The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-05

ny and nice points of law, to be decided by the
unaided Judgment of municipal officers in the
brief period afforded them by the necessity of
making and sealing'the returns at or within
fixed time
In my Judgment, the authority to determine
eligibility should be transferred to the Cover
nor and Council, inasmuch as they have ample
time for elaboration in examining the returns
and it is in their power to obtain the opinion of
the Court.
recommend that the authority conferred
upon the Governor and Council by the amend
ment of Sec. 5, of Chap. Is of the Revised
Statutes made by the act approved February
LIST, 1876, to count and declare for any person
all votes Intentionally cast for such person for
county office, although his name upon the
ballot is misspelled or written with only the
initials of his christian name. and to hear tes-
tmony upon oath in relation to such votes-be
extended to include all officers whose election
is declared by them.
1t is provided by the laws that when an origi-
nal return of votes is lost or destroyed or there
is any question as to the agreement of return
of the vote of a town with the record of the
vote of such town, IN the number of votes, or
the names of the person voted for, an appeal
may be had to the record. L suggest as an adj
ditonal safeguard of the elective franchise,
that, when return is fatally defective by rea
son of any informally, it may be made lawful
to substitute duly attested copy of the record
therefor; and, in order to prevent the careless
ness in making returns by municipal officers
that might arise from such provision, that
messenger be sent by the Secretary of State to
procure the copy of thei record, at the expense
of the town whose officers have failed to per-
form their duty.
BEET SUGAR.
In my address of last year the attention of
the Legislature was called to the desirabiity of
taking steps to encourage the introduction of
the manufacture of beet-sugar. An interesting
lecture on the cultivation of beets and the
process of manufacturing sugar from them has
since been delivered before the State Board of
Agriculture, and will be Incorporated in the
forthcoming report of the Board Seeds of the
best varieties of sugar beets attainable, were
procured and distributed for trial the past sea-
son by the Secretary of the Board Of Agricul-
ture. Samples of the product from them have
been analysed and found to contain from to
10 per cent of sugar; result which indi "a ties
that by more careful conformity to the ap-
proved methods of cultvating them. beets of
the best sugar making qualities can be produc-
ed. Several varieties were raised and analysed
at the State College and found rich in sugar.
The Dominion of Canada has offered bonus
OF $1,000 90 year, for ten years. to the first
company successfully engaging in this manu-
facture. and relief of fifty per cent of the ex-
else duty on their product. earnestly COM
mend to the Legislature the action of our
neghhors in offering bonus as an example
worthy to be followed. The chief hindrance to
the introduction of the beet sugar manufacture
is the magnitude of the capital necessary to its
successful prosecution. The offer Of premium
sufficient to afford reimbursement for the pre-
liminary Investigations and extra expenses in
cdent to the establishment of new business,
would induce capitalists to turn their atten ton
to it, The beginning once made, L do not
doubt that the industry would extend rapidly
throughout the state and repay hundred fold
the bounty which called it into being.
THE STATE HOUSE.
The pressing need of more commodious,
heathful and convenient offices and apart
ments for carrying on the business of the state,
and OF an orderly arrangement OF the public
archives, books and property, where they would
be more accessible, and also protected from fire,
unites with the favorable condition of the
treasury and the cheapness of labor and mate
RIAL in pointing to the present as the proper
time for improving and enlarging the State
House. Regarded externally, the building just
ly excites admiration by its commanding site,
the beauty of the material of which it is con-
structed and its simple yet grand architec-
ture.
The test of nearly fifty years has disclosed
scarcely a flaw in the workmanship employed
in the erection of it.
could be desired. The Senate chamber and the
rooms assigned to the Executive Council and
the Governor are of ample size, admirably pro-
portioned, and in all respects adapted to their
respective uses. For the rest, commentator
is not so much in order as criticism.
The hall or the House of Representatives is
not capacous enough to admit of comfortable
seats for the members, and of suitable accom-
modations for the public who desire to witness
the proceedings, and it is unprovided with
ante-rooms. The committee rooms, where a
large portion of the business of the Legislature
is transacted, are insufficient in number and
totally unfit for that purpose. When crowded,
as they often are, in important hearings, the
air soon becomes SO yitiated as to seriously en-
danger health.
The State Treasurer and Secretary of State
require better facilities for performing the du-
ties of their offices, and for tie safe and con-
venient bestowal of their voluminous and i'm
portant records.
stantly accommodating stores are overrunnlng
into such attic hooks and corners as the libra
rian has been so ingenious as to discover.
BUTT is unnecessary to specify the respects in
which the state house, in its present condition,
fails to furnish the reasonable accommodations
required. The facts are before YOU. If YOU
seek argument and illustration, look around
you.
In 1867 the Governor and Council, under an
order of the Legislature of that year, engaged
competent architects to make a survey of the
state house and to present plans for its e-ar-
rangement and enlargement Their detailed
report and accompanying designs and est.
mates were laid before the Legislature of 1866
and are now in the custody of the Superntend-
ent of Public Buildings. refer you to those
documents for full information in regard to the
building as well as to the addition proposed by
them.
ELECTION OF UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Daring the recess of the Legislature a vacan-
cy has occurred in the representation of this
State in the Senate of the United States, caused
by the resignation of Lot M. Morrill, to accept
position in the Cabinet of the President of
the United States. A temporary appointment
until the meeting of the Legislature was made
as directed by the Constitution. 1t now de.
wolves upon you to FIJI the vacancy. The term
with the present Congress and it therefore be.
comes your further duty to choose Senator
for the term beginning on the fourth of March
next.
GEORGE WARREN,
George Warren, the member of the executive
council from the second councillor district, died
in the month of July, of last year, at his home
in Westbrook. Mr.. Warren was prominent
and respected citizen, an active and successful
business man, and a most faithful and efficient
officer of the State. At the time of his decease
he was serving upon his second term as a
councillor.
CONCLUSION.
Gentleman, the times in which we are met,
are filled with solicitude for the welfare of
the country. heated Presidential contest
has not been followed, as is customary by the
acknowledged election of the candidate of one
party, and the ready submission of the defeated
party to the result. But there is no present
reason for forboding. Partisan clamor will be
hushed in the majestic presence of the law of
the land, when the time comes for it to manifest
and assert itself. We cannot doubt that the
tribunal upon which deYolves the settlement of
the vexed question, composed of men chosen of
the nation for wisdom and patriotism, will es-
ablish the right by clear proof OF law and an
Gent custom, and that the general voice of a
law abiding people will accept their decision
The frequent and intenseness of our political
strifes Cast no reproach upon Republican form
of government. They are its legitimate at,
tendants, the conditions necessary for the pres
ervation of it, Before all else-ease, prosper
ity, freedom from excitement every consider
alton OF present personal well-being-the Rep
ublic which ensures the greatest good of all, is
to be regarded and maintained. The worth of
free government cannot be measured BY any
cost OF time, labor, material or, as our history
as nation shows. by even the sacrifice of the
lives of its citizens;