Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-14

less than in any other eastern state.
Further than that, not a single con-
tract has had to be cancelled and not
d contractor has gone into the hands
Of a receiver. Other states suffered
SO much because of the increased
cost of everything that contracts by
the hundred have been abandoned to
say nothing of the work stopped by
the government as non essential.
In the administration Of the af-
fairs of Names institutions all ac-
counts have been kept separately.
In this way, it has been possible to
compare Immediately the cost OF
maintenance with previous years and
meet the increased cost of food and
other supplies without any en-
barrassment and without any slack
enins in the efficiency of the institu-
tions. Exactly the same method has
been followed in the State depart
ments, 1t is because of these things
that the business of Maine has been
in such healthy condition and has
suffered none of the embarrass-
mentS of war.
In carrying out the building pro-
gram. only those pieces of construc-
ton have been performed that have
been essential. Other work has been
held up. So well has the building
program been carried on that the
Capital Issues Committee of this dis
trict, the Federal organization that
decides whether or not any State
work shout be done has written
letter to Governor Milliken COM
mending him for the excellent man
ner in which the work has been car
ried on.
Two things have been responsible
for the excellent business admins
ira ton of Governor Milliken. One
has been the constant supervision of
affairs by Governor Milliken with
personal conferences on his part with
departmental and Institutional heads
and the other cause has been the in
auguration of the budget.
You have all heard of budgets, but
Maine is the first State in the coun-
try that has successfully applied it
NiAhObt iS IiN { tlldCIIllSIlI OF COH-
stitutional authority AS a result of
this system inaugurated by Governor
Milliken. log-rolling in the Legisla-
ture was stopped for the first time in
the history Of the State The needs
of every department and institution
and of the State in general were care
fully surveyed. estimates drawn up
and provision was made for meeting
every essential Improvement and for
carrying on all the usual affairs of
state. So we'll was this done that
money was also obtained to meet the
many and grave emergencies that
have arisen.
Hon. Edward Sullivan. State
auditor under Governor Curtis. in
making his recommendations to the
inI oming administration. declared
that, if the requests Of all depart
lnents and institutions were granted
an eight mill tax would be necessary
for 1917 and a seven mill tax for 1918
with an additional mill for this year
! If there was no bond issue for high
way Improvement. This meant a
huge increase in taxation. It would
have hit every citizen in the State
and added manifold to the cost Of
| living.
You know what the present tax
rate is. In 1917 it was six mills and
! IN 1918 it was five mills with an ex-
ira mill for road money In other
words, the rate was two mills less for
each year than the last Democratic
n CT
| sary.
Had there been an eight-mill tax,
this would have meant the imposition
! o. million dollars more in taxes on
the people of the State and even this
would not have taken into account
tho increased cost Of everything. for
the estimates Of the former State
auditor were made before this coun-
try entered the war.
The State has not onlv not suf-
fered. but it has gone ahead. Every
financial need has been met. Every
Improvement has been made. The
careful estimates prepared by Gov
ernor Milliken in his budget, the
constant supervision over the
finances he has kept, the improve
rents in departmental and institu-
tional administration that have been
inaugurated have all enabled the
State to carry on its business with no
added tax rate and at the same time
meet the heavily increased cost of
everything.
That. gentlemen. Is what | call
business. 1t is conducting affairs as
you would conduct your stores, as
corporations would do their business.
Governor Milliken by applying rea-
sonable rules of efficiency has given a
business administration that has re-
ceived the commentator of some of
the country's greatest economists.
Ho has made good"
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