Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-03


pressed wishes, of the heads Of de-
salaries and clerk hire, and see no
reason why there should be any fav-
oritism in the salary increases from
the Treasury of the State. The heads
Of departments cling to their places
and urge the necessity OF further
functioning. Notwithstanding the fact
that their operation binders or re-
tards In many ways Q return TO pre-
war conditions, or a con6ocation Of
property by the way Of taxes from
many indiyiduaIs-thec common aver
age citizen of our State-on whose
shoulders rests the very foundation Of
this State and Nation It il the
same old foundation that has stood
well under great pressure Do not
weaken it by excessive and undue
taxes. Protect the average citizen of
Maine and he will protect the State.
We are drifting in the wrong direc-
ton. Excessive taxation will under
mine the small homes of Maine and
stop building new ones and make
more abandoned farms on the CROSS
road and less taxable property.
Poll taxes win be collected in the
cities, or western Canada, where
many have gone. their places filled by
People from other countries. if filed at
all Farmers never yet went on a
strike, but they will be justified in SO
doing if now compelled to submit to
excessive high taxes and other fool
laws in the face Of lower prices or no
prices. They have suffered such re-
verses and now are confronted by
such crisis. it would appear to be
the last straw. Our Supreme Judges
and heads of the various departments
ought not to have asked for increased
salaries at this time. If we grant
this increase. where are we going to
stop? Equal service calls for equal
salary. 1t takes men of ability, edu-
cation and judgment to fill the Chair
of at least some of the State Depart
ments, from the Governor and Coun-
,, Gil down, and / venture to say some
Of them, at least, are as important
and as much needed as the Supreme
Judges. and as indispensable, and
what they represent is as vital to the
people of Maine. Is this true?
When the people elect Legislature
and Governor with such sweeping
majorities, and make the Senate all
of one political stripe-the House
nearly so-it shows this condition.
that they had full confidence that
they would be used as well as con-
ditions would admit Was that con-
fdence well-grounded? hope so.
-ha axr@. to- I'll
good? Every party in power has to
stand the test. II has been often
said that Maine is a great State"
1t is in acres, but quite large part
is wild land townships have very
good reasons TO believe largely un-
ceryalued and assessed at very low
rate Notwithstanding that their value
Has rapidly increased within few
years.
In the organized and Incorporated
towns 1T is a fact that person an
chored to real estate and personal
property in sight is Gin the box"
| whether he is in luck to pay and
hang on, or be dumped out and the
box sold for taxes unpaid. I am I'M
able to say at this date. It seems to
be well established fact that the
fellow who owns real estate says tax
the Intangible property, even though
1t be out of sight" The owner of
the intangible property says "put the
tax on the other fellow who owns the
| real estate and personal property in
sight"
The wild land township owners say
"let me ALONE: it is a useless waste
OF time and money to look me I'D"
! Under these conditions the law max
ers are elected, concerted action is
brought to bear every Legislative
year. and then some more, to evade
carrying fair share of the public
burden. The much talked-of farmer
stays at home, milks his cows and
gets up his firewood, while the pa
triotic work Of the gentlemen, who,
or part of them. register and help out
the down-trodden interests own or
control the whole Legislature.
1t IL a wcll-known and admitted
fact, and the high and honorable am
bition Of every lawyer In Maine is to
! sometime sit on the Supreme Bench
even at the price now paid There
are. ] am proud, to say, just as good
men to sit on the Bench as there
ever were, and 1t is well that it is 40.
to fill vacancies that must occur ac-
cording to the natural course of
! events. l was opposed, and am now,
to any increases in salary. All trav-
cling and hotel expenses are paid by
the state, but as compromise meas
ure in the interest Of peace, / fay-
J ored the amendment Of Senator Nor
ison, Of Penobscot. increasing the
| salary to six thousand dollars. Az
! that was voted down, we are now
considering a bill to seven thousand
five hundred dollars per year. If that
becomes law, how can we turn
down other increases called for that
are just as reasonable? How can we
| be men and make flesh OF one and fish
| Of the other?
| Now l do not wish to be misunder-
stood. II the State was in proper f.
nancial condition to permit increase
OF all salaries to reasonable limits. /
would offer no material objection,
but In view Of present conditions, as
| have stated before, 1t would not be
fair TO the rest Of the people of the
State to allow this bill to pass az
! contemplated.
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