Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-21
The Work of the Legislature.

One outstanding feature has been
prominent in connection with the legisla-
tive session of the past week. That Is
recognition of the amount OF appropris-
tions asked for by the several depart
ments of the state government and the
numerous state Institutions and those
which regularly receive state aid.
As the Democrat said last week, one
thing is reasonably certain, that Is, that
this legislature will spend more money
than It's predecessors. There Is no rea-
son to revise that prediction. 1t Is res-
sonably certain that the state tax rate
will be somewhat increased. This is
not a highly cheerful prophecy to make,
but there is no lodging 1t. II Is largely
ION account of the war" The war has
been a good deal Of a scspegost, but it
is incidentally responsible for much OF
the increased expenditures Of individ-
uals, corporations and governmental
bodies, in the past year or two, as well
as for some time In the future.
Then again, the tendency has been for
some years for the state TO assume more
and more of the burdens Of expenditure
which formerly rested upon the counties
and towns for the support of insane and
dependent persons, and 10 other lines.
1t has taken over the tuberculosis ssDs-
forums, and maintains them at rates
which will allow those not rolling In
wealth to receive treatment there. 1t
has paid pensions to faithful teachers
who have served thirty years and arrived
at the age Of sixty. 1t has extended aid
TO needy mothers of dependent children,
and in numerous other ways has made
life easier for those who most needed an
easing of the burdens of life. All this
takes money.
For q generstion-and 1t will probably
be so to the end of time-the call has
gone OUT to the legislature from all
departments of the state for More Money.
In fact, More Money may be said to
have been the dominant note in the pre-
Jude to every legislative session. And
that most of this More Money call could
not be ignored Is an unacceptable fact.
However, to get down to brass tacks.
In place of the old-fashioned haphazard
way of making appropriations without
knowing anything about "where they
were at" the legislature is now working
on something like a respectable budget
system, by which IL gets an approximate
estimate at the outset of its probable
expenditures and income, and Is able to
balance them with something approach
ing accuracy.
Under this system, "little brown
book" was prepared by the state auditor
and laid on the tables of the members
early in the session, which gives the
amounts asked for by the several depart
ments and state institutions, the amounts
appropriated and expended lie the past
two years, and more or less explanation
Of the increases asked for.
This little brown book when investl-
gated reveals the fact that the amounts
asked for during the next two years
total nearly twenty million dollars, OF
which about twelve million dollars
would have to be raised by direct taxa
ton, making tax rate considerably the
highest since the civil war.
Announcement Of this fact in the pa
pers the first of last week rather startled
many of the people of the state, and even
and made it apparent that the pruning
knife would have to come into play, and
that the overshadowing question before
this legislature 10 the financial one. The
water power question has bad more dis
cussion than any thing else, but 1t looks
as II the problem before this legislature
In that matter is more the method OF
investigation than Of committing the
state to any fixed policy, and there is
little prospect Of any heart-breaking
fight. Money and not water Is the
legislatures big problem.
The Republican caucus Tuesday even
ing discussed the financial situation, and
expressed q general sense OF the neces-
sity of larger appropriations, but at the
same time q necessity for the most rigid
economy, and they ask the cooperation
Of their constituents in carrying out
their program. What this cooperation
means can perhaps be readily under
stood.
During the week the governor and
council and the committee on appropria.
tons have been sitting practically as q
joint budget committee, giving bearings
to the departments and institutions on
the amounts for which they have asked.
They have been the busiest bunch about
the state house-except the Hub"
which Is the newspaper room,-and their
work will appear later.
Only two measures of direct local In
terest have as yet appeared. One is the
bill to repeal the charter Of the town of
Grafton, referred to elsewhere. The
other Is q resolve in favor of Mrs.
Rachel Stanley of Paris, continuing the
pension granted her two years ago. Mrs.
Stanley Is the widow of John +. Stanley,
who while superintendent Of the state
fish hatchery at Auburn received ipjur-
les which resulted fatally by the attack
Of captive deer.
Two measures of general interest
which have been introduced are bill
giving women the right to vote for pres
identisl electors; and proposed amend
ment TO the constitution authorizing the
division Of towns into voting districts. A
similar amendment was submitted by the
last legislature, but failed on the popu-
lar vote, evidently being overshsdowed
by the woman suffrage amendment which
was submitted at the same time, so thai
Its Importance was not realized.