Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-29

slant effort TO cooperate in every |
particular with the pla;.s of the Fed
eral Government. This has been
made possible by the alertness ana
vigilance Of our senators and men,
bers of our Congress. They have
been watchfu. in guarding the inter-
ests of the State and in advising me
when those interests or the general
war program required personal con
ference on my part with the depart
ments in Washington.
First At The Front
1t is significant that the New Eng
land Division including our Sec
ond Maine Regiment was the first Ma
tional Guard unit to go TO France.
This happened, not by chance. but ne-
cause they were the first equipped and
ready. We have the right to he
proud of the l03d Infantry as beng
one of the best trained and ACQUIRED
Of all the new regiments and one If
the very first to reach the firing line.
The former coast artillery regiment
and the former heavy field artillery
regiment have patiently followed their
tedious ana monotonous program II
training in this country and will he
fit to give a good account of them
selves when the opportunity comes.
Most of the Maine men at Camp
Devens are in the 3)3d field artillery
and this organization has already won
fine reputation for the splendid
physique and soldierly qualities of its
men. The men of the Naval Militia
have been at sea for months. serving
in all paris of the world
The State Administration ha ;
sought every opportunity to be q:
service to the Maine men in the vali-
Gus units. We have disregarded red
tape and promptly provid ID anything
necessary for their comfort that was
rot authorized or Immediately avail
able through Government channels.
We have taken the utmost pains to
relieve anxiety of relatives in cases
where their own unaided efforts had
not been sufficient to obtain the de-
sired information. BY cooperation
with the Federal Government and iae
Red Cross IS we'll as by the use of the
war fund provided by the Legisla ture
of soldiers from want and hardship
| The Public Safety Committee is now
working out a Plan for providing n
! first friend for the family of every
enlisted man.
Business Management
The pressure of the war progro m
has not prevented careful attention to
! the business affairs of the State Ia
der the wise leadership of the presiJ-
ing officers and the chairman of the
! committee on appropria tions, the Leg
stature TOOK long step in the direc-
ton of better business management.
by adopting a scientific budget in
place of the former hap-hazard meth
Cd Of making appropriations. The
probable revenue was estimated and
the appropriations decided upon by
the appropriate legislative committee
in consultation with the Executive
! Department. In this wear of unusual
stress, the careful and scientific plan
ming of the States financial program
has proved especially fortunate.
/ There has been careful scrutiny of al.
expenditures. Unnecessary outlay has
b1en avoided. All spec al unforscaD
emergencies have been met. For 1911.
the actual revenue was a few thou
| sand dollars more than the estima te
' and, Notwithstanding the high cost #
! all materials and supplies. the total
! expenditure for the year was safety
! within the apprUp";ai' IONS. A tax If
eight mills CaGh Ncar would proba bly,
! Have been niece ;S3rI to meet the total
, appropriations for which requests
| were fled by the departments ana III
T St!tutions. The budget program mas
made possible a tax rate of six mills
: of high prices and innumerahle I'M
! forseCn expenses occasioned by the
| war.
! 4 studied and persistent effort mas
| been made TO bring the management
/ of all State departments in line with
| sound business principles. Many
/ changes in this direction have grown
out Of the regular monthly confer
ences of the heads of all departments
with the Governor. Notable among
! these changes has been the concentra :
! ton of the payment of all bills aSains
4 the State in the office of the Treas
/ urer of State. All State employees are
I paid weekly instead of monthly
| whether they are working in a dis
A! tant part Of Maine or in the Capitol
itself. All bills for materials and sup
] plies purcha Sed by departments or in
stitutions are paid promptly as soon
! as approved and the customary trade
| State.
a great deal of the public business
! is done by the appropriate State de-
/ partment in cooperation with the
municipal officers of a city or town
! The collection of taxes, payment oi
| pensions. construction of roads. sup
4 port OF paupers. management OF
! schools, protection Of grade crossings
! and the care of various classes of de-
pcndents and detectives are ALI pup
| lie duties for which both State and
| town officials are Jointly responsible.
| Our efforts to promote closer under
standing between State and town Of
/ ficials have met with cordial response
! The payment of all State pensions f..
1917 before January first, 1918. and The
full payment of all State taxes by ev-
cry city, town. and plantation before
| the close of business December Il,
! 1917. are instances of the practical re-
suits of such cooperation. This i
/ the first time in the history of Main.
/ when such desirable results has been
! obtained.
! Highways
In the construction and maintenance
! Of highways. we are now paying as
. we go instead Of pilinG LID q debt FOR