Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-28

cent was given by the State to
widowed mothers with dependent
children. l was a member of the
legislative committee which first in
stituted Mothers Aid In 1917 and
the last legislature appropriated
$560.000 for this purpose and for
neglected children and the present
Governor and Council added $4,000
more from the State Contingent
Fund which constitutes one-third of
the total now available from this
fund for all emergencies that may
arise.
More people have been helped by
the State this past year in it's var
ious institutions than ever before in
its history and they have been bet
ter cared for. For instance butter
has been substituted for oleomarg-
arine at the State Hospitals at an
increased expense Of several thou
sand dollars.
Citizens may we'll be proud of the
record of the State in recent years
and the more and more generous
provision that has been made for its
dependents in every class.
One may ponder how 1t was pos
sible to accomplish such a result
Win llO lllIl CdSC Ill Tic ldA-IdI0 anu
still find million dollar surplus in
the treasury in cash.
The answer is to be found
partially in rigid economics where
ever possible without Gripping es-
sential activities Of the state. The
use Of the telephone for instance has
been reduced twenty-five per cent
without impairing efficiency. Very
considerable savings have been
made in Office supplies and in print
ing and in purchasing. Bal
anees have not been used up for
additional equipment that could be
done without. All institutions and
departments have cooperated in
every way possible to serve the tax
payers of the state.
The surplus has also been partially
accumulated by combining expendi-
lures strictly to the objects provided
for by the Legislature and refusing
steadfastly to exercise any emerg-
ency powers for drafts upon the
Contingent Fund except in the most
extra ordinary case. This left any
balances of appropriations and the
constantly incre in surplus
revenues of the state available for
relieving the burdens upon the tax
payers of the State.
The State finances are in a most
healthy condition as result Of the
variety of developments that are
now terminating in various parts Of
the State. Ten per cent increase in
our resources means approximately
a ten per cent reduction in our tax.
More people means a less burden
upon all in maintaining our roads
and schools. This is what may be
termed constructive tax reduction.
Reduction of State and municipal
taxation is considered by President
Coolidge the next great economic
need. Repeatedly and insistently he
is pointing this out. There is no
question that it is feasible if the
Federal example is studied by the
citizens of the States.
The City of Portland has steadily
decreased its tax-rate for the past
three years. Most cities in the
State have held it stationary. Only
one or two have shown substantial
increase.
Following the war a very compre-
hensive construction program in the
various state institutions had been
carried out and this had meant a
great increase in the annual main
tenance charges for the State. A
new building ordinarily means an
increase in annual expenditures OF
from twenty-five thousand to fifty
thousand dollars each year with the
responsibilities that it entails.
The last Legislature believed 1t
the part Of prudence to make suf-
ficient provision for carrying out the
obligations which the State had as
sumed and to take period OF two
years to digest the Implications OF
the tremendous expansions that had
been carried out.
During the next two years 1t
should be possible to carry out Ger
tain new construction which the
LEGISLATURE may deem necessary and
wise, and still have every reason TO
expect the tax reduction which Will
mean so much to our State at this
time. The million dollar surplus IN
the State Treasury with our con-
stantly improving revenues from the
new investments in our state seem
to afford ample warrant for tax re-
lief this coming year without fall
ing adequately to provide for all the
activities which a Christian people
have come to consider the RESPONSE
bility of the State.