Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-09-08

But il must not be forgotten, in conSid
ering the question of State expenditures,
that four new departments of State have
been established in the last decadc-all of
them in the direct. and, it seems to me. Vi
tai interests of the people. The first of
these is the Labor Bureau u department
established in the interests of the working
men and women of onr State, in all the de
partmen,S of its industry. ndcr the very
able direction of Commissioner Mat
thews this department has already
accomplished vast work of good
and its sphere of usefulness is annual
" increasing. Will Mr.. Johnson please
inform the workingmcn and women
of Maine-the producers of our State,
whether he fayors the abolition of this de-
partment established in their interests:
Another of our new departments is the
State Board of Health.
The work of fins board has been too ap-
parent to intelligent and observing citizens
to require any summarizing here tonight.
Never in its history has Maine enjoyed
so great freedom from contagious diseases as
It has since the establishment of this
department. Several years ago across the
Canadian border the terrible scourge of
smallpox was killing thousands of people.
The great lines of traffic and travel,
connecting rs with the Bominions left Us
peculiarly exposed to contagion ts a mat
ter of fact Individual cases of tins dread
disease dil occur in various parts of Maine
hut 81 prompt was the action of the board
of health in isplating them. and 80 thorough
was the quarantine maintained that all
spread Of the disease was stayed and
Maine saved from the terrible evils of this
scourge. In view of the expensiveness ot
sickness from every point of view what
man ia Maine will undertake to estimate
the money value of this one work to the
people of Maine. tnd vet, my friends,
this Is bnt an inciient in the busy life Of
llis department II we're to tell You all
the good it has done for the people OF
our State I shonIi talk of nothing else this
evening. Already it is actively at WORK
taking precautions against any possible
spread within the borders of our State OF
the Asiatic cholera which has lately obtained
a iodgmept in New York. It costs money
to run this department as it does others
but would like to have Mr. johnson in
form the people of Maine whether or not he
favors its abolition.
The Board of Agriculture has alsn been
created State department, With quarter
at the Capitol and with AZ
increased Appropriation for carving on it'
farmers institutes. The scope of its wort
has also heen sufficiently enlarged to re-
qnre the services of clerk in addition fc
the secretary of the board. This actor
y n taken at the earnest solicitation of the
farmers of the State. irrespective of party
( 4 k.Y ~ al, Il ..
learn whether Mr.. johnson fsYors doinl
away with the department nov IN charge o
Mr.. Nckeen a practical. progressive far
rner and one of the ablest secretaries o
this board that Maine has ever had. Their
I IL good reason to believe that he does fo
/ the last Democratic Legislature, in 1872
| passed law ito prohibit the payment o
any money from the treasury of the stat
| for agricultural purposes" which prac'i
eally accomplished just that result.
I The fourth and last Of the new Dc
/ tartments of State, ereate'
during the decade. is the Board of Stat
! Assessors. This was established in re
sponse to general demand of the taxpay
ers of the State and especially its farmers
| 1t woul,l be Interesting to know whethe
! Mr. johnson Is or is not, in favor Of II
continuance.
SO much nv friends. for the new Stat
departments. To he sure, it costs the Stat
something 10 support them. but do no
believe that it could afford to be withot
one of them Certainly. no one can justi
i claim that the salaries Of their officials al
exsrbitant As matter of fact. we pa
no high salaries in Maine, and our offieia
! EContinaed on eth page.