Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-14
The Governor to Mr.. Ham.


We hope our readers will read
every word of the latest statement"
of Gov. Curtis read it in all its digni-
fed reference to the Kennebec Journal
and to Frank ]. HIM. Please note the
answer to Mr.. Ham las citizen"
Perhaps our readers would like to
know what Mr.. Ham said that SO dis
turbed the Governor. At New Mead
ows Inn recently, Mr.. Ham paid his
respects to the business administra-
ton Of Gov. Curtis" He was reported
by the Bath Times as follows:
The Curtis administration received
from the Haines administration sur
plus Of s77s,oOO ana, by the change
OF payments, two payments of the
State taxes in January and also in
December, two in a year; the in
creased half mill tax, 10 mills when
the additional u mills was not neeG-
ed. but which was obtained for the
express purpose OF swelling the treas
ury total to make political snow
ing, for which ali taxpayers have
unnecessarily to pay. Chairman Ham
showed how the Curtis administra-
ton in furtherance of this political
game. has not expended the money
appropriated for State institutions.
notably the State prison, the State
Hospital and Woraans reformatorv
and Home for Feeble Minded with
other sums, that such might swell the
total in the Treasury as a basis for
spellbinders, those brains of the State
Democracy, Elmer Newbert, State
Treasurer, Atty. General Pattangall
and Gov. Curtis to go out over Maine
with the astounding news of his great
business administration, in boarding
tax money and other income of the
State in the banks for political aid in
keeping in power"
Gov. Curtis does not explain why it
is so much better to have the peoples
money IN his hancs than to have it in
their own pockets, or why the public
improvements demarCed by the voters
and provided by the Legislature are as
yet only talked about while he (the
Governor) is almos, at the end of hin
administration rope.
The Governor. by the tenor of his
latest statement" seems to think
public critimism comes only because
he has not concealed the amount OF
the peoples money that has been TAX
eli from them I'M ecessarily when
nothing was to be done with it but
make a Democratic campaign boast Of
it, On the contrary, the criticism is
because the people of Maine do not
approve of "watchful waiting in ma
ton or State. while the high cost of
building and repairing their public in
situations increases under Demo-
cratic policies. AS matter of fact,
the Democrats exacted more taxes
than needed. even if they had carried
out the desires of the people, and the
increased cost of material is far above
the interest on the States money
which the administration has piled up.
The Governor does not explain these
things but weakly points to what was
once in the treasury and how it has
increased under his wise CO manipu-
lation. He does not tell how much
tie previous administration paid out
in public improvements, nor how much
his administration has not He does
not tell how much the increase in the
tax rate added, nor how much the in
creased valuation ADDED. All, no! not
so with Oakley c. ne lamely lodges,
and sneers at the kennebec Journal
and Chairman Ham.