Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-27

not hesitate to claim credit for prudent
management even though he In nowise
is entitled to 1t. In an address to the
welfare workers at Augusta on July
10th, last. he is quoted as having said
the finances OF the State are now in
a comfortable position owing to the
prudent provision made by the last
legislature AS a matter of fact the
present comfortable position is due
to the Baxter administration which
planned the States finances so as to
leave $2,612,4S4.51 cash in the State
treasury and a bookkeeping State
contingent fund of $612,796.33 for Gov
ernor Brewster to work with If the
States finances had been left in an
uncomfortable position would Gov
ernor Brewster and the last Legisla-
ture have shouldered the blame?"
We are not trying to locate the
blame. We are trying to find out
something about the States finances
at the present time. Mr.. Thayer de-
sired to know how a 10 per cent re-
duction beginning the fiscal year of
July /, 1927, was to be made. That
question still stands unanswered. The
auditor has not answered my ques-
ton as to how this comparison be-
tween the contingent fund Of the
Baxter administration and of the
present administration prove that the
present is one of strictest economy.
BY the same reasoning we might
prove the present administration to
be one of wild extravaganza. For ex-
ample, the lapsed departmental ball
ances at the end Of the fiscal year
1926 was $144,500 The corresponding
balance at the end of Ex-Gov. BaX-
ter's fiscal year was $685. 32.64.
Adopting the reasoning of the State
Auditor, we might say "the fact
speaks for itself" The fact is, the
one conclusion no more proves extra
vagance than the other does econo-
my. Indeed, the newspaper report of
the $4,000 lapsed balances stated
that it furnished new evidence of the
savings effected by the economy
campaign of the present administra-
ton. When Mr.. Baxter spent more
than the present administration It
proved the economy of the present
administration. When Mr.. Baxter
saved more the economy of the pres
ent administration is still proven.
Certainly this cannot be the simple
statement Of which Mr.. Brockway
speaks! Why can't simple questions
can't they be answered by the State
officials whose business 1t is to know
and whose duty it is to answer rather
than through the editorial columns
of newspaper where no one has to
assume responsibility.
The Journal editor says there was
deficit Of $750,000 June 1, 1925, and
balance Of 100000 jun l, this
year above the reserves for trust
funds, etc, and appropriations spe-
cially set aside" The Journal editor
of course got those figures from the
Auditor. Will not one Of them kind
~ tell the public whether the WAR
Bond Sinking Fund given in the
Auditors statement of June 5 as $780,
7S0.1S represents the actual amount
of that reserve on May 81, 1926 as
the statement INDICATES? If 1T does
not, will not one OF them tell the
public as Of what date it does show
the reserve? Will they not also ten
us how much that reserve was on
June 1, 1925, and then on May 81,
1926? Will they then kindly tell us
if this one item was checked to May
81, 1925 (the date given in the Audi
tors statement) and deducted, there
would have been any cash balance
Mr.. Thayer wanted to know how,
with only 100000 cash over reserves
in the treasury, a 10 per cent reduc-
ton in taxes could be promised for
the year beginning July /, 1927. I am
anxious to know whether on May 81,
1925, there was in fact any cash over
reserves.