Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-12
Fanss con1a1mrs.



Portland Pfess
A conclusive asswes e the charge vhich
is fri qaentiy made blythe Dsmocnfs ct
IsFG.earee - The mAnaGsmens u sA1
State s6aifs h contaised IN Cor. Bmisigh's
message. In 1863 the net bonded debt Of
he State vas o. ,l2s $40 with an annual
interest charge Of 94ss.0 To-day the
bosSed debt 10 only q, 6o2 800 81 is
interest charge ssi ,935. No such reduc-
,ion of our Indebtedness could have been
brought sbou. bad our State administrations
been reckless ard extsaysgart-
Albany Journal.
The secret ballot known - the Anstra-
Ian system which vss urged spen the Last
Ieaislasure unefsieislIy .is sxseusively rseom-
mend Ted 70 the present AAiss Legislature.
Since lsss . number Of things have hap-
pened to re- enforce the arguments Of 1883
In other American states the reform has
com. TO work veil and 10 encsmp. Il gels
the free snd snsrammesed expression
Of the voters true invsfdsess, which
our present system confessedly fails
70 secure. Governor Bsrieigh. bee
lieses ia The cad, and he sees this
means to the ED. This is not party
earstion. lie ~bo thinks his psrty will
suffsr by getting At 10 honest voting jat-
menf, must possess contemps for his osn
opinions. II re though that the Austfsll-
an ballot would injere the Repnblicsn par
ty we should confess want OF faith in its
principles, or ws should diseSedit the
instincts Of political honesty, justice and
progress, which are fundamental reason
for having free self-goysrninx republics -
8 substitute for the .'s ffste monarchies" in
when we we're nationally sprouted. We
ara willing to trust the people; be; the
political strikers are the untAm-d baciIli Of
rational distruss. The Australian ballot
o. st. On throws out Of employ ment the worse
than supsrfaous persons Of politics; it Is
kindred TO reform 10 the civil service which
has come TO stay and TO ex'end. The
Australian ballot is both reform and econ-
omy. lite direct tax 10 small; its indirect
REDEEM p,ion from tax is one Of the sound.
est reasons for having il operative.
bah Enterprise.
10 regard 10 revision of the tax laws.
Governor Burieigh properly iosists that
full. uuiform and frequent valuation is es-
sential to adequate reform OF the system
and he advises biennial valuation by 3
non partisan State Board of Assessors. He
clearly points out the faaltiness of the de-
eennisl valuations and truly Gays that jus
tice to all can been done only by . FREE
quent adjustment Of values, which are con-
tinuslly changing. His suggestion is per-
tinent that special committee should BE-
appointed TO consiner this important sub
ject.
Lewiston Journal.
One Of the questions which must be sub
mitted to the afbltrament of statistics is the
question Of an equilibrium between the
burdens of taxation of cities and farming
d striets in Maine. The Governor in his
me sssge in substance remarks that the
mill tax for schools in some degree
is sacrifice cheerfuliy offered to the
old red school house by the dwellers in
Maine cities, who remember the spanking
times they used to have in the district
school. Hence, his Excel.ency remarks
that the good time coming in tax reform ss
between country and city, is 10 be sought
more in the study Of municipal than Of Stale
taxation. The Governors remark appears
to be intrenched in solid fof.fcstion of
fact. We shall hereafter have occasion TO
study statistics bearing hereupon.
Portland Press
After listening to Gov. Burleigh's excel
lent address the legislature ad burned until
next Tuesasy to give The presiding officers
time to make up the committees. Next
week 1t will get down TO business. IL is to
be hoped that no time will be- wasted at this
session in legislating in regard 10 crows and
wo0dchaekers. There sre weighty matters
that demand attention.
Hallowell Register
Governor Burieigh's address, Ike al! his
public documents, is clear. concise and
straight to timely points. He makes &
strong point Of the States high financial
credit, aud the liberal sums paid the cities
and towns for school purposes. Oftsxation
burdens, the Governor believes that the
chief comes from municipal and no. State
taxes
Biddsford STANDARD.
Governor Burleigh's message to the
present Legislature is an able and sensible
document and one that the people of the
State, of all politics and creeds can peruse
with pleasure aud profit.
New York Sun.
The more important issues discussed are
ballot reform and prohibition. As to the
ballot the Governor says tha. he is firmly
convinced that the time has come for Maine
to adop. the Australian system of voting
The message is strong prohibition docu
ment.