Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-09-28
FINANCIAL STATUS
OF STATE OF maine
Statement of Governor Percival
P. Baxter, as of August
31st, 1921

A few days after Governor Baxter
took the oath of Office, he called to-
gether 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 cpd institutions that the Legis7
ature imposed the taxes and the de-
partments and institutions are re-
~olsible for how they are spent.
lie Governor said that he would
OF he responsible for overdrafts If
iCpa. tIlents and institutions ex-
eeded 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 un.o itself the power Of an
appropriately body.
The der t., entail 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
a tendency for departments and in
situations 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 II it appears that a 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 a 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 thst purpose un-
less a real emergency arises after the
Legislature adtourns.
Governor Baxter informed the heads
OF the State departments and insti
tutions that he planned to- take the
public into his confidence and give
them an account of his stewardship
for the first six months period of his
administration. The following figures
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
six months Of the year 1921. The total
appropriations made by the 1921 Leg
islature amounted to $3.50, 51217
The total amount of overdrafts dur
ing this six months period amounted
to 41,689.87. In this overdraft item
is included $203.49 for Pensions to
retired employees as provided by law
made by the Legislature; $722.17 for
the special emergency railroad rate in
vestigation: and $1321.86 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 $39,442.36 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.
Once expenses $s2.10
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE.
Salaries & Clerk Hire 154.73
General ONCE Expenses 561.18
Inheritance Taxes-Salary and
Expenses 1887
BOARD OF PRISON COMMISSION
ERS.
State Probation Officer 265.z3
BLAINE MEMORIAL~(To complete
work begun in 1920 and left un-
fnished.) 1,321.8e
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
Salary and Clerk Hire 10411
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Education of the Blind 6119
Employees Pensions mo appro-
priation by Legtslature) 203.49
Railroad Investigation Especial
an emergency 73z17
HOSPITAL TRUSTEES
Expenses 619.27
LIVE STOCK SANITARY COMMITS
SION
Condemned Animals 1885. AZ
NORTHERN MAINE SANATORIUM.
ProsQue ISle