Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-28

this has been drawn III the isiSe -
years, put together. 1t is -Wltnou.
precedent, to my mind never con-
templated by the legislature winch
nassed the acts. 1t would seem that
when the Contingent Fund was
drained during the year. there was
call for money from the treasury,
not otherwise appropriated dan
gerous system of financing, just
step from attempting to draw from
the Trust Funds of the State. And
I would like to know Gas l do not
know whether any of the Trust
Funds were really used for the pay
ment of these orders in anticipation
of other funds coming in later. l
suggest this merely as matter OF
inuuiryi One hardly need to say
that this would not be according to
the law. And l assume that this has
rot been done or even contemplated
in any issue.
Regarding the question of taking
the money from the treasury from
! moneys not otherwise appropriated
on orders from. the Governor and
Council under an act of the LegiSla-
| ture of 1918, Mr.. Justice Wilson, who
| was attorney general in 1914,
wrote in part, to the State auditor,
in reply to his inquiries as follows:
Neither can l determine whether
any moneys are in the treasury un-
appropriated at this time. / can see
how that may be difficult thing to
do at this time of year. However L
| think you will agree with me-. that
| that is a problem for the auditor and
| the State treasurer to work out. If
| there are no moneys that are 9TH
erwise unappropriated, an order such
as passed by the governor and coun-
Gil, would of course have no effect.
1T there are unappropriated funds. in
my opinion the order would be valid
This is a cautious stand on the part
! OF the attorney general and one 1
! think that will meet general ap-
! prevail.
The Budget of the Contingent
Let US now" continued Mr.. CAL
lahan, pass to a consideration of
the Budget system and this Contin-
gent Fund as they are correlated
| and have been administered for the
] past two years. Let me cite an in
| stance that illustrates how easy it is
| to fall into bad habits. Let me call
! to your attention thing that raised
a storm when the legislature at
tempted it but which seems to pass
unnotced in the doings of the Gov
ornor and the Council.
Here is the instance. In the SEES
sion of 1919, the Highway and
Bridge committee brought in a re-
solve, giving aid to a number of
small towns in their road building.
rms entailed total sum of a little
more than 100000. The cry was
raised that this would destroy the
/ budget system. This was a bill. pre-
scented to the legislature by one of it's
standing committees. The legislature
/ mad full authority to make appropri
atoms and levy taxes for the purpose
described. The bill passed - but
! against the protests of the Governor
ana in the midst of much contention.
Now we ind the Governor and
I Council in 1920 passing orders for
nearl.' $1,000, 900 taken from the Com
tlngent Fund or from amy moneys
/ 80 IAAS treasury, HOT OJncfWISA an
pruI1iated,' This sum equals 20 per
cert OF the total appropriations of
1920 as made by the Legislature. There
mist be something wrong with q bud
get system that does not come with
in 20 per cent. of being accurate!
Inele must be something wrong with
budget system that gives the Leg
i '@!&ture that is responsible uuder the
law for taxation only eighty per
CIT. of the control or the kaowlcdge
CT the expenditures and receipts"
i / have no intention of bringing
any indictments or any thought Of at
'a:hing as such, the acts of the Gov
ernor and Council. 1 am finding fault
merely with the system entailed
! UPON us by what l believe t. be alb
SIT d aid useless methods % doing
business and the latitude given or
aiken by the Governor and Council
with this Contingent Fund. But [ do
want to call to the attention of YOUR
""adtr rs certain facts relative 70 what
SENS to be Il growing policy of
! taking the power of expenditure nut
Of the hands of the taxing BODY and
putting it into the hands of the ex-
ecutiVe-something never Contemplate
"a in the fundamental theory of gov
nn'ent in this republic or in any of
it,, states.
! ITO begin WITH said Mr. Callahan.
''let me say, at risk of cepat.tion.
that the Governor and Council; have
ordered the expenditure of about ST.
600 coo. This is as much as the entire
cost of the government of Maine for
IS yeal. not so many years ago. 1t
would be impossible for ire. or any
! one else to go into details on the nx-
| penditures, in the limits of this con-
vefsation- My purpose is rather to
treat the general subject broadly. I
will however, mention the authorize
/ tion of extensive construction, witt.
ont legislative special authority.
:ght mention, as among these, the
storage-garage for the highway de.
! Hartment. This is estimated to cost
at least s250,o00, Of which over $15O,-
600 has already been paid. This
building is built on the cost-plus sys.
tenn which was invoked during the
war in the shipyards. The money
! for this is coming out of the High
way Bond Loan! I do not believe
that the people who voted for that
Bond Loan ever contemplated that
| a quarter Of a million dolJars of tho.