Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-11
Friday, March II, 1921.
DEFEATING APPROPRIATIONS

DEFEATING APPHOPkiA iONS .
Governor Baxter has complied
with the constitutional obligation to
recommend to the Legislature such
measures as he may judge expedient.
The need of this has been very APP
parent of late.
The call has been issued and
Governor Baxter is entitled to credit
for the courage required in the do
ing of it. The performance of that
important duty invites opposition
from many sources: it urges that
hopes and plans be deferred, which
maketh the hearts of many sick; it
runs counter to projects honorably
conceived and Loyalty supported; it
dampens the ardor Of many who are
giving earnest and valuable service,
who, looking through the medium of
their experience, believe they see OPP
portunities for Improvement over
looked by Others. The intentional
grafters are few if any; but those
capable of accurately apprising their
own values in the scheme of things,
are also scarce, mighty scarce. In
deed it would seem that the governor
himself is human like the rest of us,
when he advocates taking from other
appropriations enough to initiate the
Mt ,rly ioh ho
has SO warmly championed.
While some will be keenly disap-
pointed il the defiation recommended
by the governor is put through, and
possibly some of the pruning will be
too close and some worthy enter
prises will suffer materially it
should not be forgotten that the po-
tato and wool growers of Maine,
struggling under the burden Of fall
ing prices, unsold products and heavy
taxes, are listening attentively to
this proposition to save more than a
million and a quarter dollars from
even the budget estimates--and they
are not alone. A. large number of
men and women-over two hundred
and five thousand of them-went to
the polls last September. Governor
Baxter calls their attention to the
fact that the bonded indebtedness of
the State has increased 238 percent
since 1917, also to the further fact
that Maine spent less than two and a
half millions in 1905 and $13,344,-
936.25 in 1920, Notwithstanding there
had been no such proportionate in
crease in the values of the property
taxed. He has reminded them that
bonds are a burden shifted onto the
shoulders of our children, who in the
natural order Of things will have
plenty of burdens Of their own, and
at least should not be saddled with
our debts for enterprises from which
they may derive no profit.
The people of Maine will be i'm
pressed by this exposition of the
States finances by Governor Baxter
and their approval will be quite gen.
eral unless it shall appear that some
Of this economy isn't wise economy,
for that Is the variety they want. We
assume the governor has thoroughly
acquainted himself with the effect his
recommendations will have and has
not lost sight Of any actual need in a
desire to bring the tax rate to a sur
prisingly low record. II we under
stand the wishes of the people they
want what is proper: that whether
the rate were five or whether it were
six mills would not affect their de-
cision if they became convinced the
money was really necessary to the es-
sential welfare Of the public.
There is no doubt, we believe,
that an exigency exists. that def1ation
must be had. 1t now becomes the
Legislatures duty not only to debate
but not to debate destructively.
Manifestly the results we all are
seeking can be obtained in but one
way and in one spirit; by counseling
together for prudence in a spirit of
cooperation. patience and willingness
to forego something in the interests
of all