Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-19
Wednesday. July 10. 1922.
GOVERNORS ADMIRABLE DE.
ClSiON


taught that the camers body followed
that head. when there wasn't room
enough for the owner and the
camel.
II nothing more, Governor Bakers
admirable proclamation respecting
the Sheppard Towner maternity
measure places before the people of
this State comprehensive statement
Of the situation II, in the light of
this. they decide through their Leg
islature TO accept the pitiful mess OF
pottago, FIVE thousand dollars, for
surrendering the fundamental right
20 supervise their own maternity af-
fairs--and provide the pottage at
that, also the pap TO Government OIL
cials for serving it-they have left
the privilege of doing so. But they
must do it in the light of the condi-
tions so clearly set forth by Governor
Baxter with the unanimous approval
Of his executive council.
Five thousand dollars is but a drop
in the bucket of what we are doing
for the health of the state, and the
money is from that which comes from
taxing the State on behalf of the
Federal Government. 1t is by no
means yet certain that the law is
constitutional and at least it is better
20 wait until that is determined and
rs the Governor remarks, the delay is
not material and the mothers Of
Maine will not suffer in consequence
MS the state from the contingent fund
adds $4,000 to be expended in the next
six months instead of over period of
year as would be the case had the
measure been approved. Meanwhile
81 viii BE- well to give careful consid-
GRAFTON to the facts set forth in this
proclamation.
when the United States govern
ncnt offers a state a certain amount
of money on condition that the state
accepts the provisions of the federal
bill under which the money is offered
II is termed federal aid" In accept
Inc federal aid n state must comply
with all the conditions imposed by
congress upon that state, and in do
ing this state often is obliged to
surrender to congress certain
amount Of control over its own inter-
nal affairs. Federal aid already has
been accepted by Maine for use in
several OF its departments, such as
that Of roads schools, forests, Ma
tional Guard and agriculture, and
where power has been expressly del
egated by the state to the federal
government there can be no criticism
Of states receiving federal aid. -
| believe the time has come for the
states OF the union to hold to prin-
ciple and TO carefully scrutinite all
offers of federal aid before accept
ing them. The financial aspect
Of federal aid is interesting. The
preferred $4,000 has been referred to
ms Tree gift TO the state of Maine,
while in reality the federal govern
fnent Is taxing the state to raise this
money, and now in order to help Our
mothers and children offer to pay
back to the state the trivial sum of
less than two-thirds of one cent for
each inhabitant. At the present time
over sls,0oo.000 is annually taken in
taxes by the federal government from
the people of Maine and less than
sl,25o,0oo is returned TO the state in
the form 81 federal aid. This $4,000.
900 OF Maine money is paid into the
federal treasury at Washington.
large portion being absorbed in
heavy administration expenses at the
federal capitol. and small fraction
being returned TO the state. -
II the time ever comes when Maine
refuses TO care for its mothers and
children or lags behind other states
In humanitarian work. as some
southern states have done in neglect
ins TO enact proper child labor laws
then IL may become necessary for the
federal government to intervene or
at least TO offer advise and assistance
We are not confronted with this con-
dition at the present time and should
not encourage the Capitalization Of
power In Washington.
In years gone by the state of Maine
has not hesitated to stand for great
principles and II is we'll for the "A
states that have accepted the Shop
pard- Towner bill to know that Maine
neither asks for. nor accepts. federal
hid for Its mothers and children"
These are some Of the features en-
phasiZed by Governor Baxter. Sight
OF them should not be lost in discus.
sion. Keep them in mind. And while
we arc about II we possibly may
profit from considering what has
beer done in rearing creditable chill
dren in this good State of ours, done
without reliance on either State or
federal aid without transferring to
governmental authority any of the
responsibility therefor. In another
column a subscriber very interesting
~ calls attention to the washburn
family which never fell under the
spell Of letting the Government per-
A.. form their obligations. They did not
learn 10 swim with the aid Of Federal
wa,crwiags. OF course. that spirit of
oeif reliance animated an unusually
sturdy, capable family. Much must
depend on the stock ina. is being
cui,iea,ed. but surely losing the spirit
pf SELF reliance win not improve it.