shows an imitation in the assets by that
MI: I,oA,
asset by the Curtis administration, for
the simple reason that it is not an asset
and should not have been considered 80
in the Auditors Report ;,, ,oo,, on mayo s,
Of the Auditors Report. it will find ac-
counts receivable of s529lo which Is
relic of the Sturgis Commission: 1t was
declared worthless by the legal depart
ment sometime ago. and was supposed to
have been charged off the books. Add
all this together and you will find de-
felt of $S4,550.9s.
he Journal will Of course understand
that THE ARGUS must depend on the
figures according to the books. and we are
sure that the figures given out by Cover
nor Curtis in his public statement are an
so The 'I ARGus having answered the
question of the Journal. in justice would
it not be we'll for that paper to first an.
swer our question before asking another?
We repeat, "if the editors of the Port
land Press and kennebec journal mean
TO Say IndC $G0,U4D.OS lell over HUH Tic
last administration would pay all the
bills left over by that administration, it
might be we'll for them to correct this
statement etc. Now will not the Press
and the Journal make a statement as to
whether they mean to say that the 81 49,
N5.ss would have paid the bills of that
administration?
Further in regard to the finances, if we
remember correctly, at the time Governor
Curtis gave out the public statement
showing the. deficit. he also intimated
that further deficits would he shown later
on. We have no doubt that, in due time,
Governor Curtis will give this information
to the public. 1t undoubtedly will awaken
the people to arealizing sense of the mis-
representations of the financial figures of
past administrations.
Yes, the Journal DOES remember
that statement Of the Governor. and
what the Journal said about it at the
time. and how all over Maine the peo-
pie laughed. and how the State Audi
tor in his statement at the same time
did not appear to have discovered it
tnor has he found it yet if his sworn
statements are true). The Journal also
remembers how it has. from time to
time, laughed at the Governors
deficit knowing we'll on what he
bases his preterse of discovery" but
he is not yet ready to spring" it,
The Argus says it has never seen the
Governors figures 'refuted." Good
reason why-the Governor has never
given other than the bald declaration
Of the awful news. but the public is
not to be trusted with the horrible de-
tail-not yet. 1t is d state secret and
rot even a Democratic donkey coulc
draw it frcm him The secret is his
tragic pose).
Yes, we remember, dear Argus. TIE
Governors statements how go on with
the story,
Sure we'll inquire at the Treasury
Department" and find out all about thu,
abatements-the Cows great on abate-
ments-Ah, yes. of course, we UNDER
stand, the. State Auditor isn't SUI
posed TO know about these little thnc>
that are swiped off the books for eff
fec-OF course not. Let Mr.. Sullivan
60 on foollnS the people with his false
and inflated statements, 1t will all
be explained on the stump by the Gov
ernor Band will discourse soft music
the while).
Yes, yes: go on.-'the Governor
dropped this as an asset" Sure.
The Democratic party often drops
things as an asset-Chairman Reed,
FOR instance-and Bryan.
Hooray: The Sturgis commission
has also been dropped as an asset" by
Gov. Sturgis! We're glad the Argus
has found that out. This is really be-
coming interesting. OF course, we
shall have to admit that the Argus mas
made out it's case. OTIS as plain as the
TAIL on the Argus rooster) even before
We 90 to these various departments
always, of course. avoiding the State
Auditors Department. to prove up the
Argus claims.
You betcha. The Journal under