Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-11

| OOnC wait. oelay OIten le3OS 10
pneumonia. Results are guaranteed.
At your druggists.
road around the quagmire Of unsound,
costly and unfair, pork barrel legis-
lation, and we do not believe that this
or any following Legislature will go
back to wallowing in that mire. To
turn away from the budget system
would be just that.
! Every state and city that has es-
capped the clutches Of political
schemers and greedy interests. has
established budget system. Every
| up TO- date business concern and
household lays out it's financial pat
tern and cuts its years goods by 1t.
It is the only honest way; it is the
only fair way; it is the only safe
way-to first decide the full amount
that can be expended in a given pc
riod, and then to measure out proper
tionally and with the highest judy
ment as to need, the claims that are
made.
To proceed in any other manner is
to turn over to selfish and politically
strong interests the assistance that
others should have. The you-vote-
for my measure and-I'll vote for
yours is unfair, dishonest, discredited,
and only can be resumed to the shame
Of the State.
| Nor can we believe the suggestion.
frequently heard Of late, that the
legislators are about to adopt a gen.
eral dumping plan-to pass every
thing in sight and put upon the Gov
ernor the duty of .vetoing the States
expenditures into reasonable bounds.
OF course that would furnish an ex-
cusc to constituents: Il got our bill
through but the Governor vetoed it."
Such a course would be not only I'M
wise but unfair, and Maine lawmak-
ers are not likely to stoop to it when
they have examined both sides of the
question. It would be unwise from
this standpoint, that certain localities
! would perhaps be able to muster
strength to pass their demands over
the Governors veto, and the hundred
and one smaller but more deserving
sections would come out of it as did
old Mother Hubbard's dog.
The only safe, fair and businesslike
way is to cling to the budget system.
especially in the small demands for
small places.
We are in the midst Of days when
dollars mean less than ever before.
We talk in billions where we used to
talk in millions. We are inclined
toward reckless expenditure of public
funds. We pile up debts and annual
interest obligations. We are building
enormous burdens for posterity. And
we chafe at restraint.
We are confronted by the most
critical period Of American history. in
spite of all the boasts and whistling
to keep up courage Out of the hap
hazard Of war expediency, incom-
petence. collision, graft and political
chicanery We have the devil to pay
and he is on the way to collect.
Republicans everywhere have been
amazed and indignant at the riotous
shoveling out of public funds by the
federal administration. It would be
q sad commentary on Republican sin
cerity and consistency for the Maine
Legislature to break away. on any
provocation or excuse, from the up
to-date business principles once es-
tablished. It will not do 50.
Any student Of present conditions
and certain tendencies understands
that this year of all years, with the
unacceptable burdens Of past extrav-
agance-further tremendous bond
loans. income taxes, and so forth
and the just as necessary and in
evitable demands for reconstruction
plans along broad lines, calls upon
legislators to keep down expenditures
everywhere possible. 1t is as true in
the Maine Legislature as it Is in Con-
gress.
In the U. S. Senate the other day,
Senator Lodge touched this same
point when he said:
Mr.. President, only desire to say
a few words as to the proposed APP
| preparation. l heard the other day
the closing remarks of the Senator
from Colorado [Mr. ThomasJ when he
was discussing this amendment, and
l think their serious character must
have been appreciated by all Senators
who heard him. The picture was not
at all overdrawn. But all I rise for
now is to make a protest against the
manner in which we are piling up
these enormous expenditures at this
| time.
| This is not an expenditure that
emergency demands. any more than