Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-05

Hiore generous provision for
lhe dependents of the State than any
PREVIOUS Legislature in our history
ana this State takes into account
aiso appropriations by previous Leg
isiatures for new construction at the
various institutions of the State. This
is rather convincing evidence of the
generosity of the last Legislature in
State. 'iie
II Is also matter of qualification
that on June l there were less than
one hundred cases Of mothers with
dependent children seeking aid from
the State upon the list under inyes-
, tigation. The only substantial draft
.or the now greatly restricted State
Contingent Fund during the past year
mas been ar appropriation by the
Governor and Council of $4,000 to
AID In the care Of the dependent
children of the State in view of the
emergency Which seemed to exist in
this regard.
This prospective reduction in taxa
tlon will indicate to the citizens of
the State that the present admins
tratlon is seriously concerned with a
reduction of their tax burdens and
substantial share of the credit must
go to the various departments and
institutions who have lived within
! the appropriations that the Lesisla-
ture has made and voluntarily car
| ried a sufficient contingency reserve
TO take care of any emergency that
| might arise.
This reduction may fairly be an.
ticipated without foregoing such pro-
vision as is necessary for new con-
structlon at certain institutions in
| the State in accordance. with the
pledge of the Republican platform.
The revenue of the State has been
| increasing in most gratifying man
| ner as result of the steady expan-
sion in activities from the develop
ment campaign of the last two years.
| A continued normal development
| along these lines, such as may rea-
| sonably be anticipated from the re-
| ports that are now at hand of new
| enterprises that are coming into be-
! ing in many sections of our State,
might mean either a further reduc-
| ton in the tax burdens or an in.
crease in the service which the State
shall render to it's citizens. The cas-
! ing of the tax burden by sharing It
among a greater number of people
| and among largely increased invest
ments in property within our State is
following most constructive lines.
! During the last two years the State
has approached mea surably towards
the adoption Of a pay as you go"
policy in the construction and main
tenance of it's roads and the bond
issue of $4,000, 900 for the construc-
! ton of highways authorized by the
people at the special election last
! fall may reasonably be expected to
T! be the last If the people of the State
are ready to support the policy of
paying as we go, in order to leave
future genera tons to solve the in
creasingly difficult financial problems
which they are likely to face.
Contracts for the construction of
| the Kennebec Bridge have now been
awarded within the 100000 limit
set by the Legislature and compile
ton is promised by the end of next
year. This should mean a remark
able stimulus to development in the
| agricultural, industrial and recrea-
tional life of Lincoln and Knox coun-
ties and an increase of activities
throughout the rest of the State as
we'll. Its construction will mean
| while quicken the commercial life of
Bath. There is no prospect that this
bridge will ever cost the State of
Maine one dollar and in my judgment
| 1t will be paid for with amazing ra-
! pidity under the provisions the Legis-
lature has made.
| The last Legislature acted wisely
j in greatly restricting the scope of
the State Contingent fund. This has
resulted in making available practice
ally half million dollars for the re-
| duction of the State debt from the
surplus revenues of the past year. The
| compensation for injured employees
of the State is paid from this fund
by Legislative provision and one or
two other drafts of a similar charac-
ter are also authorized. These are
! not within the control of the Cover
nor and Council. Aside from these
the Withdrawals from this fund have
been negligible in amount except the
| provision of $4,000 for the care of
dependent children.
| Maine can face its financial future
| with confidence with the conditions
| that now prevail in the treasury of
| the State.
The next speaker was State Sen
ator Frederick W. Hinckley of South
Portland who prefaced his remarks
/ by saying that while two years ago
he was strongly opposed to Govern
or Brewster's candidacy, that as a
| Governor he had found him to be
fair, fearless and faithful. that he had
formulated fought for, and finished
many projects which would mean
much to the State in the future. In
asking the question of why some
Republicans in the State at the pres
ent time were hesitant about voting
for the Governor for the second time
the Senator declared that it was not
the first time that a Governor was
| criticised. He cited the case of Gov
ernor William 7. Cobb who in the
opinion of the speaker was one of the
first within his memory to really en-
force the prohibitory law. also the
case of other officials who although
not appreciated at the time they were
in office were later indicated be re-
election to the same or higher Office
Senator Hinckley said that he did
not know of a single pledge made by
the Republican platform two years
ago that Governor Brewster had not
carried out. He stated that the great
tissue today IS not finance, not high
WAYS. but law and order. He declar-
/ ed that when a great Protestant reli-
| rious denomination met in confer
ence recently and refused to take a
definite stand on the prohibitory
question it was time forsthe religious
PEOPLE of the state to take stand.
The speaker reviewed the facts in
the prison investigation conducted at
| Thomaston, and told of many of the
conditions found there at that time
which had never been revealed by the
Governor or the prison officials. His
entire talk was fine tribute to the
| Governor and one that met with
\ oR 6n