The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-02
THE EMPIRE STATE.
Both Houses Convene and Listen to Nor
toms Message Some Things He Said.

4 Albany, N. Y, January 1.-The mes
sage OF Governor Morton which was sent
to the legislature today deals almost ex-
clusively with state questions. Upon the
Venezuelan incident he says:
The doctrine formulated by President
Monroe and which has since borne his
nam, has become so we'll established
is no room for doubt as to the opinion
of our people concerning it. New York
now has a populace nearly equal to that
of the entire union when Mr. Monroe
became President and our peculiar geo.
graphical position, the location within
and the vast and complicated commercial
interests of our state, justify us in feel
ing all especial concern in the present I'M
happy agitation. Any disturbance of the
existing friendly relations between the
United States and Great Britain cannot
fail to have a serious effect. Because of
the possible baleful consequences of such
distur bance, deem myself justified in
making this reference to the larger af
fairs OF the nation, in which we feel such
a peculiar and vital interest
II cannot believe that tile relations be-
tween our country and Great Britain
will he ruptured OF seriously impaired by
the misunderstanding now existing be-
tween that country and Venezuela con.
corning the proper boundary line of their
possessions in South America. AIbitra-
tion affords a simple, humane and honor
able method of determining national dis
putes, and it is scarcely conceivable at
this eriod OF the worlds history that
any great nation is willing to take the
responsibility of the sacrifice of human
life, and the wanton destruction of prop
erty, which wouldsb the inevitable re-
suit of an armed conflict
The Governor congratulated the people
of the state on the new commission and
their newly arranged legislature, which
are eminently fitting for the foremost
commonwealth of the union The finan
ces are in satisfactory condition.
The total receipts of the year were s21.-
1853 1853 and the balance in the treasury is
over 81, All, 600. The canals OF the state
and their management have the Govern
or's hearty approval as we'll as the expert.
ment of propeliing boats by electricity,
which he thinks will improve their ca
pacity by more than 35 per cent The
public school system has shown steady
growth and improvement, and the COM
pulsory education law has worked we'll.
The civil service law and it's wider
extension In the STATE recently Is SO sat-
isfactory that the national friends of that
movement at Washington recently gave
gratifying recognition of the fact
He praises the new ballot law, but at
the Same time suggests a few amend
ments to meet defects made manifest
at the last election. On the subject of
the exercise law the Governor recon-
mends such legislation as will measur-
ably reduce the number of places in
which Intoxicating beverages shall be
sold throughout the state Statistics
show, he says, there is a larger number
of saloons in his state in proportion of
population than in any other whose sta
tisties are available. Public opinion does
not concur in the desirability of such
distinction for our state. 1t is charged
that the present excise law is a measure
favorable to the liquor interests only.
that private property is not protected
from the aggressions of the saloon infiu-
ence and that violators of the law have
comparative immunity from the penal
ties which it prescribe
Road improvements received q liberal
share of the Governors attention, "for
outside of the manifest greatest good. to
the greatest number, still another i'm
portant though quite modern interest is
the LARGE and increasing community of
wheelmen.
Both houses of the legislature convened
at IL today. In the assembly Hamilton
Fish was electsd speaker.