Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-07

Oh the masses OF the people anu the STOCK
| holders and managers of railroads are not
| necessarily antagonistic, and it would lie
| great misfortune to the State if spirit of an
tagonism should spring up between them
| We should avoid railroad war in Maine il
| possible.
| Railroads are essential promoters of indi-
| yidual prosperity and national progress; and
| are entitled to every facility not inconsistent
with the public good. 1t would not be wise
for the State to grant unlimited powers or
! permit the consolidation of railroads or any
| other corporations to an extent that would
| in any event, allow such consolidated inter
ests to control the legislation of the State
| For in such event, every other interest might
| be rendered subseryient and all guarantees
| useless.
| A proper appreciation of and Just regard
for the rights of each, and the interests of all
will, I trust prevent any serious trouble in
| this regard.
IMMIGRATION.
The Report of the Commissioner of Immi-
| grafton presents an interesting account of the
work accomplished through his agency. A
| colony of one hundred and two Swedish immi-
| grants has been established on a township in
| Aroostook county known as New Sweden. The
commissioners confident that this has opened
| the way for large immigration of this hardy
| and industrious race. These people evidently
| possess the characteristics necessary for pio-
| neer work in this State, and they will be a
vauable acquisition in the settlement of our
| unoccupied lands. Such of these immigrants
| as would prefer other pursuits, would find,
| in other parts of the State, desirable employ
ment and good compensation. Such labor
| ers, male and female, are greatly needed. es-
| pecially as household servants, for whom
| there is great demand.
| Many of these people are excellent me-
| chanics, others excel as family servants
| Their religion, education. general intell-
| gence and industrious habits, with our need
| of their services. will create a mutual friend
| ship and sympathy between them and our
| people wherever in the State they may go. |
! therefore suggest that whatever plan you
| adopt to aid immigration in the future it be
| not confined to immi grants who prefer
| agricultural pursuits, but that it in
| clude those who desire to engage in other en-
| ployments in any part of the State Other
| States are adding largely to their population
and wealth by their immigration efforts. /
| see no reason why we may not do the same.
Trusting that you will deem it wise to con-
tinue this work in some economical way,
| commend the recommendations of the Com
| missioner with these brief suggestions to your
| early consideration.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
| | regret to say that the burdens which the
| war and the legislation incident thereto placed
upon our shipping interests, have rot been
| removed 1t is extremely humliating to see
| the business formerly carried on under our
| flag, monopolized by, and bearing the flag of
| the nation that contributed the most in our
| time of trouble, to sweep onr commerce from
| the ocean. Maine may be expected to feel
somewhat intensely, and allowed to speak
| with some earnestness on this subject, be-
| has Mt kp has
| in some years of the past furnished fifty per
cent. of all the seagoing vessels of the coun-
| try. In the building and sailing of vessels,
| employment has been given to twenty thous-
! and and support to one hundred thousand of
| her citizens.
If this were a subject in which any portion
| of the country or the Government had adverse
interests, the opposition it receives might
| reasonably be expected. But the relief we
ask, while it would help us and others inn
mediately interested, would through increase
! of business contribute to the prosperity of
| the whole country, and add to the
| revenue of the Government UNNECESSARILY
! more than would be lost. by interfering these
| interests, and allowing them TO fulfill their
| important mission.
No man who remembers the efficient aid
received from our shipyards and merchant
marine in furnishing vessels and experienced
| seamen for the creation of a navy in the be-
ginning ofhe war, can fail to appreciate the i'm
portance OF this subject to the national defence.
| 1t is vastly cheaper and better every way to
| encourage and sustain interests which, in
addition to their means of prosperity in time
| Of peace, will furnish navy in time of war,
than to maintain permanently such naval
| force as would otherwise be required. There
is no adequate reason for continuing this un-
| friendly legislation, which is paralyZing bus
| mess of such Importance.
l earnestly hope Congress will at an early
| day remove the burdens of which we COM
| plain. This would allow our ships and our
commerce to compete under more favorable
| circumstances with those of other nations in
the markets of the world. Let this be done,
and we may reasonably hope that the sounds
of busy industry will soon be heard in our
ship yards; that the sails of our commerce
will again be allowed to whiten every sea,
and that the sight of our flag will gladden. the
hearts of our countrymen in all lands.
/ BIENNIAL ELECTIONS AND SESSIONS OF THE Leg
IsLATURE.
My predecessor, in one of his addresses to the
| Legislature called attention to the subject of
biennial elections of State officers and sessions OF
the Legislature The suggestion appeared to me
! timely, and worthy of careful consideration. Ii
a saving of forty or City thousand dollars, which
is about the cost Of q session of the Legislature,
can be made to the tax payers OF the State every
two years, besides an important reduction 10
time and xpeuses incident to the elections with
out serious detriment to other interests, it should
be done. A revision of the statutes has just been
made. They should undergo no useless changes.
The history of the State AMI country show that
the tendency is to too much legislation. am oil
the opinion that biennial sessions would furnish
ample opportunity for all the legislation the in
terests of the people and the State would require.
CHANGE OF THE DAY FOR THE ANNUAL ELECTION.
If you should deem the subject just referred to
of sufficient importance to submit to the people
the question of such amendment to the constitu-
ton as the change would require, | suggest that
with it you submit the question of changing the
day of our annual election TO the Tuesday next
after the first Monday in November, being the
day fixed by law for the Presidential Election.
There are some important advantages to be
gained by this change. Every four years ii
would save the time and expense of one election,
as the Presidential and State elections would oc'
cur on the same day. 1t would be more favorable
to a fair and full expression of the wishes of the