Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-07

ton recommend to you a reorgan-
ization and consolidation Of the va
rious administrative and executive
departments, boards. and commits
sions, and a codification and group
ing of the various enactments relat-
ing to these subjects.
4 We should develop the budget
system recently made operative by
Legislative enactment, 50 that it may
adequately accomplish its proper
function of preventing duplication Of
appropriations and OF furnishing
full and reliable information to the
Legislature-the body which under
our Constitution possesses the sole
power TO impose taxes and to make
appropriations-to the end that each
Legislature, having full information
of past receipts and expenditures.
and of present requirements and re.
sources. may make intelligent and
suitable appropriation of the sums
available.
Measure Our Needs and Funds
1t is indeed unfortunate that
Names resources will not allow the
immediate accomplishment Of all
worthy projects, but we must meas
ure our appropriations by available
funds. The State itself has no mon
ey. 1t possesses the power to take
money by taxation, but the power
to so take must be exercised SPAR
ingly. without discrimination and
with a complete realization that a
tax levy is justified only when alb
soiutely necessary for the require
ments of a well-ordered government.
Excessive taxation will arrest devel-
opment and may amount to confis-
cation of property. 1t is your duty
to balance the scales and determine
when to give and when to refuse ap-
preparations.
| We are now passing through a
grave economic disturbance; private
resources are depleted, earnings are
diminished and the exigencies of
business conditions impose upon us
the obligation of limiting our tax
levies and keeping our appropria-
tons at the lowest possible point
and of postponing, so far as it is
possible to do so, new construction
to more opportune period.
Years Receipts and Expenditures
For your information submit
herewith summary Of the receipts
and expenditures during the fiscal
, year of 1919 (the final figures for
, the year 1920 are not yet available)
, so classified as to give in groups that
are convenient for comparison and
reference the sums received from
different sources and the amounts
: expended for different purposes.
| The amounts given include the re-
ceipts from the several tax levies
and the expenditures of the money
u SO received.
l have purposely excluded sums
taken into the Treasury by payment
of licenses and fees, which as is the
, case with automobile licenses, fish
and game licenses, are used in the
several departments for special pur.
; poses as prescribed by law and that
represent sums not raised by q tas
, levy.
In the Fiscal Year of 1910 the STATE
of Maine Expended
, For administration of JUS
lice Sl02,65 I. 0C
For legislative sessions ...... 40, SIS OF
l For interest and sinking fund 1s9.452.0 OF
ror Blame House 90,675.0t
For public buildings and
. grounds ................ $4,000 .ot
FOR executive departments. 417,859. OF
: Total expenditures for execu.
tive and departmental pur.
poses .................. 81 ,o26, 2ss o,
For war purposes. 49,. go. 5S4,447.ol
- For soldiers pensions, National ..
Guard and other items in 80 -
. Adjutant Generals Office. 237,97e. Ol
Total expenditures growing out
of war activities ...... $s22,426.O,
J., For amount due Indians un-
y ;, der treaty obligations. -. $685. '
prisons, reform schools, hos,
pitfalls, mothers aid, neglect
I ed children, and kindred
a purposes :......... 1.5e6.a2a o,
l ture 49,: ..:...:....: 14s,e47.o,
For propagation of fish and
:, game, and enforcement of
game laws -. 5s.e7s.o,
g For fire prevention, forest
preservation 1870: 1s2,1os o,
For good roads, bridges, and
maintenance of roads 49,. s4s,937.o,
. Total expenditures for State
development ............. 1,1s1,372.o o,
: For all educational purposes. 2,477,213.0
, Total expenditures for 1919. 81, 1O9, $50 0,
In the Fiscal Year of 1919 the Stat.
of Maine Received
From direct tax levy-State
tax at rate .oo7h 4,471, $50 .O
From corporate franchise taxes 295,139O,
From tax on banks and trust
, :, companies ..:.......... 400, 1913 o.
From tax on insurance, ex.
e press, telephone and tele.
r graph companies, parlor and
sleeping cars, steam and
l electric railroads, less sum
r returned to towns .... 1,747.325 O
f From tax collateral inherit
ances ................... 4I1,seoo
Total amount from indirect
, taxation ................ 1885,, 247O
Total net receipts from tax
levles 81 1886, $780,
A New Force for Good
The year 1920 will ever be re
membered as the year in which full
> suffrage was granted to woman
whose presence in the electorate
, constitutes a potent force for goo,
government.
: The obligations>of citizenship re-
. quire participation in elections, TO
elections offer the natural channe
: through which personal influenc,
may be exerted upon governmental
. action. In order that such partici
= ma fjnn nav ha nacC;h1o ~