The Portland daily press., 1889-01-04
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAoE.l
THE GOVERNOR TO LEGISLATORS.

which is indeed the highest duty of State
government.
1t is worth while also to observe in this con-
neetion that while our tax for the general pur-
poses of the State government can next year
be reduced to mill and quarter on our
present State valuation. it would be little more
than half a mill if levied on a valuation
proximating the total wealth of the State.
This shows that Maine is really, SO far as the
levy of the State government is concerned, one
of the most lightly taxed States in the Union.
The local taxation is Of course beyond fthe
control of the State government and, outside
OF certain absolute requirements, is just what
the citizens of the several cities, towns and
counties may themselves determine and
authorize.
SAVINGS BANKS.
The report of the bank examiner, giving
the condition of savings banks, trust compa-
MES and loan building associations in the State,
will soon be laid before you. 1t will prove
both interesting and satisfactory. II will show
that the aggregate deposits in the fifty five
savings banks amount to nearly forty-on mil
lions of dollars. This large sum is divided be-
tween l24,562 depositors, of whom nearly
100000 represent deposit of less than five
hundred dollars each. The savings banks
have proved a source of largely increasing the
wealth of the State. They have inspired a
spirit of thrift and economy and have been the
means of saving to worthy individuals and
families many millions of dollars that might
otherwise have been FILTERED away in needless
indulgences or in hurtful designations.
One of the most important duties devolving
upon the government of the State is the careful
guardianship of these large sums of money.
The savings banks deposits must be rgidly
protected against all forms of risk or specula-
ton. If individuals choose to speculate with
their own money they take the risks them
selves and if misfortune overtakes them, they
must abide the consequences. But the State
has no right to permit the guardians of trust
funds to take any risk whatever in their in
vestment. l commend. therefore, with heart
lest approval the cautions contained in the
bank examiners report against permitting the
funds in our savings banks to be invested in
Western farm mortgages. make no reflection
whatever upon the security of such investments
further than to say that cash so placed cannot
be promptly realized, and that fact lalone de-
stroys in large degree the usefulness of such
investments to the savings banks.
INSURANCE.
recommend that the legislature make close
examination into the existing system of insur-
is a vast sum of money invested in fire. life and
other insurance and no vigilance which the
legislature can enforce should be spared TO the
end that the companies shall conform TO every
requirement Of wise and judicious law. The
great volume of underwriting in the State is
done by foreign companies, but we have con-
siderable insurance interestigrowing up in the
State and close supervision should be given to
each class. The fees paid by the insurance
companies relieve the State from all cost of
tanning the insurance department, and lay
upon the State the duty of maintaining
adequate supervision as due alike to insurer
and insured. The supervision should guar
antee to our people the best aud most reliable
insurance companies.
In this connection valuable information
could be derived by providing that the in
surance commissioner shall collect and classify
all statistics relating to fires in the State: viz,
their causes, the losses of property, separately
and in tine aggregate, the amount of insurance
written thereon, and the amount paid and the
names of the insurance companies. A pro-
vision of this kind, accurately and rigidly en-
forced, would expose the extent of three
evils over insurance, incendiarism and in
surance by unauthorized and unreliable COM
panies. These statistics would suggest various
remedial aids and the exposure of illegal prac-
tees would in large degree tend to correct
them.
PROHIBITION.
The great evils of the liquor traffic, the per-
nicious influence of the saloon upon the public
morals and the disorder and crime resulting
from intemperance have rendered restrictive
and prohibitory legislation imperatively
necessary in the opinion of a flarge majority
of tie people of the State. Both
by constitutional provision and by statutory
enactments Maine has permanently prohibited
the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors,
except for medicinal and mechanical purposes.
Long experience has demonstrated the wisdom
and advantages of this policy.
Yet like all other laws against public evils,
that against the liquor traffic has its violators,
those who wantonly disregard the interests of
the community and the authority of the State.
This renders it necessary that those entrusted
by the people with the enforcement of the laws
should be promprand faithful in the discharge
of their sworn obligations. So long as it shall
be incumbent upon me to discharge the duties
of the executive of the State it will be my
endeavor to enforce the laws with vigor and
with impartiality. To successfully discharge
my official duty in this connection it is neces-
sary that the Governor should have the earnest
and hearty aid of all other executive officers
and the active co operation of the people.
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the president Of the State Col
lege of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts
will be laid before you and commend to your
favorable consideration its various recon-
mendations. The college will be largely
aided by the benevolent legacy of the late
Governor Coburn, soon to be realized. Its
sphere of usefulness will be enlarged just in
proportion to the increase of its resources. 1t
is qualification to note that the agencies for
the advancement of agricultural information
and the improvement of agricultural practice
in Maine are second to those of no other
State in the Union. They embrace, beside the
college just alluded to, two State agri-
cultural societies, one State genealogical society
q State branch of the national agricultural ex-
pertinent station, Switchboard of agriculture,
State grange having $4,000 members thirty
seven incorporated county agricultural societies
receiving bounty from the State and many
other local organizations of a similar character
not directly aided by the State.
These agencies and organizations enlisting
the interest of county, State and National
governments show how actively and energeti-
cally the science and art of agriculture are
promoted Agriculture always has been, is
now, and perhaps always will be the
leading financial interest Of the United
States, and must always engage the most ear
nest attention of the Legislative power of the
people. l commend to I you the various
recommendations contained in the reports and
documents that will be laid before you.
call attention with special pleasure, as
directly and strongly interesting to the farmers
of the State, to the rapid reduction of State
taxation of which they have always paid SO
large proportion. The burdens have been
growing lighter for some years past, and for
the future, according to present prospects,
the taxation levied for the State government
will be lighter than the average of the other
States In the Union. With the extinction of
thelwar debt the burden will grow still lighter.
EDUCATION.
Tie Constitution of Maine declares that a
general diffusion of the advantages of educa-
ton is essential to the preservation of the
rights and liberties of the people. The system
of public schools long established in our State
is the answer of the Legislature to this consti-
tuuonal requirement. This system requires
your constant supervision and attention. The
schools should be adapted to the changes in
social conditions and the varying needs of the
people, and should at all times be kept in state
of the highest efficiency. direct your atten-
ton to the report Of the State superintendent
of schools and to the recommendations which,
in his opinion, are necessary to the highest
efficiency of education. He recommends the
abolition of the school district system which