Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-23

| for aid to repair this bridge. The
Councillors and myself have gone into
the matter carefully on each occa-
sion have looked into the valuaNon
| of the towns and have made inquiries
| as to their ability TO raise money to
keep the bridge in proper repair.
We have been satisfied that the
towns are in a position to handle
! this situation and consequently did
not take 6noney from the Contingent
| Fund as requested
In one of the towns there is a large
rpulp mill and its heavy trucks cause
| most of the wear and tear on the
! bridge. 1t of course would be help
full if the State would assume the
burdens of this bridge. and the
| towns thereby would be relieved
either from increasing their taxes or
issuing bonds. This however. APP
plies in every case where a town is
unfortunate enough to have a large
| number of bridges within it's borders.
Gradually the State is taking over
control and responsibility of bridges,
and every one that is added to the
States already heavy burdens makes
! it more Difficult for the taxpayers
| to carry the l. I'd. Any thoughtful
citizen can see what the future will
| be if the pra, ice Of placing these
bridge bills upon the State continues
without interruption. community
with q strong representation in the
Legislature can avoid its RESPONSE
bilities. while other communities not
! so favored must get along without
assistance. l believe a principle is
at stake - these bridge resolves. and
although it hardly can be expected
that the Legislature will consider
each one on it's merits i feel under
obligation to withhold my approval
in cases similar to the one now be-
fore me. OF course if the emergency
is sufficiently pressing. money can
be appropriated by the Legislature
| out of the special $4,000 sfund
which the Legislature has in hand
for just such cases as the one before
US.
During this Legislative session
have felt it my duty to veto an ever
increasing number Of Acts and Re-
solves and have done so without any
personal feeling or prejudice. Doubt
less l shall be called upon to con-
tinue the course that I have entered
upon. I want the Legislators to I'M
derstand that a Governors position
is very different from theirs. When
he atfiXes his signature to a law it is
made effective by his affirmative act
IL is MS law ana ne assumes q per-
sonal responsibility for it.
Legislators in passing laws give
their approval as rule in mass
formation and each member takes
but fraction of share OF the re-
sponsibilty for it's enactment. No
matter how trivial or how important.
shall not sign any measure unless l
really approve. and am willing to ac-
cept full responsibility for it. In
doing this I am but performing the
duties imposed upon me by the Con-
stitution of our State. I have no
pride of opinion in these matters but
am acting solely within my consti-
tutional rights.
A Governor should not hesitate to
take the lead and certainly he should
not become a mere trailer in the
procession Perhaps it would be
more comfortable for him if he
should sit -complacently in his office
and say to himself that the Legis-
lators having passed certain laws he
need not go against their wishes.
This is the easier course to follow,
but not one that appeals to the pres
ent Chief Executive. 1 have no
patience with those who would avoid
full responsibility for their decisions.
AS the days go by and as Acts and
Resolves are brought to me I shall
consider each upon it's merits and act
accordingly. There will be no feel
ing of resentment on my part in case
some Of these are passed over my
disapproval. I. however, am think
ing Of the folks at home and am do
ing my best to protect their inter-
csts. They are the ones who in
few months will be called upon to
pay the bills that are how being en-