The Portland daily press., 1897-01-08


points out the necessity that it bear
equally npon all kinds of property and all
classes of people. He thinks experience
has prove d that the act of the legislature
in esta blishing board of assessors and
providing for biennial valuations was q
wise one, and he compliments the asses
sors for their faithful work. The only
specific rAcomm endation he makes in
this connection is that the legislature
should Ego Slow and use great care in
ezempting property from taxation.
Tho Governor finds the finances of the
state in good condition, but he has no
doubt that we must increase the State
tax for 1897 and 1898 to two and half
mills, which is quarter of n mill higher
than last year, and must also cut down
the appropriations at least 1928, COG below
those made by the legislature two years
ago, if We would live within cur income,
but whatever reductions are made
should not, be says, be made OF the ex-
denEe of tina schools, the unfortunate or
insane. or dependent pensioners. just
where they should be made he does not
undertake to soy. 3
On the subject of schools he points out
thai while they are in fairly good con-
dition, they are nevertheless not what
they should be. He thinks the Free
High and Normal schools have done good
work. While mentioning as one OF the
claims of the friends of education that
O. I, - inc ia necessary 10
prevent the employment of incompetent
teachers he expresses no opinion as TO the
advisaIility of creating such board.
Taking uu the State institutions be
expresses Lis beliaf that the insane In
tho hospital at Augusta are as well cared
for as tie crowded condition CT the IN
s.itution permits. The attendants are
kind and the medical staff thoroughly
com petent. Ke thinks the construction
of the hos, ital at Bangor should De
pushed and that to this end the leelsia-
ture should make appropriations fer 1880
and 1887. While he does not doubt TIE
general excellence of the management
of the State pI ison, be believes the gen.
eral methods Of governing and conduct
ing should lie carefully inquired into be-
cause in tho management Of Prisons, re-
form schools aud insane hospitals noth-
ing should he taken fer granted. He IS
inclined to think that ths irrevocahle
sentence of young boys to the reform
school during their minority ought not
TO be uernittei, ard that it would be
wise to try the indefinite period. he
is of tho opinion that it will not be wise
10 encourage a further increase OF our
phiIanthl opic and humanitarian instltu-
tiop.
The Governor speaks in plimentary
terms of the militia, which he says Is
composed Of s'patriotic and intelligent
young mon, largely dependent upon their
own Efforts for success in life, ana be-
lieyes it to be. wise and prudent to retain
the present number and efficiency OF the
State guard, and that such sums as
are necessary a. reQuirea for that pur-
pose should be appropriated.
Treating of the farming and industrial
interests of the state be suggests that
solno measures should be taken for the
ms psotion and branding Of seeds to pro-
tect the farmer; he recognizes the I'm
portance of good roads, and suggests thst
some radical changes are needed IN our,
laws for the repairing and building OF
roads, but makes no reference TO the
state road com mission IDEA; be THINKS
some of the frsight rates on our railroads
are high In comparison with what our
competitors have to pay In New YORK
and the West, and that this difference
has borne severely upon our farmers ana
manufacturers. He suggests no leglsla-
ton on the subject, believing that the
railroads themselves will lemedy the
matter. sHe looks forward to revival OF
prosperity in lumLe ring and cotton and
WOODEN manufactures under new tariff
conditions.
Under the head of labor he mas good
word to say for labor organizations that
are disposed to promote by legitimate
means" the welfare tf their II emhers;
and urges the legislature to legislaie
mon gu estior invclyi, G the ersonal
liability of employers and hours OF labor
according to their unbiased judgment,
net granting legislation because it is
asked fer by employees or refusing it te-
cause it is opposed by employers.
Treating of prohibition he thinks we
should take no step backward, by which
he means that Maine should still keep
the prahibitcry law Oh the statute book.
But he does not approve tf additional
ueualties. relieving that what is needed
i, n mere ,.ctivo public sentiment in our
cities and large towns.
Tho Governor refers tn the depressed
condition Ct the shipping Industry, and
trusts that effective measures will be
taken by the national Congress to secure
legislation looking to its revival and en-
oouragemeiit Ho calls attention to the
Importance of cur fsheres and game and
commends the recommendations OF the
commissioners to the legislature.
Speaking CT our election laws he thinks
something should be done to simplify tho
present system SO that there will not he
- -, -, 1ofoctiva taJlOtc tho1oh ba cy-