Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-02-15

ment. III mas Deen my TASK 10 utNci-
mine how much Of the available rev
en-e might fairly be assigned 10 each
general department or institution but
within the limits of revenue thus inn
posed the question of the comparative
Importance Of different items has been
left entirely to the judgment of the par
tiCular legislative committee In charge
of that institution or department.
First. as you know, public buoget hear
ingS covering the whole field OF en-
Eenditure were held jointly by the Gov
ernor and Council and the special legis-
lative committee concerned. Following
these hearings the details Of expcnd-
iture for each department and -insti-
tuition have been worked out in confer
ence between Ihe legislative commit
tees and myself
The expenditures recommended In
this program should he provided for by
taxation. If you fail TO adopt the en-
tire program of indirect taxation YOU
should increase correspondingly the
direct State tax up to the total Of the
budget appropriation. No increase OF
the direct tax should be authorized for
the purpose of making appropriation
for private and special purposes out
side the budget.
You will note. however. that strict
adherence to the budget program will
produce surplus Of sS3, sol O4 in 1917
and $l63, S001 in 1918. From this must
be deducted the total of claims against
the State which you may approve at
THIS session. You ought also to CON
slider an additional appropriation OF
$4,000 annually for pensions, an in
! crease of $4,000 in the appropriation
recommended for the new pyschopathic
| building at the Augusta State Hospital,
and $500 for new building at the
! Bath Military and Naval Orphan Asy-
Inn as first charges upon this surplus.
There will still be a balance available
| for such private and special resolves
as you consider most important but re
member that we must be sure how
| much rc"cnue Is available before final
| ly approving any such resolves outside
| the budget.
May | suggest that each legislative
committee having in charge resolves
included in the budget program report
| them Immediately and consolidate
those relating to one department INTO
one resolve. If you are considering re
solves outside the budget which meet
your approval, provided sufficient rev
enue is assured, l urge you to hold
them in the committees until that
question can be determined
| | suggest that the Committee on Ap.
preparations in preparing the usual APP
preparation bills include in one bIll for
each of the years 1917 and 1918 all items
recommended in the budget and report
/ in, TO ~ ha
years all items approved outside the
budget. The public will then know cx-
actly how muCl is appropriated FOR
eaca year beyond the budget recon-
mendation and compare these amounts
with the total revenue raised.
1 We are trying to blaze a new trail to-
! lCther. This attempt to produce a real
land scientific udget has been attended
/ by all the puz2ling and perplexn2 dif-
hculties which usually beset the path
Of the pioneer We are greatly indebt-
! ed to Mr. Callahan. the budget director,
/ for his tileless industry. and to tho Of
.fcers aud employees of departments
land institutions for their cheerful co
operation. ! appreciate more than 7
can tell YOU your unfailing courtesy
toward me, the self-restraint that you
Z nave SlIONll, III NIlnIlplulUE Hii ffSblNtN
carrying money until after the budget
could he presented and the splendid
i patience with which you and the mem
bers Of the Council have worked out
/ with me all the tedious details OF this
joint program. | shall count II priv
llege to discuss further with each of
YOU at any time all details Of tho
program which may particularly inter
est you. To carry out the schedule eN-
actly as planned will require rare cour-
age and self-denial on your part Many
/ of you will have to abandon cherished
local projects in favor of the public in
terest of the State at large. because
Of the splendid spirit that you have al
ready shown I am encouraged 10 pre-
sent this program to you In the firm
belief that its complete adoption viii
Justify the necessary sacrifice on your
part