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

GeHp,'aeH ~ lts Senate and House of Rep
reseBGtires
In accordance with the provisions Of the
Constitution nf the State. you have assem-
bled to discharge the duties imposed upon
YOU by that instrument, and to enact such
laws a. in your Judgment the happiness and
prosperity OF the people demand
The year so recently terminated has
been one OF peculiar frnitfulness. Our
fiocks and herds have multiplied. No
widespread epidemic has prevailed within
our borders, and the blessings OF health TO
an unusual degree have been vnuchs afed
TO our people; aud yet surrounded by these
favors. We are compelled 10 note that finau-
cial distress prevails TO an unusual extent.
Property has deprecated In value; busi-
ness interests are prostrated; thousands OF
our people are out Of employment, and
other thousands are working at prices
which barely keep themselves and their
families from the poor house; interest and
taxes are paid with extreme difficulty or
not at all; and In all circles there is a feel
Ing Of despondency in relation 10 business
enterprise.
As legislators. it is your duty to search
with care for the causes which have pro-
duced these results, and so far as in you
lies TO apply the remedy for eSistingeyils.
STATE EXPENDITURES.
The fact that our State expenditures. ex-
elusive OF any payments on account OF
our public debt. interest on the same, and
OF bounties 10 soldiers or their families, has
nearly Quadrupled during the last twenty
years, Notwithstanding the fact that our
population has remained almost stationary.
Is one OF peculiar significance. l suggest
{nv -tAarasinn shis epsSra hi.rf
Unnecessary offices, II any are found.
should be abolished, and the personnel OF
every department of the Government re-
duced to the minimum of actual necessity.
II three trustees can do the work OF Ave
or seven, let the number be reduced: IL
one Commissioner of railroads, or oihe.
departments. can do the work of three.
and do IL as well or better. let two be re
turned 10 the repose of private lite. or del
egated to some more useful employment
biennial SESSIONS.
The annual session OF the Legislature
now required by the Constitution, is at
tended with great expense, and 1t is be-
leyed a iaritv OF the people demand a
change OF that instrument suthorzGy bi-
ennial sessions, as also change in boiling
elections. 5" great savin. of expense.
both in Tim. and money. can he effected by
.uch chan - that | have no hesitatio. in
recnmnrndiu. 4 submission OF these To
the iecisi"' q 'hr people.
TAXATION
III. - jrf ut aXation is one which
CONES L. AZ. '".','- aud person uf every
voIer ui IN. = at+. rhe theory Of IA Re
puhfi..tn q ~ spatrrt i. that every person
sh",iih h' - ii- just proportion OF the bur
d-n> imposed i'r tbe protection Of person
and property aud for the blessings Of civil
liberty secured 10 sll. II is not to be d..
D,. that this theory fails in its practical
operation under the existing laws ia this
State The average rate of taxation upon
real estate and iarm property for q series
II wears has not been less than one and
one-half per cent. During the same time
very large proportion of the accuusmla Al I'd
capital of the state has been virtually ex-
enpt IRON all assessments. Probably mCr
than one hundred millions OF the sccumu
lated wealth Of this State is invested in
mortgages. vaiIroad, municipal. county
aud State bonds. or deposited IN savings
banks. and IL would seem but an act OS jus.
tice 10 enact such laws. II practicable, as
will compel the holders OF such property
to bear their just proportion al the public
burdens. The tax imposed upon railroad
stocks by The LEGISLATURE some two uf
thrre wears since. is wholly imperative 50
Tar ~ th- real owper. "f our railroads are
coi.c-rued. As the matter now stands the
assessment made upon railroad stocks is
simply an ass-ssment upon the right Of re.
demptiO8. trust your Wisd..ln will devise
and compel the investments In this and