The Republican journal., 1921-10-06
FINANCIAL STATUS
!, OF STATE OF maine
Statement of Governor PercivaI
P. Baxter, as Of August
31st, 1921

A few days after Governor Baxter
took the oath OF office, he called to-
eether the heads of all State depart
ments and State institutions and told
them that he expected them to live
within whatever appropriations the
Legislature gave them for their work.
The Governor emphasized the fact
That the Legislature was in session
at the time, and that the Legislature
directly represented the people. He
Also told the heads of these depart
ments and institutions that the Legis-
iature imposed the taxes and the de-
partments and institutions are re-
sponsihle for how they are spent.
The Governor said that he would
not be responsible for overdrafts if
departments and institutions ex-
ceeded their appropriations. The Gov
ernor wanted the fact made clear to
everybody that the practice of ask
ing the Governor and Council to pro-
vide large sums of money to meet
deficits should be discontinued, and
that he felt that the Council should
not take unto itself the power Of an
appropriating body.
The departmental and institutional
heads assured the Governor they
would conform to his plans, and the
result in most cases has been salts
factory. In the past there has been
tendency for departments and in
stitHions to use up the last dollar of
their appropriations given them by
the Legislature, but Governor Baxter
believes that strict economy should
be exercised in state affairs, just as
in private affairs He is Of the opinion
that if it appears that balance is to
be left in an appropriation, the expen-
ditures of that department should be
carefully watched So that that balance
may be saved and used for some
other proper purpose. Governor Bax-
ter does not want his administration
to have deficiency bill which the
next Legislature would have to pay.
In other words, when the Legislature
DEGREES that fixed amount of money
is to be appropriated from the State
Treasury for given purpose, the mat
ter should end there That Is all that
should be spent for that purpose I'M
less real emergency arises after the
Legislature adjourns.
Governor Baxter informed the heads
OF the State departments and insti-
buttons that he planned to take the
public into his confidence and give
them an account of his stewardship
Tor the first six months period of his
administration. The following figureD
show what has been accomplished. A
statement that the Auditor prepared
at the request of the Governor shows
that 263 separate appropriations were
made by the Legislature for the first
st1 months Of the year 1921. The total
appropriations made by the 1921 Leg
tstature amounted to $2,507 ,512.17.
The total amount of overdrafts dur
ing this six months period amounted
to 81, $3.50 81. In this overdraft item
is included $20349 for Pensions to
retired employees as provided by law
and for which no appropriation was
made by the Legislature; $72217 for
the special emergency railroad rate in
vestigation; and 1881. SO for complet
ing the Blaine Memorial which was
begun in 1920 and which had been
only partially completed. After de-
Quoting these items there is left an
actual overdraft of $39,44235 for
which the departments and institu-
lions of this administration are re-
sponsible. To meet this overdraft
money will be taken from the State
Contingent Fund, which is made up
of lapses that accumulate from such
appropriations as have not been fully
expended.
The Departments and Institutions
that exceeded the appropriation
which the Legislature made for them
are as follows
ADJUTANT GENERALS DEPT.
Office expenses ss2.1o
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFFCE.
Salaries & Clerk Hire 154.7a
General Office Expenses 561.1s
Inheritance Taxes-Salary and
Expenses 1887
BOARD OF PRISON COMMISSION
ERS.
State Probation Officer 265 q
BLAINE MEMORIAI~(To complete
work begun in 1890 and left I'M
hnished-) l221, &c
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
Salary and Clerk Hire 1O4. II
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
- Education Of the Blind H.1s