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

American institutions. We now
have an opportunity to place the
education of our children upon
sound and enduring basis.
Private and Seetarian Charities and
Hospitals
The school issue is but one phase
of this question. I also believe tnat
the State should withdraw all Its ST.
ponds to private charitable 1nstltu-
lions SO that they will become sen-
sustaining and independent OF stare
aid. When this principle prevalis
the many worthy charities that now
lean upon the State will become sell
respectine and more useful to the
community. The public spirit of the
trustees of private schools. hospitals
and charitable institutions will be
put to the test. It will be interest
ing to see whether they will be aple
to rise above their immediate needs
and accept this principle as wise ana
sound, or will oppose it in order 10
retain the comparatively small doie
of State aid they now are receiving.
Special arguments will be advanced
telling of the wonderful work these
private institutions are doing, all Oh
which is admitted, bat there Is no
sound reason why the pubic spirited
persons who manage private chart
ties should not themselves take 1ull
responsibility for them. The tax
payer has a right to complain II any
of his money is used for such pur-
poses. If the time ever comes Wneh
the State requires more pubic nos
pitfalls than it now has, 1t Will not De
backward in providing them, nor Is
1t at present unwilling to pay 1or
whatever service is rendered TO state
wards and State dependents;
Local Communities Should Bear
Their Own Burdens
The tendency today is constantly
to Mace additional burdens upon the
State and to lessen the responslpll-
ties of local communities. This IS
unfortunate for communities are leu
to believe that by unloading their o.
legations they escape them. Such IS
far from being the case however Tor
as the States load becomes heavier
the tax payers of the towns ana CIT
les are called upon to carry IL. III
the final analysis they are the ones
who pay the bills. 1t costs the State
more to carry on certain ACTIVITIES
than it would cost towns DO the
same work. The watchfulness OF 10
cal self interest that prevails among
neighbors is lacking when the STATE
assumes control. Home folks know
more of the surroundings OF mccoy
persons, of the poor and the SICK
and can handle these cases more
sympathetically, more easily anu
more economically than State offic-
ials who come in from OUTSIDE KNOW
ing little or nothing of local condi-
;a;n without nos
pitals always can arrange to nave
their sick cared for elsewhere by
paying for them.
A Sound Policy
I would divorce the State from
aiding all local and private hospitals,
schools, charities and similar inst-
buttons, Moreover the care or IN
sane patients should be paid for by
the communities from whence they
are taken for there are many abuses
of the present law. Our state nos
pitfalls too often are used as dumping
grounds to relieve municipalities OF
undesirables.
This change in the States policy
as to sectarian and private lnstltu-
lions and schools might be graoual
extending over period OF years SO
! that such institutions would nave
time to arrange their finances Win
out undue hardship. If 1t were ar
ranged to reduce State approprla-
lions and entirely stop them within
five or ten year period the pupIc
spirit of our communities would be
stimulated. economies erected ana
i abuses corrected.
Unless the proposed changes are
made the States burdens will become
larger with each year. private insti-
buttons will clamor for more anu
more aid, for once their names are
placed upon the State books they are
there to stay and their demands are
ever more insistent. This problem
should be faced sQuarely, and politics
and religion should have no place in
it's settlement. l regret that Sectar-
ian strife has been engendered In our
State. 1t is unworthy of us. The
Cntholic. Protestant and Jew all are
good citizens and should live har-
ANONYMOUSLY together. The bitterness
that has been rampant among us for
the past two years would have been
avoided had sectarianism been kept
in the background and had the dis
cussions been confined to the issue
OF public money for public purposes
only"
Mount Katahdin
For four consecutive sessions !
have endeavored to interest the
Legislature and the people of Maine
in Mt. Katahdin. and have attempted
to secure an appropriation for the
purchase of some of the waste land
in it's vicinity to be used as State
Forest Reserve or Park. Due to the
opposition of the large timberland
companies, especially the Great
Northern Paper Company. no pro-
gress has been made other than to
create considerable public sentiment
in favor Of the project. The timber
land owners haXe repeatedly defeat
ed the law under which the State
would be empowered to condemn
land after paying a fair price for it.
The Mt. Katahdin Forest Reserve
or Park would be the states greatest
natural attraction. 1t would draw to
us many people from beyond our
borders, and would serve as place
of resort for thousands of our own
citizens. 1t could be developed at
moderate expense, year by year. all
the while contributing to the health
and recreation of those who use it.
The establishment of a game pre-
serve in that territory is a step for
ward, a feeble beginning. If. how
ever, the orders recently promulgated
by the above mentioned Company
restricting the use of their lands to
registered persons accompanied by
licensed guides are held valid, Mt.
katahdin before long will be closed
to hunters, fishermen and campers.
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