The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-01-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

citizens, to whose partiality l am indebted for
this distinguished honor. l should be, in
| deed, something more, or less, than human, if
SO distinguished a mark of public favor did
not command my gratitude and my devotion,
and fill me with profound sense of the trust
reposed.
| A public trust is the most sacred of all
trusts and one that must bear with the great
est weight of obligation, upon every right
thinking mind. The betrayal Of high public
trust is more than treason and admits of no
excuse or palliation, and no mercy or pity for
| HIM who betrays it. For, be it remembered.
that, after all the safeguards human wisdom
and human prudence can devise for the secu-
r1ty of our most sacred interests, we must re-
pese at last, for that security, upon the simple
honesty of man. No other foundation than
TINS hath society or government.
While it is with no little distrust of my
own abilities, it is not without some conf
dence, that assume the trust to which l em
called of my fellow citizens, and to the faith
fnl discharge of which have pledged myself
by the most solemn sanctions; for the people
are never unreasonably exacting of their pub
lie servants. Brilliant talents and great abli-
ties are held by them N comparatively light
regard; but faithful public services, when rem
dered by moderate abilities, never fail of their
reward in the appreciation and gratitude of
the people. The shortcomings and mistakes
of public servant in the highest station,
even, are forgiven and overlooked, provided he
| has done his best. Indeed so little exacting
and so indulgent are the people, it would seem
as If they were quite ready to impute it to
him for righteousness if public servant does
not bctray his trust. This is sad reflection,
| If 1t be true, and yet one that should inspire
| each OF us, entering upon this term of service.
with zeal to do his best for the common
wealth and at the same time. to lament that
he is not able to do more.
shall not be able gentleman, to furnish
you with any detailed statement of the affairs
of the departments and institutions of the
! State. have not had access to the official
reports of the last year; they have not yet
been published. Besides, owing to the uncer-
tainty as to the election-the declaration of
the result have not made such examination
OF these affairs OF the State as l might other
wise have felt it my duty to make. Hence,
for needed information respecting the affairs
Of the several departments and the condition
and wants of our State institutions, have to
refer you to the official reports which will be
laid before you at an early day; conining NY
self in the main, to such general reflections
and suggestions concerning them as seem to
me appropriate.
FINANCES.
Upon the subject of the State finances 1
give you such information as have been able
to obtain from the treasurer's Office:
Receipts for 1880, 81 1,672 395 Is
Expenditures, 1851 469 96
dns Slnking dP fund january l. 1881, I'sS5s5S5 81 IS
The estimates for 1881 are not vet COM
pleted. For these and all other details as to
the finances of the State, refer you to the
treasurer's report.
TAXATION.
Taxation is the one subject of universal and
vital interest to the people of this State. 1t
will receive from you, l doubt not, that earn
est attention which its supreme Importance
demands. l wish it were permitted me to
say. that none Of our people were oppressed
by debt and taxation; that none looked to the
future with gloomy forebodings, seeing no
way out of the tolls of debt and taxation;
that none. under the weight of these burdens,
either succumbed to despair or left their homes
to try their fortunes IN a new country; but,
rather, that all were prosperous, contented
and happy. 1t would be far more agreeable to
me and more in accordance with the custom
ary language of this occasion.
The truth is, the people of this State are
oppressed by the burdens they bear,-the
burdens of debt and taxation. Taxation
falls heavily upon some because it does not
fall equally upon all. Too large proportion
of the public burdens falls upon real estate
This is especially true of the farming in
terests. The property of the farmer, both real
and personal is all visible and exposed to as
ses sment Besides, no account is taken of
his mortgages, though his farm may be mort
gagged for all that it is worth. 1t approximates
the truth, to say that none of his property cs-
capes taxation according to the just value
thereof Of this, the farmer does not COM
1,ln ht,t e
vast amounts, are permitted to escape taxation,
in whole or part, he does complain and has a
right to complain of the injustice of his gov
ernment. For he is thus made to BEAR not
his own burdens only, but the burdens of
others. This is injustice. Taxation and pro-
lection are reciprocal. 1t is the spirit of our
institutions to be equal as well as free; equal |
rights and equal benefits; equal protection
and equal burdens; special privileges to none.
1t will devolve upon you, the Legislative |
branch of the government, to devise and pur-
sue such measures Of relief from unequal taxa
ton as shall seem 70 you the most appropriate.
It will be your pleasure as well as your duty,
l doubt not, to reduce the current expenses of
the government, if it can be done by the |
practice Of a severe, not parsimonious
economy.
But it is not in the economical expenditure
of the public revenues, so much as in seeking
new sources of revenue and in equalizing the
burdens of taxation. that you will be able to
compass such reforms and such relief as will
gladden. the hearts and cheer the hopes of our
people. The public burdens are unequally
borne When all the property in the State is
reached and taxed as real estate and all prop
erty of farmers "accordidg to the just value
thereof" the rate of taxation will be reduced
one half. Then will taxation fall lightly and
be borne cheerfully, because it will fall equally
upon ALL True it is that absolute equality
in taxation can never be attained. A dispro-
portionate share of the public burdens will al
ways be thrown on certain kinds of property
because they are visible and tangible. The
best system to be sought is that which, in its
practical operation, approximates nearest to
equality.
EXEMPTIONS.
The Legislature in its discretion. has always
exercised the power of exempting certain
kinds of property from taxation. On the the
ory that taxation and protection are reciprocal
no exemptions can be defended. As all prop
erty receives the equal protection of the laws,
all should be made to bear its proportionate
share of the public burden. The exemption
of any species of property is not equal taxa
ton and can only be defended on the
ground of subsidy; for it is the same thing
as granting to the owners of the exempted
property considerable sum out of the public
treasury.
MONEY AT INTEREST.
While there is large amount of property
in the State exempt by law from taxation, an
amount much larger, in the form of bonds
and notes-money at interest, is practically
exempt, because not reached by the assessors.
How can this property be reacheds Most of
the States in the Union require the inventory
to be made under oath. Experience has
shown that the pains and penalties of perjury
are not without an immense moral influence in
bringing personal property within the reach
of the assessors, and there would seem to be
no valid reason why these should not be in
voked to secure that end AS the law now
stands, it is left to discretion of the assessors
whether they will require the taxpayers to
give in their inventory under oath. There
would seem to be good and obvious reas ons
why this requirement should not be left to the
discretion of the assessors, but made impera-
tive in all cases and in case of refusal or
neglect on the part of any taxpayer to give in
such sworn statement, then the assessors should
assess such person from the best knowledge