Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-16


valuation. as Ia imposed upon reA' eS'"''
| and other fixtures.
INTEREST
Closely connected with the subject "i
taxation Is that at interest. Nv an act "i
| a recent Legislature. the law liking IN" 'e-
gal rate of interest at six per cent was so
Tar modified that anv agreement upon ,he
matter was made of binding force. The
| fact that We find uron our records agree
| mcuts ta nav twenty. fnv AMI even eightN
nor cent renders the inquiry pertinent
whether the law should not he restored.
no, only IN the interest Of morality. nut
more especially for the protection OF the
ignorant and those who may be soreiy dis
tre.sed.
THE JUDICIARY.
The Judiciary Is an integral and necessa-
ry branch OF the general government. As
| at present con stituted the delay In the triai
of causes ani the diHcultv OF obtaining
prompt and final decisions In cases Of ap-
peal are matters Of great compliant
commend To your consideration the vari-
Gus propositions which NAV he Submitted
TO YOU. Trusting that such reorganization
NAV be effected as will remove all reason
able objections and promote the ends OF
justice.
EDUCATION.
The Constitution Of the State enjons up
on the Legislature the duty TO require the
several towns to MAKE suitable provision.
at their own expense, for the support snd
maintenance OF our public schools. and
, also "to encourage, and suitably endow
from time to time. as the circumstances of
The people NAV authorize. all Academies
Colleges. and Seminaries OF learning with
H. nj a
With ,hi provision of our fundamental law,
! the ansual assessment of our people 10 all
! the towns aud cities throughout the State.
I for the support of our public schools. has
become a matter OF statute regulation
/ These primary institutions have become the
pride Of ou r people. and they will wil'ingiy
. bear suy reasonable assessment for their
swVport. provided that assessment 10 made
In accordance with the provisions OF The
Constitution.
, The tax. however. levied by the state
! upon the entire population. to be doied out
hr way OF bounty To such towns a. are
able to establish what are termed Free
/ High Schools meets with decided opposi-
. tinn in many quarters. In the hr-t place.
II is claimed that In no sense are they free
schools except so tar a. the towns them
selves Ia which they are located are con
ccrncd Spar>ely settled snd impecuniouS
towns so situated that they are unshl" To
establish such schools. although contrlhH-
/ ting To the support u such a are r-tah
H-hcd In more favored plac-s. has. no
: claim. upon the latter. Another oIj"ctton
! urged with much force. t- that prAcrtcallt.
these hish schools are very sNpen.ive AMI
3 that the children Of the more favored
! classes are those who receive the bencht-
I OF their establishment. The Introduction
~ Fi.... al H.
( struse sciences into these schools,i, OF very
Z Questionable stlliiy- The object of nur
common schools IL the education OF IL"
1 ms.se. Within certain limits. Beyond
| these we have our Academies and Col.
! leees where those who have the ability and
di.position can svsil themselves OF their
/ advantages a. their own expense. as In
I duty Sound they ought
/ A. the representatives and guardians at
f the people this subject demands your carr
: mi cxsmtpsflnu. but ! am sure Won " ID
have no disposition TO de- sught that viii
/ iuJor. the efficiency OF these primary In>t-
| tutlon- "i i"aruitIg. or take FROM the pa
r-tss la their respective locAlit-. the Re-
spnn-ibiiti"~ aud control ot them; Tor It Is
general rule tho, ,sh"u responsibility
terminates, interest begins to decline.
TUE eIEcTIvK FRANCHISE.
The duty of examining the safeguards
thrown around d. elective franchise and
preserving Ci,c fo~>3om and purity ~ elec-
tions in our own Stase is subject which
cotn-, especially under YOUR supervision.
Obstacle. in the way OF rightful re2i-tra-
ton should ne guarded against. and .IIch
l.-fz lilies proyid will deter de>eidng Z
politicians or bite: partisisns from inter-
posiug them intimidation at the muzZ e
OF the mu-Aet or al the door OF the pantfy
involves the same principle. Any inter-
ference with the fullest and unbiased excr-
else Of the elective franchise. whether at
home or In other States. deserves the con-
demnation OF every good citizen. To re-
move the beams IN our eyes, i. however.
as good $ criterion OF our sincerity and
honesty of purpose, as bitter invectivc-
against our ueighbors; and ! respectfully
suggest the proprlety OF your submitting
10 vote Of the people, the propositions
adopted by the Constitutional Comm ssion
OF 1875, TO prevent bribery in elections.
STATE DEBT.
The Indebtedness OF the State i a subject
tlst requires vour careful attention, al
thsagh n portion OF the principal falls due
dsriug the present year. The act OF 1879
repeating the act of lsG5 establishing a
siGAiny fund. has been criticised ia many
! quarters as impoiitic and un"ise, and
some provision, II possible, should be
| made towards supplying the deficiency
| created by that act. and 10 meet that por-
ton OF our liabilities which falls due in
1850. have had no opportunity TO exam
iae the subject in detail, but must refer
yoa TO the report OF the Treasurer for m
| Formation thereon. The dictates OF pru-
| dence require that early attention Ia this
matter should not escape your considera-
| tIou.
NATIONAL FINANCES.
The III ancial affairs OF the country. al
| though not subject for your especial leg
i.lation, is one In which every citizen takes
} a deep interest. and upon which your voice
may exert "A potential influence. The re-
! suit OF the recent election In this state was
! Influenced 10 a greater or less degree by
the discussions on this subject. Happily
! one of these topics has passed into real
| ity. and resumption has become Al accom-
plsed fact. Time alone can determine the
| success Of tailurr OF the measure. but it Is
| hoped thar there may he no necessity for "A
retreat from so plain a duty. for according
! to the Constitution of the United States.
! which is the supreme law of the land and
| which every legislator. both Of the State
| and the nation ~wears 10 support, nothing
| but gold and silver can lawfully be made IA
| legal tender for debt. The legal t-iIder
Act was mantr>tly and indisputably viz
| lation OF the Constitution and 10 Its opera
| tion. In conjunction with the Act estah-
| fishing nsri.mal banks upon the basis "f
| double interest. has brought disaster and
misery upon the entire nation. Aided by
| their yOk--f-llow. "A protective tarin, there
| could MT have been extracted from Pan
| DORIS box oi evils three measures more
I prolific oi mischief. They have de>tro, ed
! commerce.; driven gold and silver from
the counrr, prostrated our manu- acturing
/ Industries; created an ari-tocracy OF
wealth; en.endered profigacy and crime,
aud brought destitutiou and misery into
! the aoode> Of the labOring and industrial
classes throughout the land. A compl-
ance with the teachings and the require
unents Of the Constitution Of the country.
! is the only course OF safety. That nstru.
ment was framed by our forefathers, who
had suffered persecution for opinions sake.
endured hardships. fought a long and
bloody war. realized the misery produced
by deprecated currency. and was
adopted. after mature deliberation. as the