Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-01-06

invite your attention..
This is a subject in which all classes Of our peo.
Tlo are interested. No wise man deems II prudent
to invest the means on which he and his family
depend for support in property liable TO he dc.
Stroyed orsn a. business without some form of in
turancc.
The great fires in Chicago and Boston, which
carried down so many insurance companies, aud
by which many Of our OWE citizens have suffered
severely, have attracted attention 10 the general
management or Insurance companies, and their
future TO meet their obligations IN emergencies
waen the insured most need tho relief for which
lac supposed he had provided. The failure of AL
insurance company TO meet its obligations Affects
aot only one person who Is compsllsd directly to
bear the loss, but he may in consequence fail 10
meet his own liabilities, and carry many others
down with him. Besides this, ii Is no little annoy
ance when one suppOsss he 10 insured. TO hpd his
policy worthless, whether his property has been
destroyed or not. IL would seem that, rs fire aud
marine insurance companies doing business in
TINS state, only pay back for losses little more
than my per cent. OF what they receive from the
insured, they SHOULD be able 10 accumulate enough
10 meet any liabilities that business men Of ordin.
AIRY prudence would assume in single city. IL
my Jusgement is not at fault, no company should
nave Oesn allowed TO take risks in Boston or any
other city, beyond what they could meg if the
whole city had been destroyed
The people expect 10 pay large rates d. iisur-
ancs, but, having done that, they very properly
desro to know that they are absolutely insured.
Ailer "a man has paid one or two thousand dsllars
u year for fifteen or twenty years for insurance,
alltl then meets loss Dy Mncn Tie entitled 10
half what he has paid the companies In which hs
Is insured, IL is hard for him 10 be informed that
lac must settle for iity cents on dollar and Jet
such cases are not uncommon. IL would certainly
bs wise 10 limit the AMOUNT OF risks which com
pnnes are allowed to take, TO their ability 10 meet
any liability that could arise in the ordinary course
Of even T.. The amount paid by life Insurance
companies on account or losses 10 30 small com
pared with what they receive from the lnsurcd(be-
Ing lcss than sixteen per cent? that they can hard
~ fail 10 be in condition to meet their liabilities.
The state Of Maine pays 10 life Insurance com
pstss ont OF the State, nearly million dollars
annually. more than IL received for losses. This,
for tue present, at least IL so much capital remOY-
ell out from the State every yoar, and suggests
whether IL would not he advisable 10 require pOr-
ton or this capital TO be invested IN the state,
where il would aid our own business enterprises.
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS AND SESSIONS OF THa
L1GIsLATUEE.
deem 1t my duty to renew my previous rec.
concentrations relating 10 biennial elections and
session, Of the legislature and change of the Jay
Of the annual election, TO tho Tuc.day next, amer
the ir1t Monday ia November. Ny convictions
IA regard TO the advantages Of these changes, have
been strengthened since the Recommendation was
made two years ago. The passage OF appropriate
laws providing FOR the organization 81 railroad
aud all other corporations, where only the power
aud rights usually granted are sought for-which
I hope will not DO delayed beyond this scssiOn-
viii make annual session. entirely unnecessary
eNcop. Ia special emergencies, when thc les sla-
turC can be- convened 10y the executive. THIS
would save one.halt OF the lime and expense 0i
elections, aud the political campaigns That pre-
ccde them, aud some nifty thousand dollars or
legislative cXpen.cs every two Years The in
tsrcstu Of law aud orier viii not suuer w the
change; and the Legislature. being relieved "i the
exciting anil eumclinic. dcrorHliLiug questions
In which lar.c monied corporations are Interest
Ell, would be at liberty 10 devote moro time with
greater singlcness Of purpose 10 necr''aiy lesis'
latiOn.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
lao
of tho State will he presented Tor your considera.
ton. II Is beloved that such II survey would
bring ~ light treasures that now lie buried or IN
appreciated within this state, The amount OF
wealth already found In the partially developed
condition or tho state, lustihes the expectation
that great advantage will be gained by complete
knowledge OF our hidden reeourcs..
HARDoR COMMISSIONERS.
Your attention will be called 10 the proprsty Of
establishing State Board or Harder Commission
ers. am not prepared IN make amy recommend-
atoms on the subject, but many whose business
aud observation lead them 10 It's consideration
are OF the opinion that such board would 10 OF
great advantage to the commercial interests OF the
state.
BATTLE FLAGS AID TROPHIES.
The last legislature made an appropriation "to
he expended under the direction Of The Governor
and Council IN providing Gultable CASES FOR the
Of the eolors aud trophies 10 tho TO'
iunds OF the capital" Suitable cases have been
provided and the oolors and trophies appropriate
~ arranged
It's nitinx that VIXEN vo and those who come
amer US enter thi. building, our eye, shall hrsL
rect upon these silent hut eloquent reminders OF
our s.-s! national struggle. lheI wiz hllhE 70
the price This generation has paid
Tor tho pFLssrYaiiOn OF our national union, and IN
spirs devotion 20 i,s principles.
The soldier, rs he gnrei .pon The CID re simeHt.I
ilrgs under which lac fought 80 brsyely, snd tr'
umphsd so glorousiy, aud reads the names OF the
battles inscribed upon their folds and calls ire.h
~ to remembrance the trying sosnes attending
them will drop 4 tear for The memory OF comrades
lost, and breathe prayer for the country hslores
ssItnr than life. Every star, every stripe every
color aud letter " these battle torn lags are 81
cred 10 him who loves the cauts Ihsy represent
Let them be faithfully protected, aud sscrsily
preserved.
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION,
centennial exhibition in commemoration Of
our Independence Ia 10 DO held IN Philadelphia ~
l176 The Commissioner ior the stale OF Maine
has attended all th.. meetings Of tbs Commission
crt, andrcpOrts that the preliminary arrangements
are progressing laYOTAsly. Maine should DC rs
pcc.ally Interested Ia tins exhibition, a, II VIII
give our people ~ opportunity 10 DhsS NE prod,
Of our own and ether nations. IL 10 htting that
tins state respond promptly to any demands FOR
the promotion Of this great national 'nierpri'e.
IMPROPER LEGISLATION.
Nv duty on this occasion would BE- but partially
performed II | should fail to renew the susses
lions made to yOnr predecessors IN regar4tO spccl
al anu private legislation An l'A'A4yA bi Ai'
acts Of the last legislature, shows that the number
of public laws passed was eighty.seYen and that
they were printed on fifty live pages Of the volume
Ia which they are published by the safe while the
private and special acts number one hundred ana
ninty-ouc and cover two hundred and eight pas, :.
some OF these laitor acts for the organization
Of companies, for which ample provisions are al
ready made by law. une half, ut least OF this leg
islatiOn could be- saved by appropriate laws, based
upon general principles, with suitable limitations
and restrictions. This would save dalay and eN
pense 10 the parties interested and secure more cX
act Justice and greater uniformity in the application
OF the law. IL would also save much time IN the
legislature, and reduce the expenses OF the state
Great caution should also De used by Legislators 10
prevent the public laws from being incumbered by
acts designed 10 meet some special case, In which
some one happens 10 be interested, without refer
renee 10 their bearing upon the general admins
tratiOn OF justice such acts are not unusual Dlt
always pcrniciOuH.
One of the most dangerous as well as most com
mon evils of legislation ia In the practice of post
poning many OF the most important questions until
the hurry and confusion OF the last hours OF the
sas sion. Maine legislators have been no more at
fault In th. regard than other similar bodies, State
and National Hut IL is better to disregard than 10
perpetuate bad precedent. May we not hope that
this legislature will not commit this common SIN
against the demand for well considered legislation
There il more danger In too much, than in too III
tie legislation. Our Revised Statutes with few
amendments and additions now contain the laws Of
the State II Is hoped they Will not be unneccs-
sary changed.
In conclusion, Gentlemen, | assure you that |
shall be happy 10 cooperate with you In all pro-
per measures calculated 10 deyelope the resources
OF the State, and 10 advance the moral and intel
'D''' ~ SIDNEY PERHAM
"A