Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-08-13

these changes maze In OrQer TO
properly care for the States de-
pendents. Had we declined to act,
some of the States wards would
have suffered and could not have
been given the treatment they need
ed The States sick and helpless,
its orphans and its detectives should
not be deprived of actual necessities
even If the Legislative appropriation
is inadequate. We could not resist
the appeal. 1t was our plain duty to
act as we did.
MAINE State Prison.
New Construction ..$10S, 5000
New Cell-room 80. 27,S41.OO
S136,667 90"
The old prison was a relic of the
cruel days now gone by. Men con-
tracted tuberculosis under the for
mer unsanitary surroundings, lost
their health and were sent out into
forbidding world broken. in spirit
and body.
After the fire it was for the Gov
ernor to make the decision as to
what should be done. There were
two alternatives: call special Leg
islative session that might have been
protracted, for once a Legislature
meets no one can tell when it will
end: levy an additional State tax and
rebuild the prison, perhaps under
direction of a costly commission
or have the Governor and Council
use the Contingent Fund and thus
save long delays and much needless
expense. I acted promptly and the
work was begun and completed I'M
Iv-.t ,;cfx.o
was saved the cost and delay of any
extra Legislative session. My Ad-
ministration also built a new cell
which was not destroyed. The cost
| of the prison since the fire, to July
1, 1925, has been $492. 6S7.7O. This
makes the total expense for new con-
struction, 1921 to 1924, of $685.
. 992.43.
"CentraI, Northern and Western
Maine Sanatoriums. 1874, 1881
Conditions at the three sanato
RUINS maintained by the State for
persons sick with tuberculosis were
similar to those at the other insti-
buttons. In order to properly care
for the men, women and children
afflicted with this disease, it became
necessary to do certain things not
provided for by the Legislature.
Buildings were repaired and equip
ment furnished.
A school building costing about
$500 also was built at Hebron to
replace a shack that looked more
like a piano box than school house.
About forty children, in all stages of
tuberculosis, are attempting to get
the fundamentals of an education.
No expenditure of my administration
was more justified.
Radio sets were bought both for
Presque Isle and Hebron, the Fair
field Sanatorium already had one.
The experimenting doctors tell me
that these have accomplished much
for the patients. Instead of dread
ing the long nights, these sick people
as they lie in bed now listen to the
radio and thus take their minds
from their physical infirmities.
Is it wasteful to bring a little
cheer into these broken lives? If
so, then I was extravagant!
VIII Maine People Condemn or
Approve?
Time and space do not permit a
discussion of each item charged
against me as illegal by Gov.
Brewster. but the foregoing are typi-
cal. Later I shall issue pamphlet
giving every expenditure in detail.
In the opinion of the Governor
and Council of 1924 the appropria-
ton in each case was warranted for
1.-The maintenance of government,
because the Legislature failed ito
make sufficient provision" or because
of an unforeseen emergency" Be-
fore any item was approved 1t was
discussed carefully by the Council
lors and the Governor. and the State
received a good consideration for
every dollar spent. In brief every
appropriation set up by us against
the Contingent Fund was made in
accordance with the laws of the
State and in every respect was legal.
This is the true story of the now
famous $436, 110.6S! Instead of it's
having been dissipated, it was law
fully, honestly and wisely appropri-
ated.
1t is generally understood that no
man can build up a good reputation
for himself by casting suspicion
upon and belittling others.
Even if Governor Brewster's "es-
Inmates were correct as to the
amount of money required by July i,
1925, it will be seen that at all times
there was cash in the State Treas
ury sufficient to pay all bills that
,,,re due and still leave an ample
balanceson hand. The State Treas
ury always has been solvent.
It is difficult to understand how
such an estimate" could have been
made and certainly If there was one
1t proved to be inaccurate. Instead
of requiring $247, 470.25 as Governor
Brewster prophesied, in addition to
the appropriations to carry the State
to July /. 1925, the State