The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-08
The Governors Address.

We most earnestly recommend every 1ead-
er of The Press who takes an interest in the
welfare of the state, to carefully read Gov.
Dingley's address, both because it gives
clear and succinct review of the condition OF
the public affairs of the state, and also be-
cause of the important suggestions which he
makes respecting new legislation.
Gov. Dingley fully appreciates the hard
ships imposed upon the people OF Maine by
reason of taxation incident TO the war, con-
sequently he makes economy the key note of
his address. In this same direction he sag
gests the propriety of extending the time of
payment by an exchange of maturing state
bonds for new ones of a longer duration.
His suggestions respecting the present sink
ing funds are practical.
The next point after the state finances, is
the railroads, con sidered in reference to taxa
ton. This is very important subject and is
treated with firmness. Gov. Dingley assumes
that the railroads should be called upon to
bear their proportion of the state tax. These
corporations have the same protection as
other property bearing taxation, and there is
no reason why they should not pay portion
of the tax necessary to the support OF the
government which gives them security. The
measures suggested by him to compel the
railroad companies which have treated the
tax imposed by the representatives OF the
people as nulity, to remember that The
people are greater than corporations, may be
deemed severe, but who will say that they
will not prove effective? The suggestions OF
the Governor respecting the taxation OF other
corporations TO such an extent as the consti-
tuition of the state contemplates, and thus to
relieve the industrial interests upon which
our future so largely depends, are most time
ly and will meet the hearty approval of the
people at large.
Under their appropriate heads, all the in
stitutions of the state are noticed and recon-
mendations made, showing that the present
Executive has faithfully kept his pledge made
in his last address, to devote his time and
best energies to the service of the people who
have reposed confidence in him.
Quite a portion of the address is devoted
to the liquor laws and tbeir enforcement. He
maintains that, with few exceptions, the law
prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drinks is
as we'll enforced as other laws directed against
vice. However, he falls back to the belief
that moral effort has done most to extend
the cause of public sobriety, and that the
moral field in the temperance reform is still
the most important, as law cannot be made
effective without it. No suggestion respect
ing further legislation on this subject is made.
He rather pointedly calls the attention of
the Legislature to the existing laws for the
punishment of murder, and notices the dis
position of past Legislatures to shift the re-
sponsibility. The suggestions respecting our
laws regarding divorce, imprisonment for
debt and the right of women to hold office
are so Just and practical as to demand general
attention.
One of the most important suggestions is
that respecting the revision of the state con-
stitution, and the means by which he would
have it accomplished A brief consideration
of the subject as treated in the address, will
convince the average mind of the Importance
of something of the nature of that which
His Excellency recommends.
Hereafter we shall consider the various
topics considered in this admirable and ex-
haustive state paper, as they come up before
the Legislature. As whole, the address
will receive the appreciation of the mass OF
the people of Maine, and also convince them
| that Mr.. Dingley is careful, discreet and
conscientious executor.