The Portland daily press., 1879-01-09
BY TELEGRAPH.
AT THE CAPITAL.
Inauguration Of Governor Garce.
Ion.
Has Financial Views Kissed by
the Greenbackers.
The Joint Standing Committees An.
nOunced.
Especial to the Press. |

AUGUSTA, Jan. 8.
At last Maine has full fedged Gov
ernor and now that the feathers part of the essor
Is over 1t is to be hoped the Legislature will get dowr
TO business and practice of the economy in time
which the majority has been preaching for 80 long
and making so much noise about. Soon after thu
meeting Of the House this morning message wa.
received from the Senate pro posing joint conven
ZION Tor the Inauguration OF the Governor elect. Ths
mouse agreed and the Senate came In and Presden
Haynes took the chair. The hall was well filed will
spectators. Mr.. Garcelon was brought in BY Messrs
Madigan Of Aroostook, Boynton of Bangor and Jone.
OF Lewiston. Alta quarter before eleven O'Clock the
oath was administered and then for about twenty.
I'VE minutes Gov Gareelen addressed the convention
In his usual lively style as follows:
Governor's Message.
Gentlemen ofthe Senate and House of Representa-.
tives:
In accordance with the provisions OF the ConstItu.
ton OF the State, you have assembled to discharge
che duties imposed upon you by that instrument
ana to enact such laws as in your judgment the
happiness and prosperity of the people demand.
The year 10 recently terminated, has been one o
peculiar fruitfu'ness. Our focks and herds have
multiplied. No widespread epidemic has prevailed
within our borders and the blessings of health to an
unusual degree has been vouchsafed to our people:
and yet surrounded by these favors, we are COM
PEELED to note that financial distress prevails to an
unusual extent Property has DEPRECATED in value;
business interests are prostrated thousands of our
people are out OF employment. and other thousands
are working prices which barely keep themselves
and their families from the poorhouse interest and
taxes are paid with extreme difficulty or not at all
and in all circles there is feeling of despondepcv
in relation to business enterprise
AS legislators 1t is your duty to search with care
tor the causes which have produced these results
and go far as in you lies to apply the remedy for
existing evils.
STATE EXPENDITURES
The fact that our State expenditures exclusive of
any payments on account Of our public debt. in.
terest on the same. and of bountes to 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. suggest for your considers
tion this entire subject. NECESSARY offices if any are
tound' should DO abolished, and the personnel of
every department of the government reduced to The
minimum Of absolute necessity. If three trustees
can do the work Of five or seven, let the number be
reduced; II one commissioner of railroads or other
departments can do the work of three and do it as
well or better, let two be returned to the repose of
private life or delegated to some more useful en-
ployment.
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.
The annual session of the Legislature now required
by the Constitution, is attended with great ex-
pense, and 1t is believed majority of the people
demand change Of that instrument authorizing
biennial sessions, as also a change in the time Of
holding elections So great saving of expense,
botlrin time and money, can be effected by such
changes that have no hesitation in recommending
submission of these questions the decision of the
people.
TAXATION.
The subject Of taxation is one which comes to the
home and person Of every voter in the state. The
theory of republican government is that every per.
son should bear his just proportion of the burdens
Imposed for the protection Of person and property
and for the blessings Of civil liberty secured to all
1t Is not to be denied that this theory fails in its
practical operations under the existing laws in this
state. The average rate of taxation upon real es-
tate and farm property for series of years. has not
been less than one and one-half per cent. During
the same time, very large proportion of the accu-
INFLATED capital Of the state has been virtually ex-
empt from all assessments, Probably more than
one hundred millions of the accumulated wealth of
the state is invested in mortgages, railroad, NUM-
cipal, county and state bonds, deposited in saw
ings banks; and 1t would seem but an act Of justice
to enact such laws if practicable will compel the
holders of such property to bear their just proper
ton Of the public burdens. The tax imposed upon
railroad stocks by the Legislature, two or three
years since, is wholly imperative far as the real
owners OF our railroads are concerned. As the mat
ter now stands, the assessments made upon railroad
stocks is simply assessment upon the right of re-
demption. l trust your wisdom will devise some
method Of reaching the real owners and compel the
investments in this and Kindred species of property
to pay the same rate of taxation according to their
true valuation, as is imposed upon real estate and
other fixtures.
INTEREST.
Closely connected with the subject of taxation is
that OF interest. By act of the recent Legisla-
ture the law fixing the legal rate of interest at six
per cent. was 30 modified that any agreement upon
the matter was made of binding force The fact that
that we find upon our records agreements to pay
twenty, fifty and even eighty per cent, renders the
inquiry pertinent whether the law should not be re-
stored not only in the interest of morality but more
especially for the protection of the ignorant and
those who may be sorely distressed.
THE JUDICIARY.
The judiciary Is an integral and necessary branch
OF the general government. As present constituted
the delay in the trial Of causes and the difficulty of
obtaining prompt and final decisions in cases Of ap-
peal are matters Of great complaint. I commend to
your consideration the various propositions which
may be submitted to you, trusting that such reor-
ganization may be effected will remove all reas-
enable objections, and promote the ends of justice.
EDUCATION.
The constitution OF the state enoins upon the Leg
islature the duty to require the several towns to
make suitable provision, at their own expense for
the support and maintenance of our public Schools"
and also ito encourage and suitably endow from
time to time, as the circumstances of the people may
authorize, all academies. colleges and seminares of
learning within the state' Under and in compi-
ance with this provision of fundamental Jaw the
annual assessment of our people in all the towns and
cities throughout the state for the support of our
public schools has become matter Of statute regu-
Iaion These primary institutions have become the
pride OF our people, and they willingly bear any reas-
enable assessment for their support providing that
assessment Is made in accordance with the proyis-
ions of the constitution.
The tax, however, levied by the state upon the en-
tire population, to be doed out by way of bounty to
such towns as are able to establish what are termed
free high schools, meets with decided opposition in
many quarters. In the first place it is claimed that
In no sense are they free schools except far as the
town themselves in which they are located are con-
cerned. Sparsely settled and impecunious towns so
situated that they are unable to establish such
schools. although contributing to the support of
such as established In more favored places have
no claims upon the latter. Another objection, urged
with much force, is, that practically these high
schools are very expensive and that the children of
the more favored classes those who receive the
benefits OF their establishment. The introduction of
the study Of the dead languages and abstruse sci
ences into these schools Is of very questionable utii
ty. The object OF our common school is the educa |
ton Of the masses within certain limits. Beyond |
these we have our academies and colleges where
those who have the ability and disposition can avail
themselves Of their advantages at their own expense
Is in duty bound they ought.
As the representatives and guardians of the people
this subject demands your careful examination but