Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-08-24
Thursday, August "a, 1922.
Mr.. PATTANGAlL AND COM.
PARSONS

IL lar comparisons COuiu De ma ue
between State expenditures in 1916
and those Of 1922 one Of the first fea-
lures TO he considered would be a
comparison between the purchasing
power OF a dollar in 1916 and a dollar
in 1922.
Nowhere in all the criticism which
Candidate Pattangall has made of
State xpenditures-and he has been
very dligent in this, even to the Will
ton highway-no have we seen
that he even alluded to the fact
known TO every intelligent person
that the dollar under the Baxter ad-
mnistration would not buy only
about two thirds of what a dollar
would buy under the Curtis admins
tratlon. He seems to have forgotten
too all about the ten per cent plus
under the Wilson administration.
Mr.. pattangall either possesses a
memory that is ovcrtrained or under
trained II may not be trusted for
the purpose OF making fair compari-
sons, though we do not doubt the
comparisons he makes by use of it
are as satisfactory to himself a. it is
possible to make them. Situated as
he IS he doubtless may be regarded as
easily pleased in that respect, but
low about the public, which really
would like to get some real informa-
tion? Surely they are not getting it
fiom Mr.. Pattangall.
Reporting the public school expense
In 1916 amounted to $4,000, 900 and for
the year ending July 1920 was So
ico, o,0oO Mr.. Pattangall seeks to con-
vcy the impression that he is
greatly perturted. And when he
SAYS the Office expenses of the
state school department were
only S'o,500 IN 1915 he rises to
the heights of his superb oratorcal
pcrsuasiveness. Why, if we are in
formed correctly and we think we
are. the office expenses alone in 1916
We're $4,000. while printing. binding.
postage and office supplies totaled
$4,000 more. However, like Tennysons 8
or SOME other brook Mr.. Pattangalrs
comparisons run on, but by no chance
may one expect to find allusion to
comparison between the purchasing
prices Of the dollar of 1916 and that
of 1922.
1t Furthermore appears that in 1916
the total amount of all state school
funds including the school mill and
common school fund and all special
activities such as promotion of in
dustrial education. normal schools.
secondary schools. academies, SAL
ed to $2,o79.903 81, whereas in 1921
the total cost Of state school funds
including all activities, all Office ex-
penditures together with state school
fund amounted to S2,605,o94
Nothing in all Of this that we can
find to warrant the election of the
Hon. w. r. Pdttangall as Governor
Of the State of Maine.
And there has been large increase
in the amount of work to be done.
New clerks have been required by
Vocational education, by schools of
unorganizod townships and by Sec
ondary schools. Since 1916, 45 Glass
4. high schools have been established,
70 additional high school teachers
employed ard there are 5,311 more
high school students, or an increase
of 25 per cent in five years
Would Mr.. Pattangall do away
with all this? He has set himself up
as critic, he is making comparisons
that are not comparisons, he is not
enlightening the understanding of his
hearers-and, what is even more to
the point. he is not telling us how he
would so about it to lessen expendi-
lures.
We do not think such comparisons
amount to much. We do not think
they are calculated to inform the
public. but rather to misinform it. We
do not believe they are put forth
with any view whatsoever to relieve
the economic situation, but on the
contrary to relieve the political sit
uation of the Democratic party,
which, it must be admitted, is nat
urallN seeking for relief