Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-20

More Of Mr.. Pattanga||'s
Figures

In a speech in Penobseot county Mr.. Pattangan
attacked the Attorney Generals department under Re-
publicans as "extravagant" He said that he had run
it in 1916 when he Attorney General for $1,000
with one assistant. Now 1t costs $4,000.
Maybe correct. We have not verified the figures
But let them stand. HOW DID MR.. PATTANGALL
RUN 1T so FAR AS COSTS GO?
The Attorney has charge of Collection Of In.
heritance taxes and their accounting
When Mr. Pattangall was there they took what came
In and had no department for collection and for search
of the countrywide records for estates liable to pay
taxes. Many escaped atogether-especialy many nom
resident estates subject to inheritance taxes in Maine.
They had nobody looking after these nhertancetaxes
and for nothing else Attorney General Sturgis or
ganized such department and appointed another
sstant to do nothing else. This makes the added
expense This accounts for Mr.. Pattangalls speech.
Would Mr. Patangall abolish him? II SO. would It be
good trade for the voters to elect Mr.. Pattangal!
Let's see!
Before this assistant appointed, the average Of
inheritance tax revenue resident and nonresident was
about 100000. After this assistant was appointed
and did this and nothing else, did his appointment pay?
WE'LL SAY so!
Deputy Attorney General Franklin Fisher who did
this and nothing else (s work and that Of his assist.
ants costing $4,000 year, took in 100000 the first
year. That was pretty good The second year (1sls)
he collected nearly $275,oOO The third year he col
lected s411s91 The fourth year he collected $b94
YEARS THAT THIS $4,000 DEPARTMENT PICKED
UP At least 100000 of this was PURE GAIN to
the State
In 1916, Mr.. Pattangal collected the noble sum Of
$500 from "a nonresident inheritance taxes In 1920
Mr.. Fisher collected $165000 from nine hundred and
twenty nonresident inheritance taxes. Did the $4,000
pay? Was there job for that Assistant costing
$4,000? Was this extravaganza? In 1920, Mr. Fisher
handled 1860 inheritance tax matters Was this real
job? While Mr. Pattangalls official year scared up -
lonesome cases of nonresident inheritance taxes, Mr..
Fisher handled 920.
In four years. the total gain In collections over the
average preceding those four years about $7OOOOO
1t cost 500 900 to the Office for four WOULD
YOU BE WILLING TO SET UP DEPARTMENT
FOR $4,000 year that would bring in an average Inc
crease of revenue of $4,000 year for four years?
Would it be good business to elect man who would
argue for this sort Of Saving at the spgot and losing
at the bung?" Isn't it nonsense? Is 1t going to fool
you?
This is just sample of much of the material offered
to people on the stump this year by Mr.. Pattangal
Half-statements; deliberate twisting Of the mean
ngs and words of his political opponents and this sort
of argument from utter lack of knowledge OF the rea-
sons for expenditure and the gained BY in-
partial administration of laws requiring constant at.
tenton.
vote for the Straight Republican Ticket Is a
Vote for Coolidge and Common-Sense Government.
MAINE REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE,
By FRANK B. W. WEIGH,
Executive Secretary.