Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

prONal
Resolve, to Retire Maine Forestry
District Deficit.
This resolve was presented to the
S1st Legislature contrary to an I'M
derstanding between the then forest
commissioner and myself. A loan of
fifty thousand dollars was advanced
the said commissioner from the
State Contingent Fund in order to
meet certain heavy bills incurred for
fire fighting during the year 1922. 1t
was agreed between us at that time
that the forestry district should re-
turn this money to the State treas
ury out of it's next years funds, and
/ was surprised when this resolve
cancelling the loan was presented to
me without notice and without any
word from the commissioner eX-
planning his action.
/ did not return the resolve to the
S1st Legislature for l felt that the
| members did not understand the sit
| uation and that there was not time
during the last days of the session
to explain it to them.
This matter, however, now. has
been adjusted and the loan repaid.
In view of this. the resolve, if it
became law, would be of no effect for
the matter is closed.
Respectfully submitted,
PERCIVAL Z. BAXTER,
| Governor of Maine.
! On motion by Mr.. Holley of SOM
erset, the message and accompany
ing papers were tabled and especial
| ly assigned for next Wednesday.
STATE OF MAINE
Office of the Governor
Augusta. January Z, 1925.
| To the Honorable Senate and House
of Representatives:
| i return herewith without my APP
prevail Senate Bill No. 273, entitled
Resolve. to appropriate money to
pay for egg Holsters purchased in
1872.
When this resolve came to me I
was not sufficiently informed as to
the merits of the claims against the
State for the purchases referred to,
and / had no time for investigation.
| Later / found, that the purchases
had been made contrary to the or
| ders of the Governor and Council.
but that the error was unintentional
and that the men Who sold the lob
sters to the State acted innocently
and in good faith.
In view of these facts I suisse
quently arranged to have the bills
paid, for it did not seem proper that
the fishermen should waitsfor two
years for their money. This resolve,
If 1t became law, would be pr no ef-
| feet.
Respectfully submitted.
| PERClVAL p. BANTER.
| Governor of Maine.
| On motion by Mr.. Holley of Som
erset, the message and accompany
ing papers We're tabled and especial
~ assigned for Wednesday next.
| STATE OF MAINE
Office of the Governor
Augusta. January 1928
To the Honorable Senate and House
| of Representatives:
| | return herewith without my ap-
! prevail Senate Bill No. 297 of the S1st
! Legislature. This bill is entitled
| An act to amend Chapter 1872 of the
/ Public Laws of 1919 as amended by
| Chapter 203 of the Public laws OF
| 1921. entitled, An Act to create the
Maine Water Power Commission.
! Under Article ", part third Sec
! ton two. where the Legislature has
| adjourned within the five day period
| allowed the Chief Executive for the
| consideration of a bill presented for
| his signature. the said bill shall be-
| come a law unless returned (by the
| GOVERNOR within three days after
| their (the Legislature's) next meet
! ing
The incident herein referred to is
popularity called a pocket Veto"
Durin gthe closing hours of the S1st
Legislature one Act and four Re-
solves were passed by that body and
| presented to me for action. AS did
| not deem it wise at the time either
to approve or disapprove these mea :
sures | took no action in regard to
them. Since April, 1928, these docu-
| ments have been in the custody of
the Secretary of State awaiting their
fate at the hands OF he S2nd Legis-
laure. The law provides that these
measures be considered separa tely
, and SO | am submitting herewith five
| messages.
This Act, amending the law that
created the Maine Water Power
Commission. provides fer the con-
tinuance Of that Commission. AS
that body was a creature of my own
making naturally l had no prejudice
against prolonging it's life if there
had been good and sufficient reason
for doing so, and I nave sympathetic
consideration to it's plea for a re-
prieve. l however have come to the
conclusion that there is no need of a
separate commission TO study Names
water powers, and that the results
accomplished during the Commits
sioner's life did not Justify its eXis-
tence or warrant it's cost.
The work fthis Commission con-
sisted chiefly in measuring the flow
hi
care of satisfactorily during the past
two years by the Public Utilities
Commission at total expense of So
600 per year, $4,000 for the two year
period. The total appropriation call
ed for by the bill now before YOU
was S25,000; consequently $4,000
has been saved b ythe State by rea-
son of my refusal to approve this
measure. Moreover the interests of
the State have not suffered because
the Commission has gone out of ex-
istence
1t is not often that a Chief Execu-
tive has the privilege of reducing the
total number of State Commissions.
and thereby tightening the taxpayers
burden. When the public interest
warrants so doing ana opportunity
offers it should not be neglected. The
Maine Water Power Commission
would be useless appendage to our
Government and I see no reason why
it should be revived
1t of course is within the power of
the SEND Legislature to recreate this
Commission, if it deems it wise to do
so. In such event. however, no doubt
the Legislature will wish to frame its
own law, after careful investigation
Of the subject.
l return this to you without my
approvaA
RaSOart fu11,y cl,hn,iftad