Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-01-13
THE STATE OF MAINE.
Gov. Brewster, Announcing Candi-
dacy. b Reviews Conditions

| Gov. Brewster, in announcing his
| candidacy for denomination at the
June primaries, briefly reviews con-
ditions in the State. He says
'In accordance with long standing
| custom / shall be a candidate for re-
nomination at the primaries in June.
| There is a proper responsibility of
| public official to give an account of
| his course in the orderly functioning
| of a democratic government such as
ours. On occasion I shall seek to
| render an account of this public
| trust without interfering unduly
| with the conduct of the executive
| responsibilities entrusted to my care.
| 1t is not, however, seemly nor for the
| good of the State that one occupy
| ing high public office should be too
much preoccupied with a primary
| campaign.
| ANY lack of activity on ones own
| behalf must not be ascribed to a
| lack of appreciation of the impor-
| lance of the issues which are at
| stake nor to a failure to realize the
earnest interest of citizens all over
| the State of Maine in the proper con-
duct of our governmental affairs.
'"To large extent the record of
| this administration is written in the
development of this past year and
upon this record reliance for en-
dorsement must chiefly be placed
The citizens of Maine are best able to
appraise the extent to which these
activities have realized their hopes
and their faith.
During the past year the State of
Maine has accumulated surplus of
three-quarters of a million without
any increase in the State tax
This happy situation is due to a
very material extent to the prudent
provisions of the last legislature
and to the voluntary adoption by
department heads of the federal bud
get plan under which 10 per cent of
the department appropriation is
carried as a contingency reserve and
the remainder is divided into four
equal parts and allocated for eX-
penditure to the four quarters of the
year. If conditions shall develop as
favorably during this coming year we
shall be able to do any necessary
new construction for our institutions
and at the same time make a reduc-
ton in taxes of one million dollars
in 1927.
withdrawals from the State Con-
tingent Fund have been negligible
in amount Aside from payment OF
compensation to injured employees
in accordance with the orders OF
the Industrial Accident Commission
under the legislative direction in
relation thereto, there has been
drawn from the State Contingent
Fund during the present fiscal year
the sum of $31, 891.72.
"The State of Maine is this year
expanding over S2.500,000 to help
those who are not entirely able to
look out for themselves. In the
classes of those for whom the State
has to some extent assumed no care
there are still individual cases for
whom the appropriations are not
sufficient to provide relief Some ad-
ditional grants may be necessary
and desirable 10 care for these cases.
Some savings may be possible IN
connection with individual cases that
are within neither the letter nor the
spirit of our existing laws. me
abortion of any new and FAR more
general classification, however, for
charitable relief by the central gov
eminent will be long step
toward the complete Specialization OF
the State.
"Through the medium of the
gaso1ene tax users of the highways
have increased very materially the
sums available for highway I'M
provements, both upon the Stale
roads and also for second and third
class roads without adding in any
way to the burden of other tax pay
ers in the State. Provision has also
been made that practically assures
the construction of the Kennebec
bridge with all the cost thereof to be
borne by those who enjoy its use.
"The creation of State police
force by broadening the powers OF
the highway police without adding
ito the expenses of the State or IN
creasing the number of employees
has steadily improved conditions
throughout the State. Maine has for
a long time had a splendid record
for law enforcement but State Or
ganization devoted to coordlnatlng
the efforts of all officials concerned
in the enforcement of law is
tremendous aid, and for the first
time makes the chief executive
measurably responsible for any
good or bad conditions that shall
exist.
1.-TWO years ago the citizens OF
Maine gave very serious consldera-
ton to the question OF a constltu-
tional amendment prohibiting the
diversion of public funds to
sectarian schools. The last republl-
can legislature by the necessary
two-thirds majority in both
branches submitted such an amend
ment to the people Of the State to be
voted upon at the regular election an
Sentember. 1926. It is matter Oh