Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-09

TALLY administered. have no hesitation In
saying that, In my judgment, the prohibitory
law repealed four years ago was the best and
most effective we have ever had for the sup
preston of the liquor traffic. would like to
see it restored in all its power and integrity
to our statute books, and rigidly enforced
over every foot Of soil in the Commonwealth.
Let this be done and crime and pauperism
would be reduced fifty per cent, great bur-
den of taxation would be removed from all
classes of citizens, new impetus would be
given to every branch of legitimate industry,
u heavy weight would be lifted from the hearts
and hands of our laboring people and u most im-
portant step taken toward their permanent ele-
! walton and Improvement. 1t may be said that
public opinion was opposed to this law, and
no law can be sustained and made to operate
advantageously unless it receives the hearty
support of the people. This is unquesion
ably true. But may not the people, for some
cause at times be persuaded, under the pres
sure of the hour, to do what they are satisfied,
on calm reflection, was mistake! Reforna-
lions do not move backwards, the present law
Is claimed by its friends to be better than any
upon the subject which has been adopted by our
sister States But it must be remembered that
| we have always occupied advanced ground in
| regard to this question. We are not to be
/
other communities may be in a worse condi-
| ton. Our constant aim should be to make
the law as nearly perfect rs possible. And
whatever the law tor the time being, we ought
| to be careful that it does not become dead
| letter"
| Governor Washburn says the idea enter
tanned that he has ample power to enforce the
law through the State constabulary is CHROME.
Gus. lie has not the power of removal and
therefore cannot control the force. He rec
ommends to dispense with the State liquor
agent.
The State constabulary he says is too small
receipts from it the last year, over and above
all expenditures, were 100000.
He discusses the question of woman suffrage.
While he has some doubts upon the subject.
he suggests the propriety of allowing the wo
men to vote on some moral questions, partc
ularly on the liquor law.
From his remarks on the labor question we
quote the following:
Many seem to hold the opinion that if the
working men and wOrking-women, as they
are commonly designated, receive constant
| employment and are adequately remunerated;
If they gain the needtul bread and meat in
exchange for their labor; if they have COM
| Portable homes and enough for the decent sup
port of themselves and their families, it Is their
duty to be Herewith content. But this is a
narrow judgment of the matter in issue.
They ought not only to perform their daily
tasks faithfully, but be SO circumstanced that
they will perform them cheertully. In SO far
as lies within our power, we ought to remove
every just cause of complaint. Every human
being should have higher and nobler aspira-
lions than merelyto provide food and cloth
ing for the body. This should never content
him. The head of family ought to have
time for study, thought, reading. recreation,
innocent pleasure; he properly desires to
give his children better education than he
had, and furnish them advantages superior to
those he himself enjoyed.
1t is SO natural to feel that what always has
been must always be, that we are too apt to
content ourselves with things as we find
them. But this is the dictate neither of wis
dom nor Of prudence. Standing still is not
the province Of society it must either advance
or retrograde. Especially under such gov
eminent as ours, is change almost normal
condition and an inherent necessity. The
pyramid continues to uplift itself as an en-
urety blu; atoms in the bottom layer OF to-
/,
Hence one reason why it becomes US to fairly
and honestly examine the condition of the la
boring classes, upon whom the whole super
structure of the social organism rests. Be-
cause they are part Of ourselves, it dev0lves
upon US to relieve them, as far as possible
from the grievances to which they are sub
jected. Their existence is not separate from
the existence Of the State what tends to
= their welfare is calculated to promote the
| l..s .la
! terest is identical with the interest Of the up
per classes; the least addition to their com
fort is a gain to the whole community and il
their case is considered in the right spirit
there is no good cause for antagonistic feel.
J ing.
!. The question raised by them and in their
behalf can never be adjusted by the two ex-
tremes-those anxious to secure the greatest
possible amount OF pay for the least possible
work, and those anxious to obtain the great
est possible amount of work for the least pos
sible pay. Nor will relief come with the de-
termination how many hours shall constitute
legal days work. For no period can be
F fixed which should be applicable alike 70 all.
The ingenious skilled lsborcr who uses mind
as well as muscle cannot apply himself the
same number Of hours to his task al he who
merely handles the hoe or the shovel. holds the
plough or drives the oxen, uses the tr0wel or
weaves at the loom. The great desideratun,
= is to determine what would be fair division
Of profits between the employer. and the en-
ployee. Settle the question as to compensa-
, ton per hour, and there will be no serious
r difficulty about the number of hours. u
The savings banks in the State are l60; the
number of depositors is 56o.s9o. The whole
amount of deposits is l63,535, 943. The in
crease of depositors during the year is 81, O93,
and the increase Of deposits s27,79o,S 45.
The Governor thinks the ambition to declare
large dividends is not favorable indication
1t tends to diminish the security and keep up
the rate of interest.
There will be little need of railroad legsla.
ton, the message says. The passage of a
general railroad law is advised. The cor.
rupting influence railroads exert upon legsla
ton is mentioned and rebuked. Gratifica.
ton is expressed at the near completion oil