Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-16
Thursday, January 70, 1919.
Congratulations to the Legislature.

Republican caucus to speak for it,
Tuesday evening. is reassuring to the
taxpayers of Maine. Once more Re
publican common sense has tri-
umphed at a critical period. Our con-
ndencc has been justified. The evil
dence of 4 spirit of revolt against the
restriction of the budget system has
been met frankly. and manfully set
tied in the right way. Sound judg
ment has prevailed and the tax pay.
ers of Maine have reason to thank
their representatives for recognizing
the need of every prccaution against
unnecessary expenditure in coming
months.
Two years ago, with the nation just
entering war, it was comparatively
easy matter to restrain our desires
for special appropriations and every
other expenditure not absolutely
necessary: but this year, with all of
us rejoicing over release from the
horrors Of war. the tendency has
been to cut some of the bonds and go
after some of these things that are
dear to communities or to individuals.
us an affair of the State. The Re-
publican caucus of Tuesday evening
has made 1t plain that the Legislature
retains its common sense and spirit Of
justice and is fully alive to the almost
unprecedented financial problem con-
fronting the average tax payer.
OF all years in the memory of the
generation now active in State and
national affairs this year. 1919, prom
iscs to demand the utmost fortitude
and the most careful consideration of
business, industrial and financial af-
fairs. 1t is the wrong time in which
to urge community or State to engage
in public memorials or in schemes of
adotnment for beauty's or sentiments
sake, Whatever of memorials are
erected in honor of our war heroes. or
of incidents Of the past, should be
done by popular subscription not as
added burden upon the shoulders of
tax payers that are already bent
double with the struggle for existence.
Nor can we believe it time for add
ing to the burden of the great average
tax payer the bit, however small, that
must come out of a general attempt
to increase salaries of those serving
the public.
We agree that higher salaries are
deserved and have been for many
months. by a large number of public
servants as we'll as by a much larger
number whose personal budgets were
based before the war upon a reason
able assurance of salary or wage that
made such budgets adequate. That
great number of such salaries have
not been met by business and indus
trial concerns. themselves struggling
under the stress of war conditions,
has been a hardship which we all
recognize. In the last two years the
average worker for 4 stated salary
has moved into conditions which has
cut. that salary in half and great
hardship has been worked thereby.
All Of us are more or less painfully
aware of these unfortunate facts. but
we have arrived at a time where re-
lief is in sight. let us hope and, con-
sidering that phase OF the matter. it
seems to be up to us to tighten our
belts. grit our teeth and hang on a
little longer.
II reason is asked for this attitude
we would offer it in the form of
another fact which all must recognize,
if they are as familiar with the at
fairs of Maine as the average legis-
lator must be. 1t is this: That while
the average salaried worker for the
State or for any business or indus
trial concern may feel that he has
passed the pinnacle of pressure in
meeting the high cost of living at an
income that has not advanced with
that doubled expenditure. he and all
OF US. must recognize that a very
large class Of the tax payers of this
State has not reached the highest
point in it's struggle with abnormal
conditions. We refer particularly to
inc farming class-and this is an
agricultural State-which is actual
approaching its Waterloo in the
nonths at hand. This class should
lot be burdened with a single penny
Of unnecessary taxation in the years
1919 and 1920. We believe that not
only the welfare of the State. but re-
tention of the confidence Of the people
in the judgment and business fidelity
ct the Republican party will be main
:ained by and conserved by the policy
outlined in Tuesday nights caucus
the keeping down every possible ex-
penditure at this time. and we be-
lieve that the thanks Of the people of
This State will come to the Lesisla-
20 that restraints its inclinations to
demand anything that may in any
togree be classed as pork"
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