Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-02

crets of this country's success has
been due largely to the fact that pri-
waite initiative has been given a broad
scope. The individual has been en-
couraged to work hard, and having
worked hard and achieved success re
has been allowed to enjoy its fruits. I
have travelled in countries where 1t
was the ambition of every young
man to become public official and
to be allowed to wear a government
uniform. In Russia, under the old
regime, one half of the male popula-
ton was connected in some way or
other with the government, and al
officials wore a uniform of some
sort, even though they had no con-
nection with the military. Such .
system stiles ambition and checks
development. l want to see the youth
of this country encouraged to put
forth their best efforts. and if they
have the ability to succeed they
should be allowed to enjoy the re-
wards of their labors. 1 know what
the pitfalls Of a bureaucracy and OF
government ownership are and /
want TO avoid them. believe we
always will need a strong govern
ment, but that business should be in
the hands of the individual who has
q vital. interest in it's success. The
work Of government should be con-
fined to those fields where the CO.
operation of the public is necessary
to carry 1t on, either on account of its
public nature or where the resources
Of individuals are insufficient to meet
its requirements. There is no man il
Maine who believes in the doctrine of
private initiative more than does your
present Governor.
Economy
l believe that the question Of econ
omy is the most important one be-
fore the people OF our State, and by
economy l mean a wise expenditure
of the public funds so that the State
will receive an adequate return III la
Dor and services for the money th't
it spends in it's various departments
end institutions. If it is necessary
for the State to practice economy, It
10 even more necessary for the rnu-
inequalities to do SO because the mu-
nicipal rate of taxation is much larg-
or than that of the State.
The S0th Legislature should pc
commended for its economies. 1t $
not always easy to say NO" when
appropriations are asked for. but 1t
became my duty during the last leg
islatiye session to veto an unusually
large number of legislative appropri-
ations. and by doing so large an
nual fixed charge amounting to more
than three hundred thousand dollars
was saved the state. The Legisla-
ture sustained these vetoes and
should be given credit for having
done So The demands that have
years have outstripped the States
resources. and everything considered
believe that we have done unusual
ly we'll with the means at our COM
mand. During the sixteen years since
1905 that have been connected with
the State government. the State tax
las increased 5000 from 13 mills
in 1908 to 1-2 mills in 1919. TIE
expenses Of the State in that period
lliN l1tItdSCd fJ1 W iiiiO thO VA
alton of the State as shown by Its
assessed valuation has increased only
67cf. If something had not been done
to check this continued increase OF
appropriations it is easy to see what
the end would have been.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
state has been taking over much Of
the work formerly done by munich
palities, the tax rate of our towns
You well know that the State has
done more road work than ever be-
fore, that it takes care Of many pe"-
sons needing charitable assistance
who formerly were charges upon thu
towns. that it contributes literally ID
public health work, and that the
scope Of it's activities is constantly
widening.
The last Legislature by the adop-
ton of the budget system and by
practicing economy reduced the State
tax by 3SG6 even including both tn :
annual payment of a large number Of
the soldiers bonus bonds and the in
terest on the entire issue Of three
million dollars of the same. If the
soldiers bonus is not included in the
States ordinary running cXpe nse;,
as it should not be, a saving of 1870
was made in the State tax. This rec
ord set an example which the mu-
inequalities may well follow, and al
though they cannot hope to effect c.
proportionate saving. a beginning
should be made towards n reduction
of the burdens of municipal taxation.
There are always desirable i'm
provements to be made in towns
public buildings, and on it's roads. and
upon town authorities, but rotwith-
standing this there is point be-
yond which you should not so. Each
community needs somebody with the
sba ckbone to stand up and say NO
when the occasion requires. II You
Assessors and the Selectmen Of our
towns will take firm position, many
of tho town budgets can be reduced
and the people at home will back up
all honest, conscientious efforts that
you make in this direction. Such
dctlOn may cause temporary uHpop-
ularity. but those who bear the bur-
dens of taxation will appreciate your
efforts. The taxes Of the State and
of the municipalities must in some
way be reduced from their present
high level, and although Sc2tor
Smoot. an authority on taxation,
said. We have not begun to feel the
sting of taxation" I believe that here
in Maine we have at least made Il
beginning in tax reduction.
have impressed upon the heads'pf
the State departments and institu-