Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-15

made. The money that is given US.
1 however, comes from the people Of
Ma; nc, and only q small part Of what
is taken from us is returned. have
obtained list of departments OF our
State Government that receives Fed
eral Aid This Federal Aid given
these departments for 1921 totaled
hardly more than a million dollars
according to the reports handed me
recently at Augusta. AS an Offset
against this aid, there passed
through the collectors office in Al
gusta in 1921 more than $4,000 600,
collected as taxes from this district,
This of course does not include the
duties collected on imports by other
branches of the Federal Government.
times imposes conditions upon the
expenditure OF a considerable por-
ton of this money that is given the
States. and often times pledges the
states to appropriate additional
funds with which to match the Fed
eral appropriation. 1t would be i'm
possible to tell just how much of
Names money is used in Federal ad-
ministration expenses. OF course the
people of our State desire to pay
their share of the legitimate expenses
of Government, but the figures
here quote show that at least we pay
for everything that the Federal Gov
eminent gives. us, and in addition
thereto surrender control over our
own affairs to a considerable extent.
1t would be desirable if Maine itself
did large part of the work that the
Federal Government is now doing
within our borders.
when we receive Fedora aid we do
not get something for nothing We
give something and receive back a
portion of what we give.
Until a radical change is made in
our present system, we of course
shall take such money as comes to us
from Washington and shall use it for
the purposes for which it is given,
but We should dismiss the idea that
any gift is being made US and that
somebody other than ourselves is
paying our bills.
Apart from the financial aspects
OF the case, and whether We gain or
lose 4 given amount of money. the
fact that the Federal Government is
gradually reaching out and influ-
encing the management al & shaping
the policies of the internal affairs of
our State. is i matter of grave con-
corn to those who believe in local
State Government. and who fear the
dominating influence Of great depart
ments and bureaus located in the
National Capitol.
State Capitalization
Bringing this lesson home dis
closes that within the State itself
there also exists a ten -ency toward
Capitalization of power. Our towns
and cities are looking mere and more
to the State treasury for aid in many
fields of their work. The State de-
partmehts have grown enormously in
recent ears and many phases of gov
eminent work heretofore carried on
exclusively by our municipalities
now have been assumed by, the State.
an my opinion there should be a re-
action against too much paternalism
and a call should go out for decen-
tralization. Where favors are dealt
cut by the Federal Government to the
States. Or by the States t. municipal
tiles, local responsibility is weakened
and the money so dealt cut is not
spent as carefully as money that
comes directly from the people. But
little if any good comes from the dis
tribution of favors by Governmental
agencies. In SO far as is consistent
with a strong Federal Government,
ca I'll State should have a free hand to
raise it's own revenue to spend it as
the people of the State in their wis :
dom decree. and to be free from Fed
eral interference"
Gov. Baxter referred to what had
been done the past .'car and paid an
eloquent tribute to the accomplish
ments of the Washington Conference.
The ground that has been won
must be held. 1t is alleged on good
lions are at work to break down our
temperance laws. The same propa =
Ganda is at work and the same spe-
cious arguments are being used that
were so common in former days.
Eternal vigilance is needed as much
as ever before, and if the great cause
in which YOU are interested is to
Withstand these onslaughts they must
be met by united front"
DIR. c. f. Owen spoke along lines Of
law enforcement and urged especially
the cooperation of the municipal au-
thorties with the county. State and
federal enforcement officials. He re-
ferred to the mayor of Portland and
compimented his high stand for law
enforcement.
President Arthur j. Roberts spoke
briefly in regard to characterization.
He said that it could not be done by
the mere holding of classes. but the
personal touch was most effective in
that work.
Mrs. Vayllingcr, who has been at the
head of large neighborhood house in
Chicago. when she rose to speak COM
plimented Governor Baxter on his
splendid stand for enforcement, and
said that when he was through in
Maine she "anted him to come to In
diana, for they needed man of his
MIMI III tiiaI S'dtc. '7hc save many
interesting incidents illustrating the
work among the foreign population.
and said she had been able to get
nearer to the foreign women through
their understanding of her attitude
toward this country. She had learned
this by being associated with them in
her settlement work. =.
Mrs. Quimhv made a most gracious
and pleasing POSTMASTER and the nurn-
Der present overran the capacity Of
the dining room.