The Portland daily press., 1885-01-09


prosecutions for maintaining nuisances, maxi
ing total of 981 cases, against an average of
5oo for the past six years. And this increased
number of prosecutions has had good influ-
ence upon the amount of other crime in the
State. Our example has been potent in the
promotion OF temperance reform in other
States, and the "Maine law" which in earlier
times was looked upon as premature, or too
progressive legislation, is now pointed to with
pride By the faithful advocates of temperance,
not only at home, but in foreign countries. Its
claim Tor public support rests upon its good Of
tects IN our own State, ard wherever else it
has been adopted. The yal1e OF the prohibit
orr law has been shown by the restrictions i'm
posed upon ~, ~ sale of Intoxicating
liquors throughout the State. Statlsu.ccs furnish
us with conclusive evidence that far less in
toxioation and its fruitful evil consequences
exist, than were seen in earlier periods. In
no city or town in our State does one see the
open advertisements Of the bar-room inviting
the young, az well as old, to indulge in habit
so degrading as the habituai use Of Intoxicating
liquors. Criminal statistics show that the law
has been beneficial in restraining crime, and
the number OF indictments found against the
vlolators OF the law in all Of our courts, and
the fines and costs, or sentences OF imprisou-
mens imposed, prove the general willingness
OF the people to assist in It's enforcement The
present plohibitory law is the growth Of over
thirty years, the original law of 1851, having
b5en followed by thirty-nine statutes IN re-
ference to lntoxigasion and the sale of iutoxi-
eating liquors. The present law may, there
fore, be considered sufficient to cover all viola
tions OF its provisions that can possibly oocar,
and lte weakness seems to be nits non-snforee-
ment By those officers whose dGty il is to ex-
eCuts the lava Of the State. The laws Of the
State are well defined and aEphs tie and
should compel officers, not only By a sense of
duty and honor, but by the religious regard
Tor sacred oath to specially enforce the proYi-
nj T.,
few localities, its gsnersl enforcement is dis
regarded. Special provisions have Been In
corDorated into the law 30 remedy this negli-
genoa on the part of county and munieinal
officers, and the Governor and Council have
frequently been called upon to appoint special
constables to enforce 1t. In some cases such
officers have been appointed, and always " hen
needed and practicable. While ] would not
recommend the repeal of that portion of the
law have failed to sse its good effects even
when an oppoTtunity hiss been given to test il.
Aa appointment OF this kind brings with il an
implied unpleasant cersure and reprimand,
not only to the officers but to the citizsns OF
the locality thus temporarily placed under the
guardianship OF the State. This is considered
so offensive that county and municipal officers,
and citizens are too apt to fall back into in
activity and leave The State constable, single
handed, TO execute the law Every endeayor
should be made to secure the enforcement OF
the prohibitorY law by the regularly chosen
OlnC6Fhs EuDHC sentiment mas muCQ TO 90
with this question; the enforcement or nom
reinforcement OF prohibition in any locality de-
bonds upon the general disposition OF the pee
pie Prohibition Is no longer question for
political campaign; it ID forever settled, and
cannot be Changed ant the people give their
consent. II anything further can be done TO
increase the sobriety and morality OF the pee
pie by temperance legislation | hope it will re-
celVe your careful consideration. 1t should
not be forgotten that too frequent changes de-
stroy the efficiency aud moral power OF en-
forcing laws, and that "no principle OF criminal
law is better settled than that the certainty of
punishment is more important than severity"
One objection to the COZ atabul3ry law could
be- removed by requiring State constable1 to
give sufficient bonds for faithful performance
Of duty, IS is required of all county and muni-
cipal Officers OF like character. Provisions
should also be made for removal from office
Tor good and sufficient reasons.
LAW DEPARTMENT..
/ have the honof to submit qae valuable re-
port OF the Attorney General o the State,
whose distinguished services for the past five
years, requiring vast amount Of labor, have
contributed much to the welfare OF the State
and to his own honor; and woaid particular
" call your attention to that pant Of his report
which relates TO the seemingly unjust enforce
mont of the Law relating to apothecaries and
treasprers of business corporations.
MAINE GENERAL HOSPITAL.
This institution by private benevolence has
very much enlarged its facilities for curing
and ameliorating human suffering, and its adj
vantases are now sought after by people fr en-
every portion Of the State. 1t is oue of the
best Institutions of the kind in the country, and
would recon mend that the appropriation of
last year be continued, il not increased, so that
It's advantages may be enjoyed by every class
of PEOPLE.
FEMALE SUFFRAGE
I i
OIL some change OF our laws which woald aud
should give woman Increased opportunities to
discharge the duties of citizenship. BY in
Vulnerable deeds OF noble conflict on every
hsd OF moral intellectual and social effort,
woman has won equal honors with the other
sex, and established by works her right 10 a
just recognition and equality which selfish rule
has heretofore prevented. Intelligence of the
citizen is the only true basis Of suffrage, and if
equality is assured let ua not ignore its logical
consequences, but give to woman al the rights
OF citizenship. To this end as a stem in the
right direction, would ask the passage Of a
general law recognizing the eligibility Of VIC
man to hold any oftic5 not prohibited by the
constitution.
SUPPORT OF PAUPERs IN INCORPORATED
PLACES.
The appropriation for Support of paupers
in nnincoi porated places should be increased
from $1,000, the amount of the usual appropri-
alton, 10 $1,000, or possibly $500, to meet the
prospective demands which must arise from
the creation, BY the laws passed By the Legie-
lature, OF an entirely new class of State pau
psr claims
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
This dreaded malady was introduced into
this State by herd OF cattle imported from
abroad 1t first made its appearance in the
towns of Westbrook and Falmouth last &c D.
rUarg. Bg prompt and Tell-lirected effort on
the part Of the State and town officials the dis
ease was satisfactorily controlled and EXTERN
mated without great pecuniary loss. The ex-
pense and damage bas been adjusted at cost
of 70 546.74 The State is liable for $4, 669. 81
as its proportion of this amount. l would ask
for an early appropriation to adjust this de-
mand against the State.
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.
Insurance of life and property is now 60 gen.
eral that the State should protect the people
against imposition. At the present time the
companies permitted TO do business in the
State are believed to be sound. Life assurance
BY mutual benefit associations may be encour I.
aged, If organized within the State, bat those
organized or conducted in other States unless
connected with some recognized charitable
order, should be prohibited under heavy pen
alties from operating in this State.
CORPORATIONS.
Sinos Maine became Slate four thousand
companies for various objects havs been incor-
eral law, large majority of which exist today
only in name and without any financial stand-
ing Such corporations are increasing at the
rate of about two hundred year. Our laws in
this respect are very loose, aud should receive
your attention. They require neither paid up
capital stock nor intention to do business in
this State IS the prerequisite of organization,
and thereby offer opportunity for the formation
OF fraudulent corporations, by which our
people and those of other States are liable to
be defranded. The law should require the
payment OF portion of the capital stock be-
fore organization, and the charter fee TO the
State should be increased TO a respectable fis-
ure, as revenue towards lessening public
burdens.
LABOR.
The employment OF women and minors by
our manufacturing corporations has created
considerable criticism in consequences OF the
violation of the law restricting them each day
to limited pnriod of labor, and would sug-
gest the matter be sufficiently considered 10
the end that the law shall be rigidly enforced
By additional enactments, SO that tho hours to
be liked for labor correspond with the best in
terests Of the laDoring classes.
TAXES
There appears to be an inequality and bur-
den of taxation resting on the real estate aud
visible property OF the State which former Leg
islatures have but partially remedied. A new
system Of taxation was wisely iuaugurated in