Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-06

II 20 large majority Of the vuser< 81 tiss
state can eA PRESS such political preferae~
under the existing system 1T voting py Placing i
one cross, x. u,on spsne portion Of sile parry |
ticket. IL woai hardly ssivisshle 70 ne
Quife 81 fsena. The pres a tEctttesz may
Be- substantially preserved. and AZ The same
time Intelligent trsss isiar may se made far |
the rotor Of sns political earty tprxereise ths
privilege nf exercising his intiisbitai prefer
enee for aay ns,sse ur names nrsn his sstliaf. |
Without compelling che great 5sis Ut sierisrs
wiz, s.esiYv 10 vote their party tifkst 20 go |
through The unnecessary Formally Of piseiHs |
y rrD--- y opls,eiie tie Hatnrs OF indissssai /
candidates.
The purity OF an eiestfan ser~atss g. much +.
upon an Asbest eeunt ~ ulssa an hpsess bat- I
lof- Daring Times Of grrst political excite |
n.ens. individual rlenslsrs Of PARTIES snine-
times distrust each e'esr Ies cansaSsssS /
aud counting Of the VOTES on election isas
should BE- such Ia inspire The greatest fsasie
canaenee. and remove all csssss- ~ siisrtetss'
This several pnilfseai parties seas t* reprs-
sef,fsd af snrh ennnt. sfi whatever n1sy I
necessary 10 accomplish this desired purpose |
l submit to seur favorable action
reeofoinend the rrpa' Of scethn - 81
chapter TX OF the pnDiie laws OF is't. aHtier-
izing tie division OF townS OF mcre than esn /
inhabitants and wards OF eitire into separate
and seserai polling places and the aptstht- !
incnt Of additional warsieii- ana clerks 70 per-
form tbs DATES OF pfesiaing eficers IN s;.eh |
detached voting precincts. scItis q. Us Irs- |
visions are Of doubtful cntstifnieoaaiits. and |
the prx teal operation of Tire remaining pr
tiots Of he statute, az the isst state election
demonstrated thai tbs section Il entirely ah-
necessary.
With our large aad atversi'issi Interests
some private and sfeeiai legislation MIR b.
found nsess-ss;Y- but .rlSi tois viii susrd 4
with avisslant hand and cpa'ine II to It's APP
prui,r ias. sas;S. An amendment 10 car eo'i-
situation. a.iaitesi BY the Popular vote OF The
peoplr in lsia required the Legislature to pro-
yids. AS far a. pfsetaeshie hs general laws Tor
all matters usually apperiaining 10 special or
private legislation The legislature, from
time To time, has exercised this rover I'M
posed upon II hN the constitution pat " has
wisely retained lie authority over the orahiz-
alton of some corporations exercising i'm
portant Franchises
4 careful examination OF the laws OF 1857,
iss' and l-'a. dtscloses the fact thai more than
40 pages III eaeh voiume are devoted TO priv
ate AMI sfsctn' legislation, and large portion
Of such legislation relates 70 business corpora
lions. for the incorporation OF which ample
provision existed under tie general laws of
the state AT the time uf granting such chart
ers. The constitution clearly and unmietak-
ably prohibits the creation II corporations by
-ieeia. acts ni the legislature. except for
municipal purposes. If the objects can be at
aimed under the general law. We should all
constantly hear in mind this plain constitu-
tiohal provision, and upon MI applications for
,lccisl charters. first consider and determine
whether the objects desired can bc attained
under the general laws OF the state.
II they can, the. time OF the legislature
should s,ut be consumed in their considera-
ion. nor should the general public be sub
cc,ed TO the constantly increasing expense at
Tending legislation of this character. II the
objects desired cannot be attained under the
general Law. AID are subjects of special iegis-
fali n vii he Ia q he
measures fi.ll consideration Proposed legis-
iaiion Of this nature should. before final
action thereon. have The careful examination
OF the law officer OF the state. and the attend
suce If the attorney general upon the legisla-
ture at stated times during the session is de-
,irabie and recommended
In granting charters conveying special
privileges. and ia some instances authorizing
The taking of private property for public uses
the greatest care should be exercised by the
legislature in protecting public interests. and
ample provision should be made to fully COM
enstte all who suffer damage by reason Of
he pnwers granted. Special franchises should
not be granted unless the Legislature is flllv
satisfied that those upon whom these special
privileges are conferred actually intend to en-
Ter upon and prosecute the business included
their charter. These great privileges ase
lot granted ~ the legislature TO be held in
thcyance. or 10 prevent Others from prosecute
ny the business intendei NOR are they granted
be birtered away. The law contemplaiss
hat the public interests shall h, sIhseryed,
hat the people shall be more than coEpen-
ateu by the re- iB.s benefits.
recommend thar existing laws b. 70 modi-
led that all acts of Incorporation hereafter
granted. carrying special privileges and
ranci4iscs, shall become void in two years
ram the ttnS wllgn the ;.unc take effect. nr-
ess snch corporal ioEa shall have organized
md actually commenced the business CON
tGInplated under their charters. ThcSc char
tered rights .yolvc he interest, 81 the gcope
tud frequently relate 10 ll'blic improvements
Within Lie iilEil-, Of nnr cities naa towns. II
10 progress = niaae by tliosT "ajuying these
privileges Within the time suggested. the pub
lie welfare req'ire- that they shall no longer
Je permitted to enjoy this spe, ai favor Of the
-ate and nnstruct The public improvements
that OF her cn,srpriSin. citizens might be- will
ne ia undertake.
The rs.h; Of iaxation IA a sovereign power,
ind II * for the government 10 judge in what
manner and upon what suhjcrts tho arthur,ty
.hall he exercised. The Fundamental idea II
taxation * that all property. movable aid inn
movable visible aiii! Invisible. shall bear its
fair and equal proportion Of The pn1iic bur
lens. 1t contemplate, uniformity Of rate,
tB't that the valuation OF the different classes
II property shall be uniform. Taxes are tho
'Afnrccd proportional contribution Of persons
md property. levied by the authority Of the
'tair for the support OF government and for
al public needs
Our constitution ,,rr,.iies that ..aiI t,ves
Upon real and per-nai estate as csSed by
authority Of this state. shall be airport ipncd
md assessed equally, aceortiitt. to the Just
alue thereof" The exercise. OF this import.
| mt power is subject to your discretion and
control and il is for you To determine its.rD
what subject matter taxation shall lir i'm
posed. hpvin. reference however. e, a proper
| exercise III The authority granted under The
psti inf
l II il important that this power shall lie
! wisely exercised. relic, ing any Iuefuait;ies
that r,-t upon the people You cannot expect
to attain absolute, o.fuaIitY. you rnnn.t hnt.
in dealing with question of Has magnitude
affecting the varied Interests IF the I.,spie to
command In your action ununin,,sus anprpsat
Your purpose should he t., pnrsi,o a pnIiey that
l -lail result ir placing this public charge $50
that il will hear s ncarl, x ,,,,.sihl, c,,r,i,,
l upon stI-'
The greatest element. in the nr,r,rrs- nf ,ur
| -iafp lie In the prosperity of H., nrricultura,
| and Industrial interests. Proucrty Of this
character i 50 situated that il e,nIlns escape
! the eSactioas Of the tax caterer Though it
| may not be over valued the tax is disprepor-
/ tionat,. and uncounl il other rlrourrty i. MT
| contributing il just proportion Of The public
| revenue. Their i no -utjsc, Ia wbicI, yol
| will more willingly give careful attention
| than Ia these ..,,t intepss,s MAJ haze con.
| ribu,esi 50 much 10 The progress. growth and
dignity of ou state and in uphodi,ts its insti-
| utiuns
| sianife<. iissaiis fact ion EXPRESSED during
the past few wear, that th., railroad inte;7.st
u he state the Wild Lands The toie,rant ,aae-
| ,s,oue al,,l sotue other corpuyai, boriie. To-
| -etier " th large amounts Of PERSONAL iron.
| sriy, Were not hearing their e,rlal prniort ion
| # the public assessments. i not without
foundation An ADVANCE y.nS rnade in the
| CREATION ,,r N IT, t,,...i -. .- =. =