Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-20
is NOT THIS THE TIME?

Taxes, taxes, death and taxes.
There is no way for avoiding them;
there is honor. self-respect and
divers and sundry other advantages
in meeting them courageously but
with due sense Of their importance.
And there is no good reason why
leadership III the interests OF
economy should not be popular,
though usually it isn't. Nor need we
lie surprised that there are different
methods of procedure advocated.
Some say the way to stop is to stop;
others. that it is better to taper OH.
AS a matter of common sense 1t is
possible there is advantage In botn
methods # judiciously applied.
And now to be more specific,
here is the SD Legislature face to
face with a condition rather than
theory, a deficit and the threat of
higher taxes. 1t Is made up of men,
bers chosen by communities to rep
resent them in the task of providing
insofar as possible for the needful,
the State over. 1t cannot be expect
ed that these members will wish to
be inconsiderate of the folks back
home. If these be like folks in gen.
eral they will want economy, also
the things that money buys. The
like may be expected of the legis-
lators. 1t should be expected oil
every earnest soul engaged in pro-
noting any enterprise, good, bad and
Indifferent, who from acquaintance
with needs of that which they
cherish-properly so-are likely to
overlook needs Of other undertakings
with which they are not acquainted.
1t is an exceedingly difficult task
to cut a suitable garment from scant
cloth, but united effort can accom-
plish wonders. And that spirit Of
cooperation is working in this
Legislature. There is evidence OF
sanity, deliberation and cooperation.
We believe genuine effort is being
made by the executive and the
legislative departments Of our State
government to unite in doing the
sensible thing. 1t is very gratifying
to note that this spirit of co-opera-
ton is in evidence. The public
should recognize it and commend it.
Senator Wadsworth, chairman of
the Committee on Appropriations
and Financial Affairs. has worked
out it Is said, program under
which tho tax tate may not be in
creased It the program for new con-
struction be not carried out. AS
we understand 1t this involves no
criticism Of the objects sought under
that program, no blame attached to
those who advocate those measures,
but that, having a deficiency in the
treasury, confronted by the need of
cooperating with the national gov
eminent in general policy of
economy, it Is necessary to decide
whether we are willing to get
alchg without the new construc-
tion, which would necessitate an in
crease Of 1850 in the State tax at
this time. 1t Is pointed out that in
the case Of some of the institutions
included in the construction program
large sums have been expended by
the Legislature or from the con-
tingent fund In the recent past.
Without information as to all the
details, but with confidence in our
Governor and Legislature not to dis
regard any imperative need of the
State for the sake of lowering the
tax rate, the Journal heartily sub
scribes to the proposed economy
program 1t does 80 knowing that
retrenchment or even the stinting of
expenditure may be not only embar-
RAISING, but that there are instances
where they are uneconomical In the
long run. 1t does, however, have
confidence in the benefits resulting
from an intelligent effort to save
public money. 1t does believe with
President Coolidge that there are
occasions when it is more essential
to save the public from methods OF
extravaganza than it is to save
money. Is there any reason for
supposirg that this is not one of