Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-10
A FEW WORDS

Mr.. Editor:
| have been four times q member
of the Maine House of Representa-
tives and know something of the
temptations and joys incident to that
body, and can congratulate the
members of the present Legislature
on their splendid opportunity to do
patriotic service for the State.
On the one hand stands their re-
spective districts, with their num-
erouS demands; on the other hand
stands the State with its needs for
larger appropriations, and to adjust
the scales of Justice between them
requires keen craftsmanship.
Now that the Legislature has gone
into the boosting business, and as
Sumed for the State the role of a
great business corporation--not con-
tent with the functions of civic
organization-mainly to induce sum-
mer residents and tourists to our
summer paradise wouldn't it be a
fine thing TO do a little lifting to our
poor tax ridden farm vocation towns
all over the State, that must evoke
comments from tourists of other
states and pity from residents of our
own state. Not long since | travel
ed over a much Travelled mail route
or four or five miles and counted ten
vacated houses and ten more sites
where once stood homes occupied by
large families.
| invite residents of small rural
towns to look over the histories Of
their respective towns, and ascertain
how many of them have more than
one-half the population they had
nifty years ago. And while our re-
spected solons are trying, manfully
resisting the temptation to rob Peter
TO pay Paul, wouldn't it be a happy
lining to enact law fixing a uni
form tax-rate throughout the State
Tor all state purposes and eXpendi-
lures? Our roads are open to all
travellers on equal terms to residents
from all states in the Union and
from other countries. And it is safe
TO say that $3.50 of it is by auto or
truck during the best part of the
year and that 500 of that travel is
Tor pleasure and quite a percent of
It for criminal purposes and in vio-
lation Of existing laws.
our primary, and secondary
schools too, are compulsory when
they reach into the peoples pockets
Tor taxes, if not practically in the
matter of required attendance. and
our own U. of NJ. compels us to nav
ABOUT thousand each annually for
assisting three or four hundred stud
ents to a college course. Perhaps
TINS figure may be n little too big
ana IL the Child Labor Amendment
should ever become a part of orr
constitution our whole school svs-
tenn may be placed on a COMPULSORY
basis from primary to college course
10 save our youth from the peniten-
tiary.
we hope that our Legislature will
take kindly to the Coolidge policy of
economy, which saved a somewhat
divided Republican party from n
possible defeat and gave it an over
Wheimlng ma jority in the last ma
tloiiat election, and before any re-
soiVe 1or an appropriation is passed
submit 1t to the closest scrutiny and
ASK the question: can the state af-
iord 1t, unless absolutely necessary
Ill us present state of Indebtedness
ara the tax-paying citizens CARRYING
ABOUT all the burden they can bear.
ana since bill to repeal the
primary law has been introduced in
the Legislature, will it approve that
bill and acknowledge the member
ship of that body-nominated under
that law by the people to represent