Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-04

the State should be increased. have
been notified of the fact py the proper /
officials of that patriotic organization
cordially recommend that their request be 1
granted. Detailed reaeons for az increase
of The pension appropriation will in due
time be laid before you. The State OF
Maine will never be able 10 DO TOO much
for her patriotic sons who were disabled in |
the war for the Union. Liberality towards
them is duty. Withholding from them |
what they need would be s crime.
GKrrYsBuRs MoSuMENrs.
have been advised that an additional
appropriation will be needed to complete /
the monuments on the field of Gettys /
burg in honor of the sons of Maine who |
I fell mere. am sure that i; siil be |
pleasure as we'll as duty on the part of /
( the Legislature to do al in their power TO
perpeiuate the heroic vslor of the State as
exhibited BY her soldiers on the bloodies'
hatle-hell of tle var. Unwilling TO
offend The pride Of any section there has
been no attempt TO place monuments OF
! the battle fe his of the South, where 50
many of the flower of the land laid dosn
heir lives tia, the Nation mi hr i've. Bu'
on the field of the only great battle fought
in the loyal States, where patriotic rsdi-
tions will always be 10y ally cherished, il is
1T that monuments be erected 70 leach
future generations that il the last half of
the nineteenth century men were ready TO
70 and dare and die for the American
Union of States
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
Our public institutions are all answering |
in full measure the objects for which they |
were established and recommend them to |
the close examination and earnest care of
the |. gislslure. The administration of the |
trusts reposed in the officers who conduct
these institutions can now be examined by |
the supreme law making power of the State
but once in two years, in lieu of the former
annual examination, and for this reason
closer Inspection and more thorough invest
| lgation into their affairs should be accepted
as the duty of the legislature. The several
| reports of these Institutions will be laid be
fore you Rigid scrutiny implies no distrust
or censure but leads to that form of well
| grounded approval which every servant OF
the State desires as his honorable justitca-
ton.
| INSANE HOSPITAL.
| call your especial tention to the re
port of the superintendent and trustees of
the hospital for the insane, and, in this con
nection | renew a recommends ion made by
/ Governor Bodwell in favor of some provis-
ion for separating the class known as the
criminal insane from daily association with
the ordinary patients. The practice is i'm
| proper, demoraiZng and in many respects
| dangerous. A homicide who is acquitted
of the moral guilt of his act because of his
insanity, should certainly not be allowed
the opportunity of finding victim for
second oftense among the Innocent patients
who deserve our COMMUNICATION and our
protection. The superintendent of the hos
pltal who has hundreds of patients in
charge, and whose duties are not only irk
some aud wearisome, but require a large
degree of pr, fessional skill is paid but
$1,000 per annum. In many similar institu-
tons, with even less labor, the salary of the
superintendent is double or treble this
amount. The civil government of Maine
has never favored high salaries, but | sub
nit, that with full regard to both justice
and economy four hundred dollars per
annum, may be added to the salary of the
superintendent.
The STATE PRIsoN.
uc ItpOEt VI Warden Oh TIE otdlt
Prison will be laid before you. The ad-
minstration of the prison for several years
past has been as successful in every res
pect as could reasonably be hoped for.
The institution has in an encouraging num-
Der of cases proved reformatory as well as
penal. All forms of Imprisonment that
lack the reformatory feature fall short of
one of the great purposes for which pun
ishmapt is IpSiunpI Tho nonr;nt chnnll
at the end of his term ne better man NOR
ally than he was when he entered the
prison, or else his imprisonment has not
been of lasting advantage to society.
THE STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
This institution as is shown by the re-
pot of its superintendent is in excellent
condition Here the lghtest form of re
straint is imposed consistent with the ends
for which the institution is designed. The
school has now beer in existence for more
than generation and on every hand we
have the most abundant evidence that it
has been the instrumental ity of turning a
large number of waywari youths from
criminal paths and restoring them to socie-
ty as useful and upright men.
INDUSTRIAL school For GIRLS
Though limited in its scope, this institu-
ton has been extraordinarily useful. and
has proved itself in all respects worth, to
receive the continued patronage of the
State. 1t is founded in a spirit of true be
neSolence and philanthropy and there are
many persons in the State who desire the
legislature 10 extend its benefceut provis-
ior to larger class. The founding of
new institution is q matter winch should
always receive the most careful cOnsidpra-
tlou. | can only recommend the subject
TO your earn, ST attention aud invest yat OF.
Whether the prospective benefit justities
the impo-ition of an additional burden upou
the tax payer, is for the law making power
to carefully consider.
LABOR Bureau.
The labor bureau, which was established
by the last legislature, has done a va liable
work for the State as the report of the com
missioner will demonstrate. suggest
that the State may, with great profit, give
wider scope 10 the operations of the bu.
real. | commend the subject to your
thoughtful consideration.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The State Board of Health is doing a
valuable work and should be literally sus-
tanned. NJ inc bears the just reputation of
being one of the most healthful States OF
the Union, and summer resort of singu-
larly attractive features, both of climate
and scenery. Wherever there is the slight
est danger of infection of any kind, the
Board of Health is present to advise and to
aid in its eradication, thus zealously guard
ing the health Of our people. and at the
same time giving assurance of complete
safety and immunity from disease to the
increasing thousands, who annually seek
summer home within our borders.
WASTE OF FokEsr GROWTH BY FIRE.
The waste of forest growth from pre-
ventable fires is very great By the United
States census of 1880 it was estimated to
exceed for the whole country ten million
acres annually. Our own State has suf-
fered very largely from this source. /
recommend that you carefully consider the
subject with view of adding to the eff
cheney of existing statutes to prevent the
careless setting of fires, and to add such
new provisions as experience may prove
advantageous and practical.
| FISHERIES AND GAME.
| The interesting reports of the Commits
| sioners of Fisheries and Game and of the /
| Commissioner of Sea and Shore Fisheries !
are commended to your consideration. |
Everything VIII ch tends to increase our fish |
supply in sea and river, brook and lake, /
should have the earnest support of tie State |
Every measure which may tend to preserve |