Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-14
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Mr.. Stetson has been president OF
the Assessors Association since its
organization, presided at the Tues
day evening session. The addresses
of the evening were given by Gov
ernor Baxter and State Auditor Ell
bert D. Hayford, and were keen BUSH
ness talks, filled with valuable sug-
gestions for all of the members in
attendance. j..
Following the addresses, the
Maine-produced moving picture,
THE Rider of King Log" from the
story by Holman Day. was shown,
through the courtesy of William B.
Williamson of Augusta, and, was
greatly appreciated.
Gov. Baxter Welcomes
ut is an easy matter to find new
sources of taxation and any public
man can suggest them. Every new
tax is heartily applauded by all those
who are not called upon to pay it.
1t is the old game of passing it on
TO Others" said Governor Baxter, who
welcomed the assessors at the State
House in behalf of the State Gov
ernor Baxter declared that since he
became Governor he has not been
interested in levying new taxes. but
constantly has urged the reduction of
able to make the reductions hoped
for, but has done his Lest to keep
down legislative appropriations and
to effect economies.
He stated that the tendency today
is to expand the States activities,
enlarge the departments, and in
crease the number of State institu-
tons, and that he felt this tendency
should he checked In the State the
number of officials and employees has
advanced by rapid strides during the
past decade, but the present admins
tration has been reluctant to continue
this upward trend.
Salaries paid to the State en-
ployees are modest and in some cases
are not adequate" asserted the Gov
ernor. This applies even to some of
the principal officials of the State
upon whom great responsibilities are
placed. The whole salary schedule of
officials and employees needs to be
revised, for it is in haphazard state
and should be remedied."
Governor Baxter stated that the
State departments and institutions
are endeavoring to live within their
appropriations, and to do so is the
slogan around the State House. He
pointed out that at the present time
we are making considerable saving
by doing the work of three depart
ments without deputies, although I'M
der the law the head of each of these
departments has the right to appoint
u deputy. These departments are,
Agriculture. Insurance and Forestry;
in the latter the deputy is acting
Tho Ny0rly ~ the y,an-
sion agent is being done by the mes
senger to the Governor and Council.
In these four items the State at pres
ent is saving approximately $4,000
per year in salaries and travelling eX-
penses, and the departmental work is
being properly cared for. We have
made considerable saving in printing.
amounting to not less than 100000 a
year. and have adopted a uniform
style of stationery that will save sew
eral thousand dollars more.
The savings effected by the Pur-
chasing Agents association and b .
checking of freight bills paid by the
State. tie Governor referred to, and
declared that he was glad to say that
the last two Legislatures have been
reluctant to create any new boards or
commissions; in fact, two commits
Food Protective commissions, have
been abolished and their work is now
being properly cared for by other de-
partments. Maine is not burdened as
are some of our sister states by an
unreasonable number of commissions
and our government is comparatively
Simple in form.
Governor Baxter said that he Is of
the opinion that except for the lib
rary. the State House building is
amply large for our needs.
. II notice that the Federated Asso-
citation of Agricultural Societies re-
Gently has appointed committee to
study the tax problem of Maine"
continued Governor Baxter. 81 ear
nestly hope this committee, who I am
told are present here this evening.
may be able to do something practical
to reduce taxes. If this committee SIM
ply makes an effort to shift the tax
burden from one class to another, or
seeks to impose new forms o. taxa
ton, it's work will be futile, for those
who are expected to pay these new
taxes or take over the old ones nat
urally will fight them to the last
ditch. On the other hand everybody
can unite in campaign to reduce
burdens of taxation all along the
line.
State Tax Dollar
Sometime ago / prepared dia-
gram of a State tax dollar to show
how the State taxes are spent.
think you all would be interested to
see it, This tax dollar is divided into
sections, the three largest being
81 cents; Charities, We'll
fare, Health and Pensions, 25 cents;
Roads, % cents, and so on along the
line. I believe it would be we'll for
every city and town to prepare a tax
dollar showing citizens how munich
pal taxes are expended.
Vetoes ..-
During my administration I have
seen fit to veto 4S measures that
came to me from the Legislature.
The total amount of appropriations
that thus disapproved amounted al
most to S2,000.000. although this
does not represent the total expendi-
lures involved. for some appropria-
tions were continuing ones and in
volved heavy annual fixed charges.
This record. in so far as I know, Is
unusual in the State of Maine.
Farms and Farmers
zone cannot take up a daily paper
depression that exists all over the
United States. The State of Maine
has not escaped it. Everybody is
talking Of what can be done to aid
the farmer and many helpful sugges-
tions are forthcoming. Maine pri-
marily Is an agricultural State. We
have approximately $4,000 farms. the