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The Eighty-first Legislature has an unusual opportunity to stand for a great principle that is one of the foundation stones of this Republic. That principle is, that public money shall be used only for public purposes; in other words, that money taken from the people as taxes shall not be used for private purposes, no matter how worthy they may be.

In my Inaugural Address of January 4th I called attention to the rapid growth of the practice of granting "State Aid" to private schools, private hospitals and other institutions under private management. At that time I placed this question squarely before the Legislature and the people of Maine. The discussion that has ensued has assumed State wide proportions. This is well, for a vital principle needs to be discussed in every home and shop so that the truth that underlies it, if truth there be, may be brought to light.

Opposition has been aroused, misinformation has been spread abroad, and prejudices have been appealed to. The more the grain is beaten the sooner will the chaff be threshed out and blown away. There is no issue before our people of greater importance than this. Economy, water powers, roads and all other questions will take subordinate positions once the State Aid issue is thoroughly understood.

Publication Date

1923

Publisher

State of Maine, Kennebec Journal Company

City

Augusta, Maine

Keywords

Percival P. Baxter, Governor of Maine, public versus private, tax revenue allocation

Public Money for Public Purposes Only, No State Aid to Private Institutions: Message of Percival P. Baxter, Governor of Maine, to the Eighty-first Legislature, February 7, 1923

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