The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-01-15

wrought IN Maine. Bnt there Sui re-
mains much 70 be done IN 20 educating
public sentiment that 1t shall everywhere
insist upon the faithful enforcement Of
the laws. Maine stands, by the emphatic
declaration OF her citizens, In the very
van Of temperance state. In keeping
her there, the friends Of prohibition must
spare no snJrt or shrink from no respon-
sibility.
BALLOT REYoRN.
| ! AIN firmly convinced that the time ha-
come for Maine to adopt the Australian
system of voting. Two years ago this
method Of bsllJting was largely viewed
In the light Of a doubtful Innovation.
Many members Of the Legislature Eel,
that the results which had followed IL
adoption by q few states Of the Union
were too meagre to furnish a proper
basis for action in this State, especislly
as they were achieved under the tempOra.
ry disadvantages naturally Attendant up
on the Introduction of new law effect
irg such important changes.
There is no longer reason for this con
servatism. The Australian system OF
voting has safely passed its experimental
era In this country. It's wisdom has been
clearly established. To day 1t 10 the Law
|
the Union. and there is reason TO be lieve
that the time is not far distant when its
adoption will become general.
1t is the sacred duty of popular gov.
ernment to maintain, In every possible
way, the purity of the ballot. The near.
er our elections come to fairly registering
the personal convictions of each iud,vid.
ual voter the closer will they conform to
the true spirit of our institutions. 1t Is
the concurrent testimony Of those states
which have made trial of 1t, that the
Australian ballot system comes nearer
securing this desirable result than any
other yet devised. There is no reason tc
doubt that, under its wholesome opera.
ton, intimidation and bribery will be
practically unable to influence elections
and voters will be freed from unpleasant
espionage at the polls. Another benefit
that will accrue from the adoption of this
system of voting will be found in the
powerful incentive given political par
ties to nominate honest and capable can
didates. The subject is one that calls
for careful thought, and commend it 20
your earnest consideration.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Our system of public instruction In
cludes three separate and yet related
groups of schools. vlz.-the Comm 10
Schools, the Free High Schools and the
Normal Schools. For the support of
these three groups during the last year,
there have been expended the following
SUMS
| For Common Schools, stIr4g67.oc
/" + rec High Schools, ii. s44.oc
| Normal schools, $4,000 g
Making total OF Si,163 $1,000
Financially considered, therefore, this
system is among the most important in
,erests of the State. Considered with
regard to the purposes which 1t is set to
subserve-the training of intelligent, viz
tuous, order-loving and law abiding citi-
zens, it is one of the paramount interests
of the State. Such a system may rightly
demand our most careful, constan. and
intelligent consideration.
| While the statistics and statements of
the report of the State Superintendent
of Common Schools how the Free High
and Normal Schools to be in most pros
porous and satisfactory condition. they
do not show as much for the more i'm
portant Common Schools. These latter,
the support of which is compulsory by
law in every town in the State and at
tendance upon which is also compulsory,
should be so organized and managed as
to give every child In every town equal
privileges; to impose equal burdens for
their maintenance; to be in the highest
practicable degree efficient for the ends
for which they were established, and tC
be least wasteful of public moneys. Il
is claimed by the Supintendent that tn,
system, prevailing in nearly three-fourth
of our towns, is defective in all thes
particulars, aud he recommends that, Il
remedy these defects, law be enacte'
abolshing the school districts and givin.
the entire management of the schools T.
committees consisting of three or NOR
members, according to size of town
oespeak for these important matters you
most considerable action.
ENLARGEMENT OF STATE House.
The report of the Commission on en-
'argement of the State House will soon b
| laid before you. The extension is con
: structed throughout sccording to To
most approved methods Of flre-proof arc
itecture. 1t is important that an appro
: priation to properly furnish n may b
t made at an early day. ! am OF the opiu
ion that sufficient sum OF money shoul
| also be appropriated to make the Oh
State House fire proof, and put i, int
condition to properly correspond with tn
new extension. l commend the subject t
your favorable consideration.
2 During the year that has Just drawn t
} close. Hon. Lewis Barker membe
the Commission. has passed away n
= man took deeper interest and pride il
its work than he. To his sound judge
' ment and practical grasp of affairs is due
/ n yyh ~
= success has attended is efforts. MI
e Barker served his State in many honors
BILE positions and always with conspicuou
faithfulness and ability. His memory Wi
be tenderly cherished.
q THE STATE LIBRARY
a Now that the State Library will soon /
= moved to its more convenient quarters j
= the new extension, believe that the tim
d has come to unlock, and render immed
g ately available, all its vast treasures of il
r information, by the adoption of the car
0 system of cataloguine used 10 most Of IL
4 larger libraries of the county. | am col
8 WINGED that by the adoption of this sy
e tenn the practical utility Of the LihraI
I would be enhanced fifty per cent In a
n address sent out by the Association
e State Librarians, an organization forme
: at st. Louis in May, 1889, the function
r of state library were thus suceintly ST
ted: "A state library should not only |
a complete reference library for all brancl
es of the government, executive, jud cit
and legislative, and the repository Of a
materials for local history and biograph,
but it should also contain and furnish
bundant facilities for using all desirsbl
books of information relating TO specis
| n In At ri nf tat ,
calculated to lead to the introduction O
industries and pursuits suited to it. bu
hitherto neglected. In short, it shout
be fit. to serve all interests of the stat
by infusing into their conduct the high
est intelligence and skill"
With the card system OF crtaloguing,
library conducted upon these lines ma
be made of great value TO the State. Tn
introduction Of this system into a lbrar,
containing 10000 volumes, will, neoessar
lily, involve vast amount Of work ant
considerable additional expense, but, one
established, more cards can be placed IL
the alphabetical cabinets, as new book
are added to the library and thus the cat
alogue be, at oil times complete indie,
| of its contents. recommend that an al
ditional appropriation be made for til.
temporary employment OF extra help, spec
lally skilled and experienced in this meth
cd OF challenging, and for the purchase o
such cabinets and other material as ma,
be necessary to its adoption.
The STATE MILITIA.
A gratifying advance has been mad,
during the past few years In the character
and efficiency of the State Militia, Both
officers aud men have worked with com.
mendable zeal for the improvement of the
service. At the annual muster in July
last, the State was honored by visit from
Hon. Redheld Proctor, Secretary Of War