Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-01-12

absolute safety and protection, and SO well
guarded that no suggestion Of loss or evil car
ever arise.
/ The people of Maine believe in an honest
and untrameled ballot; they believe tina,
every voter should have a free opportunity tr
cast the ballot that represents his convic
tions; and in the exercise of this right every
necessary safeguard should be thrown abou,
him. Our election laws should enable all en-.
I titled TO the right OF suffrage TO express their
| choice in the most direct manner and withou,
unnecessary delay. Nearly all the voters Of
| the state, embracing all shades of political
opinion, In exercising the right Of suffrage are
governed by political considerations. 1t is q
preference OF a political nature that they de-
sire to express, and IL Is expressed by more
than Is per cent. of our voters by casting their
ballots for the entire ticket of the party with
, which they are allied.
II so large a majority Of the voters OF the
state can express such political preference
under the existing system of voting by placing
one cross. y. upon some portion of the party
ticket, it would hardly seem advisable to re-
quire more of them The present method may
be substantially preserved. and at the same
time intelligent provision may be made for
the voter OF any political party to exercise the
privilege OF expressing his individual prefer
ence for any name or names upon his ballot,
without compelling the great body OF electors
who desire to vote their party ticket TO 20
through the unnecessary formality Of placing
cross, y, opposite the names of individual
candidates
The purity OF An election depends as much
upon An honest count upon an honest bal
lot. During times Of great political excite
ment. individual members of parties some
times distrust each other. The canvassing
and counting of the votes on election day
should be such as to inspire the greatest public
confidence. and remove all causes of suspicion.
The seyera1 r,pliftral sho 10.
sented at such count. and whatever may
necessary 10 accomplish this desired purpose
submit TO your favorable action.
| recommend the repeal OF section - of
chapter ln9 Of the public laws OF 1871. author
izing the division OF towns Of more than 4srl
Inhabitants and wards of cities into separate
and several polling places, and the appoint
ment OF additional wardens and clerks to per
form the duties OF presiding officers in such
detached voting precincts Some of its pro-
visions are of doubtful constitutionalitv and
the practical operation OF the remaining por-
tion OF the statute. at the last state election,
demonstrated that this section is entirely un-
necessary.
With our large and diversified Interests
some private and AJecial legislation will b.
found necessary. but trust you will guard II
with a vigilant hand and coniine il to its ap-
prupr ate limits. An amendment To our con-
stitution. adopted by the popular vote of the
Vide as far as practicable, by general laws for
all matters usually apiertaining 10 special or
private legislation. The legislature, from
time to time, has exercised this power in
posed upon II by the constitution. but IL has
wisely retained its authority over the orsaniz-
alton Of some corporations exercising i'm
portant franchises
A careful examination Of the laws OF lss7
1879 and 1881, discloses the fact that more than
40 pages in each volume are devoted to prIv-
ate and special legislation. and large portion
OF such legislation relates to business CORPORA
tions, for the Incorporation of which ample
provision existed under the general laws OF
the state al the time OF granting such chart
ers- The constitution clearly and unm-tak
ably prohibits the creation Of corporations by
special acts of the legislature, except for
municipal purposes IL the objects can he at
tained under the general law. We should all
constantly bear in mind this plain constitu-
tional provision. and upon all applications for
special charters, first consider and determine
whether the objects desired he attained
under the general laws Of the state.
II they can, the time OF the legislature
should not be consumed in their consldcra-
tion, nor should the general public be sub-
:ected TO the constantly increasing expense at
lending legislation of this character. II the
objects desired cannot be attained under the
general law. and are subjects OF special legs
lAtion. II will b. your pleasure 10 give the
measures full consideration. Proposed leg U.s.
latinu OF this nature should, before final
action thereon, have the careful exaninatipn
OF the Law officer of the state, and the attend
ance OF the attorney general upon the legslu-
ture at stated times during the session is de-
sirable and recommended.
In granting charters conveying special
privileges, and in some instances authorizin. 4.
the taking of private property for public usee
the greatest care should be exercised by III.
in, ,,.,.
ample provision should be made to fully com
pensate all who suffer damage by reason of
the powers granted. Special fran hises should
not he granted unless the legislature is fully
satisfied that those upon whom these special
privileges are conferred actually intend to en-
ter upon and y! oset ute the business included
! their charter. These great privileges
lot granted by the legislature 10 be held In
,beyancc. or 70 prevent Others from prosecut-
ng the business intende nor arc they granted
o be battered away. The law contemplates
hat the public interests shall bt- slh-,tycI
hat the people Shall b. more than compvn-
ntca by the re ,ulting bruehts
| recommend that existing laws BE- 50 moli-
led that all acts Of Incorporation hereafter
granted. carrying special privileges and
franchises, shall become void in two years
rom the time when the same take effect, un-
esS such corporations shall have organized
and actually commenced tie business con
tlnpIdtsSl unutr tHelr charters These char
.ercd rights involve he interests OF the people
and frequently relate to public improvements
sIthin the limits of our cities and towns. II
no progress l. made by those enjoying these
privileges within the time suggesi ed, the pub
Ic welfare requires that they shall no longer
b. permitted to enjoy this special favor OF the
state and ohstruct the public improvements
that other enterprising citizens might be will
Ing to undertaha
The right OF taxation is a sovereign power.
and it i for the government TO judge in what
manner and Il. On what subjects the authority
shall lr exercised. The fundamental idea of
taxation Is thar all property, movable and i'm
movable, vi-lbtt and invisible, shall bear its
TAR and equal proportion of the public bur
dens 1t conte.nplates a uniformity OF rate.
and that the valuation of the different classes
ol property shall be uniform Taxes are the
enforced proportional contribution of persons
and property, levied by the authority of the
state Tor the support of government and for
Ali public needs"
Our constitution provides that "all taxes
upon real and personal estate assessed by
authority OF this state, shall be apportioned
ana assessed equally, according TO the just
value thereof" The exercise of this import
ant power is subject to your discretion and
control, and it is for you TO determine upon
what subject matter taxation shall be i'm
posed, having reference, however, to a proper
exercise of the authority granted under the
constitution.
IL is important that this power shall be
wisely exercised, relieving any inequalities
that rest upon the people. You cannot expect
10 attain absolute equality: you cannot hope
In dealing with question of this magnitude,
affecting the varied interests of the people, to
command in your action unanimous approval.
Your purpose should be TO pursue policy that
shall result in placing this public charge 80
that II wlli bear, as nearly as possible, equally
upon all"
The greatest elements in the progress of our
state lie in the prosperity of its agricultural
and industrial interests Property of this
character is so situated that it cannot escape
the exactions of the tax gatherer. Though it
may not be over valued the tax is dispropor-
uonate and unequal il other property is not
contributing its just proportion OF the public
revenue. There is no subject to which you
Will more willingly give careful attention
than to these great interests that have con-
tr1buted so much to the progress, growth and
dignity of our state and in upholding its insti-
tutions.
The manifest dissatisfaction expressed during
the past few years that the railroad interests
OF the state, the wild lands, the telegraph, tele
phone and some other corporate bodies, to-
gether with large amounts of personal prop
erty, we're not bearing their equal proportion
OF the public assessments, is not without
foundation. An ADVANCE was made in the
creation Of a state board of assessors, but so
far as many of the corporate interests are in
volved, that board is without power.
The rate of taxation on railroad corporations
and on all corporations, companies or persons
doing telegraph or telephone business within
the state, is fixed by existing law. Under the
present statute, the state tax against the rail-
roads is in the form of an excise for the nrIyi.