The Republican journal., 1922-11-16
Looking to the Legislature.
From Bangor Commercial.

L Aohi bdhsoI SOiilIncIlCdl.
We are soon to see the Maine legislature
at work, but couple of months now in
tervening before the beginning of the sea-
son. The signs of the times are found in
the equests for appropriations now being
filed by the various institutions apd or
CARNATIONS that expect state assistance
and which will form the basis of the re-
port that will be submitted to the legisla
ture by the budget committee There is
another committee also at work, one ap
pointed to make survey and investiga-
to recommending changes that will make
for efficiency and economy. The detailed
report of this committee will be made to
the legislature but there have been some
intimations of recommendations to be re-
ported by this committee including the
placing of tax of one cent gallon on
gasoline, the proceeds to be used for road
maintenance.
The efficiency committee will also sug-
gest that all the mail matter sent out
from the State House shall be sent from
one Office with a view to saving waste
in the use of stamps by the various de
partments, the claim being made that
under the present system clerks are care
less about weighing and mail is often
overpaid.
We do not wish to criticise the COM
mittee on efficiency, at least until its full
report is seen, but these suggestions do
not greatly appeal to US. The tax on
gasoline as suggested would appear to be
7 4 har ha m a
movement for efficiency or economy and
there is certainly no surety that the funds
thus raised would take the place of money
now Used by other taxation. There is
also considerable question of the wisdom
or fairness of increasing the taxes of mo-
tor car owners who already make cen-
siderable payment to the stele. We sup
pose that the committee takes the view
that the roads should be maintained by
those who use them most, or perhaps that
the owners of motor cars are better able
to nav than those who do not possess
cars. but we fail TO see how this sugges-
ton fits in with the expressed duty OF the
committee, to make recommendations Tor
economy and efficiency.
The fact should not be lost to sight that
owners of motor cars IN Maine pay Doth
state and local taxes on their cars and at
present make large contributions. And
the motor vehicles are not the only ones
that use the roads.
The budget committee, if the experiences
of other years are duplicated, Will be asked
for much more money than the state can
afford to pay and we believe that the COM
ing session must be marked by economy
The state expenses have been increasing
very rapidly. OF course the war had It's
effects in this direction and the higher
cost of living and the depreciation oil the
purchasing power of the dollar affects the
state as well as individuals. There VIII
be many efforts to obtain state. e.approprla-
tions foripurposes that while praisewortny
in themselves are nevertheless beyond tne
proper limits of the state treasury. IL is
our idea that there must be cut In this
direction. The state OF Maine mas Deeh
very liberal to its quasipublic institutions
and before the war IT could alioro 10 DC
liberal. But today the taxes Dear very.
severely upon the people and the ieeisia-
ture should turn its face very shalpiy
aoainst innovations and the effort to make
the state bear the burdens that are pio-
perly the business of localities.
We do not advocate that the state
should be niggardly toward the schools
private hospitals, roads, bridges and vari-
GUS philanthropic institutions but we do
believe that the taxpayers as well must
be considered. We believe that the ap-
preparations should first be made Tor tne
definite state institutions as the state
hospitals, state schools, prisons and vari-
GUS state departments and that after these
are made such assistance be rendered
other objects as the remaining finances OF
the state may make possible without in
creasine the burden of the tax payers.