Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-07

forest fires Of 1921, the taxes assessed
upon the forestry district being in
sufhcient to pay these accounts.
State Contingent Funds
The Governor believes the ex-
istence OF the Contingent Fund
menace to sound finance" Money
from the Fund which is made up of
the balances of unexpended appro-
priations and whatever actual income
there is over and above current ex-
per ses. is available for whatever
emergencies" may arise, such as de-
fciencies in department appropria-
tons. Governor Baxter asserted that
the Governor and Council hold too
much power in regard TO the deter
mination of the manner in which this
money shall be utilized, having it
within their power to decide just
what constitute the emergencies" for
which the fund is existent. 1T is
not the function of the Governor and
Council to appropriate money for
purposes for, which the legislature
actually did not provide. Let the
states garments be cut to fit the
| 'i'Niis j llth tiS 1ONcfQOf 3QVO-
Gated. in event of the discontinuance
OF said Contingent Fund. and the
arising of n real emergency unforc-
seen by the legislature, that the Gov
ernor and Council take advantagN of
! power 10 borrow certain sums, The
advantage herein living ia the neces-
sity for open dealings and the dis
closure of the purpose for which the
loan is made.
Deficiency Bills
Deficiency bills. for the overdrawn
appropriations OF the various depart
inents should not be nee essary, said
Governor Baxter. if the State Con-
I tlngcnt Fund were abolished, and the
| legislature should definitely order
/ how much money is to be appro-
! pratcd and spent for the work of the
several departments and institutions
Of the state. At present the live
stock or cattle testing work calls for
not less than a $4,000 overdraft, the
/ forest fire situation requires sos, 900.
the State Board Jf Charities and
: Corrections will doubtless require a
/ large sum. The speaker suggested
: thta whatever money be left in the
present Contingent Fund at the close
/ Of the fiscal year be turned to pay
mcnt OF the State debt. He en-
rhasizcd the point that our State
/ Departments and Institutions are
making n serious effort to live within
/ their legislative appropriations and
are cooperating with the Chief FIx-
ccutiVc in his efforts to conduct the
/ states business on a sound basis"
! Governor Baxter than took up the
subject OF the establishment of a
state Park in the Mount Katahdin
| region, advocating it as a benefit to
the state, on the grounds of recrea
tion. and scientific experiment. He
asserted that every dollar that the
land is worth will be paid to the own
ers. and that when tie park is in
proper condition the burdens of road
building should be borne by the State
In closing the speaker referred to
the step towards reduction of taxes
taken Ivy the present administration
d., which land and property owners must
alike appreciate as stimulus to fur
lther business effort He urged the
active interest of Cverv citizen in the
fact that We are Il forest State whose
future prosperity is closely inter
woven with forestry problems. with
no dividing line between the timber
land owner and the farmer or be-
tween the timbcfland owner and the
merchant. Above all we should seel
proper understanding of Names for
estrv situation so that for generations
10 come our State may hold first place
in tho Nation as a Forestry state.
The Governors remarks were given
warm applause and he was given d
rising vote OF appreciation for his al
tendance
Forestry Needs in Maine
Forest Commissioner Samuel T
Dana in his address first noted the
fact of the indspenSihility of wood
and it's products in the daily life OF
every business and every individual
in the state. Names abundant nat
ural supplies OF wood are an economic
advantage which should be utilized
to the utmost, that being possible
only through proper handling ant
development. Progress has beer
made. said Commissioner Dana. since
1869 when the first commission wa:
appointed to present suggestions FOL
a forest policy. Yet the need fo
Improvement in conditions is great;
first for better fire protection in con
neCtion with which lie suggested {
CLOSE season" on fishing during par
ticularIy dangerous times: second
for an interest on the part of th'
state in the preservation of wllt
lands. and their protection.
He expressed a strong personal dc
sire that the entire State should con
tribute to the protection of land
from fire inside as NCll as outside o
the Forestry District during norma
wears, and should set aside Il Spccia
fund To meet emergencies Such a.
that of the past year. "Other state:
also find it Well worth their While tt
protect their entire forest area
There is no reason why we aion'
should he an exception" SAID Mr.
Dana in this connection.
Not only is protection against tn
disasters of fire essential, but aGalns
insects and disease. n the opinion o
the speaker. He advocated in his ad-
dress thorough going investigation: