The Portland daily press., 1883-01-05

brought againsG the Portland, Saco and Ports
mouth Railroad Company, under TINS ac1, 70
still pending. The Governor and Councli, uh-
der the provisions of the present iaw' ieVlea a
tax on railroad companies amounting 10 S99,-
1929 of this amount $71 ,36O.4l was promptly
paid The payment of the balance will depend
npon the consritutionality OF the statute.
Tie duties pertaining to the office of Attor-
ney General are increasing. Important ques-
tions involving the construction of laws the as
sessment and collection Of taxes, the prepare
ton of suitable blanks, and variety of similar
matters which require legal research and ad-
vice, have been submitted to the Attorney
General, by the Executive and other depart
meBts, and have received prompt attention,
with satisfactory results. The statistics and
information contained in the report are valua-
BILE, and the suggestions are worthy Of your
consideration.
FISHERIES AND GAME.
The reports of the Commissioner for the past
two years indicate favorable results from the
money expended by the State. Popular feel
ing justly sustains the department OF Fisheries
and Game. Efficient laws should be passed
and enforced, sustaining the policy OF the State
In the propagation of fish and game. Serious
complaints have been made in regard to the
manner of taking and the disposition of small
Holsters, which without some remedy will pro-
duce deleterious consequences. The sugges-
tons Of the Commissioners are worthy OF con-
sideration.
INSURANCE
The Commissioner has compiled valuable
statistics In regard to the several companies
doing business in this State. / commend to
you his suggestions and recommendations
The business is important, far reaching in its
effects, and requires thorough supervision.
INDIAN TRIBES.
A personal inspection by the Governor and
Council furnishes evidence that these wards OF
the State are making substantial improvement
aud advancement in education and agriculture.
Treaty obligations require the State to make
annual appropriations for their benefit in these
particulars.
The necessary expenses If the State Govern
ment should not be cnrtailed. The demands
OF education State institutions, charities, and
military defence, call for adequate appropria-
tious for the public good. There should be
strict economy in all expenditures.
The Legislature of 1874 inaugurated new
system of taxation, seeking to equalize it by
removing part of the burden from the pro-
ductive industries Of the State and transfer
ring it to capital invested in railroad, tele-
graph express and insurance companies, saw
ings banks aud like corporations and business,
BY repeated changes of law, a system of taxa
ton has been legalized and sustained by the
constitutional authorities of the State, which
hae brought new revenue into our treasury,
and thereby lightened the burden on visible
property
The State OF Vermont has already provided,
by q tax on these several interests, q sum sufi-
Gent for all the State expenditures without
assessing single dollar on the several towns
and cities
l would suggest that the Legislature investi-
gate the present system OF taxation, as far as
practicable, that measures may be devised to
provide that all kinds of property and interests
be reached so that, In just way, public bur-
d6ns may be equalized; to this end / recon-
mend that a proper tax be levied on telephone
companies doing business in the State.
TEMPERANCE AND PROHIBITION.
Temperance has been for many years one of
the leading public questions and has enlisted
the service of many of the best men and
women of our State. Prohibition had been
prominent in the politics of the State; and,
after an active agitation through many years,
the Maine Law was adopted in 1851. The
evidence is unmistakable that a majority of
our people favor the policy of prohibition, and
there are few localities which do not favor a
wise and impartial enforcement of all law re-
lating thereto. There has undoubtedly been a
difference of opinion among good and con-
scientious citizens in regard to the best mode
of Graduating intemperance, but there are few
who are unwilling to admit that there has
been wonderful change for the better in pub
lie sentiment where the law has been rigidly
enforced. In large part of the State, en-
bracing more than three fourths of our popu-
lation, the liquor traffic is practically I'M
known. 1t fingers on small scale, and more
or less secretly, in our larger towns and cities,
producing in them the evils which inevitably
arise from it wherever it exists.
The successful party at the recent election
affirmed the principles of prohibition in its
resolutions, and also recommended that the
people of our State be allowed the opportuni-
ty of expressing an opinion at the polls, on a
constitutional amendment, which, if adopted,
will make prohibition part of the organic
wof the State. Kansas and Iowa, by a vote
of the people, have incorporated prohibition
into their respective constitutions, and very
active agitation is now in. progress in many
other States to the same end. The right of
the people to determine for themselves what
is most conducive to their interests, is
in accord with the theory of popular
government. Furthermore, constitutional
prohibition would have the effect of keeping
the question to considerable extent, if not
entirely, out Of party politics. In view of
these facts, the Legislature will be called upon
by petition and otherwise, as it has already
been asked by the voice of the sovereign people
to submit to them the determination of this
question. 1t is your province to consider this
request, and whatever may be the final result,
let the voice of the people be the law of the
land.
IMPORTANT MATTEBs.
would call your attention to the consider
alton of some better method of collecting sta
tistice in regard to the resources, industries
and material growth of our State; to the ap-
pointment of valuation commission at some
future day, looking for more systematic and
just valuation of the State, and better dis
tribution of the burdens of taxation.
The question of giving the women of our
State the right of suffrage on al occasions, at
least the practicability of removing many re-
strictions, is in keeping with justice and pro-
gress made by other States and worthy of ia
yorable legislation.
DANGEROUS HEREsIEs.
Of late, public attention has been called to
what is styled the unequal distribution of
property by class of agitators, whose pur-
pose appears to be to create discomfort among
the Masses by the advocacy of some indefinite
scheme for the equal distribution Of property
outside the law. Because all men are equal in
the eye of the law, they illogically assume that
they should enjoy equal ownership in prop
erty. Plausible as may be this doctrine in
theory, in practice it would destroy that mo-
tive and am bltlOn which inspire the lndlvld-
ual to the highest effort. Under the most
favorable conditions a given number of men
will not acquire the same possessions. Place
two men side by side in the same occupation !;
one will acquire property year by year. while
each years end will find the other in less
favorable circumstances than at its beginning.
Does any one believe that any policy of gov
eminent or any code of laws can make both
these men equally successful If not, is there
any pretence of justice in theory which
claims that these men should be put upon
level, by despoiling one of his accumulations
to make up for lack of skill, care or, in
dustrv in the others
Law can and should protect the poor and
the weak against the exactions of the power
full and grasping; it can secure to the unfor-
tunate given amount of property which the
creditor should be forbidden to touch it can
make him secure in the prosecution of an
honorable vocation; it can give the laborer a
first lien upon the products of labor and cap
ital for his wages; it can and should
compel corporate wealth to respect personal
rights, should it attempt to ignore then. All
this the laws of this State now give to the
humblest individual. Further our system of
taxation treats with property rather than with
persons; to that end, our public schools are
largely supported by general tax, SO that
Al all md