Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-08
reoM Iue coveeNoe,s ADDRESS

FROM THE GOVERNORS ADDRESS,.
Below we give some extracts from the
admirable address of Governor Cleaves
to the legislature, and are sorry that we
have not space for the whole:
state Finances
The financial condition Of the State, as shown
by the excellent report OF the State Trcasureri
most gratifying. The receipts from all sources
sor the year ending December 81, S93. including
the balance In the treasury January |. lsLi
were 81. 100 sas35 The disbursements during
hat time were 81, si3 SILL The receipts for
The year ending December 81, 1884, including
the balance In the treasury January /. Iss4
were 81 rSB. eSa0l. The disbursements during
The year were 81 ,5ss, i3.i6. There was bal
,nco In the treasury on the first day of
January, 1905, OF siss,
without special reference ut this time to our
financial history md the valor and patriotism
n our people during the war for the preserya
ton IL the Union and the years that closely
followed, il win be observed that tho net
indebtedness ON the thirty-first day OF
December, 1874, after deiucting the amount
n the sinking fund, was s5r570.ss6, nearly
al ~ which was incurred for war pur-
,ose.. and which amount the an
iual interest charge WIS 1894 ,252. During the
following twenty years there was paid on this
iebt s. l65 so, reducing the bonded indebted
ness OF thc state, on the thirty first day of De-
,ember, 1891, I, s. iD8 900, and reducing the an
,ual interest charge from S9i, 252 in 1874, TO
ess than $1,000 at the present time. This cx.
,cllent financial history marks the Intelligence
md wisdom OF our people and their repre-
sentativcs
The outstanding bonds OF the state, bearing
interest at per centpm, command premium.
Our cities and towns, N making their tenn.
porary and permanent loans. are negotiating
their securities on u per centum basis, and in
many instances for less. The bonds Of the State
and Of her municipalities are among the
choicest Investments. and are in quick de-
nand. not only by our own people, but
throughout the financial ccntors 81 New Eng
and and the middle states. Tho high financial
,rciIt % our State and Of her various munich
oaliic- rests upon u permanent basis, and viii
o. secure Ia the future under the operation Of
existing constitutional provisions. limiting tho
obligations to b. incurred by the STATE AMI
placing a restraint upon the p"1ver ~ our
municipalities 60 create an Indebtedness H..
sond the limit expressed in the constitution.
{ i undi-puted that these iudcious constitu.
ional safeguards are the und riying forces
hat give W our great financial strength and
stability, and pcrinancncy in the high values
hat attach 20 our securities
Temporary Loan.
There was outstanding against the State on
H. first day Of January. is.3, u temporary loan
,, $4,000 that had existed for several years.
This loan had reached the constitutional limit
If the power OF the legislature 20 Great indebt-
snoss. except for supprcssing instruction,
rvpclling invasion or for purposes Of war. Not
lnly our financial credit, but n safe aad CON
..ryatiyc monetary policy for the future, ~
yuircd that this loan should be paid, and paid
from our r.c"ipts without increa ing State
taxation. This imperative necessity WIS upon
d.. ~ d some deserving measures, requiring
appropriations 81 money nj the last session Of
The Legislature, were compelled 10 yield 10 this
demand.
/ am pleased 10 state 20 you and the people
tina, during the past two years the entire
temporary loan ~ SsO0D has been paid from
the re,cipt- OF the treasury. In addition to
this. xlO3.3DO has been paid from the treasury
turing the timc on cur bonded indebtedness
thus reducing the state debt during tho years
lslS and is,i 50 70. and our interest charges
aot le-4 than Slt0Jl On the first day 81 Jan
lary. iS5. ~ before I'd. the un"Xpcndcd
aaanc,, in the treasury was tt,s 1885: more
.hnn suitciun, 30 meet all our outstanding cur
Nnt liabilities.
state Tax.
The Sat- tax for the year lss3 was two and
thrvs-fourths mills on dollar. Tho levy for
1884, was ON u basis 81 two and one half mills, !
making reduction in the State tax for the
past year. Of s.idA From a careful uxaminn
n our rcc,dpt' the present year. from the vari.
)us sources OF revenue outside - the direct
tax levy and YOU NAV find. as the session pro
sr,vsSes. that the necessary expenditures Of
the State government will require levy for
lSU, nearly equal 10 the reduced asses
mcnt Of last year. I can, however, safely
recommend that for tho year iSsi the state tax
b. reduced 10y You to two mills On s dollar.
On the revised valuation this rate W aid ~
lue,. tn, tax 10 b. levied for State purposes, IN
the rlt a. ard towns for 1893. SlG9,.Bl6: and {
with other receipts would still yield sufficient
revenue 10 meet all necessary requirements.
Upon this basis there viii b, tax ~ only
twenty cents on every one hundred dollars OF
the a--sss,-l valuation ~ the property OF the
state. AMI un,-half II this, under statute that
has existed for more than twenty years, will
h, devoted solely 10 school purposes. Deduct
ing this school tax which l. distri butsd % aid
In maintaining our schools, the rate 81 taxa
ton for the support " the State government
will he only ten cents on one hundred dollars;
the lowest rate of taxation for that purpose :
that has existed since Maine was admitted into
the American Un.on rs an independent state.
rhi. can easily b. accomplished and every
need 81 tine State properly provided for. II
sr adual reduction Of the State tax l. continued
by judicous legislation, 10 VIII in tho future Il
b, IA comparatively light charge upon the peo 81
pie. q
Municipal Taxation. q
The Lcgi-is,urc has imposed upon cities AMI ct
towns the necessity ~ fulfilling certain public y
duties. and has conferred upon Thorn the d
thority 60 rais.' and appropriate money there =
for Under our system OF government thy u
must construct and maintain rnais FOR the "
convenience - public travel. they must pro q
vide Tor tho-e who fall into distress and rli.yr -
llr,n from want and suffering. they must aid
m -, ahlshing aud maintaining public schools, Of
.nt! arr charged with many other important u
ulii- fr1st- Tn. welfare % society drpcnl- n
uis.n proper execution % the duties i'm y
Nd The performance ~ these oblig alton,
require, taxation. and the principal portion % .
al taxes levied upon the inhabitants OF this n
various elite. and towns IN the STATE, Is for the 81
purpcs-s Of maintaining their city ana town Al
governments, and OF fdlhlling the duties they d.
owe 10 tho public. The assessment 81 take, 20 IN
raise money - IL expended for these ncccs- q
-ary purposes, viii continue IN some forin' y q
hong the government exists.
Tho theory OF our law IL that all on itiz.ns "a
shall bear. according % their ability and N
means. Just proportion OF the burdens p,
ncc,, sAry 70 defence, for the support OF our ei
institutions and for any other pablo purpose -
IL j. recognized, that taxation does not always d
fall with perfect equality upon every citizen OF
IL will b. found difficult TO devise system VI
that in its practical operation, Will accomplish T.
this desirable result A. stated by distin u
gui b VI chief justice of the United states 81 ~
preme court: "Ab cute equality in taxation c
can never b. attained That syst IN IL bts' Il
which comes the nearest 10 it, The same rule "
cannot b. applied 10 the listing and Valuation c.
OF all kinds OF property; railroads, banks Il
partnerships, manufacturing ASSOCIATIONS ~
telegraph companies, and each one OF the o.
numerous agencies Of business which the IN al
f.ntions u the age are constantly bringing -
INTO existence. require different machinery u
for the pIrpo.e 5 OF their TAXATION" "
Before any radical Oh lngc5 shall be made ~
our methods OF valuation and taxation It wih
b. the duty OF the Legislature To give the sue u
iect the most careful and exhaustive inyestiga a,
ton, considering in advance the effect OF any m
proposed laws. II has been the policy In thr n
past, to pursue course OF legislation on TN. 10
question that would promote and advance th, m
agricultural, the industrial, the commercial ii
and mechanical interests Of the State. Apoiicy \,
that would invite capital TO aid in the develop M
ment OF our great resources, and not repei IL "A,
or drive il from Us. Let thorough investlga M
ton, deliberation and conservatism, with
due regard for the best interests OF the state, n
govern your efforts upon this topic. "a
The report OF III; State Board OF Assessors q,
calls TO Your attention the propriety OF amend q,
ing our laws relating to the taxation OF ssverai n
classes of property: OF amending the law ~ a.
lating to taxation of collateral inheritances n
and urges greater uniformity IN assessors Al
books. The Recommendations made by IN n
State Board involve no radical legislation, and I,
are in harmony with the wise policy hereto
fore pursued b. the State. "
Agriculture. v
When We consider that there are sixty-five b
thousand farms in NJ line, containing 6,o5S-5Is u