The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-01-07
BIXBY & BUCK,
skowhegan and Bingham.

l think that you in your judgment Win
decide that it should be repealed
The question OF the right of the citizen
to other or better serYtces-or to any ser
vice at all-should not be determined by
some interested person or corporation
that has first attempted to occupy the
grounG. IL snoulu be decided by some
impartial tribunal, where the demands OF
the people shall be heard and respected
The public should not be compelled TO
wait, perhaps for the space of two years.
before they can have an opportunity for
a hearing In many cases. no matter how
urgent.
/ would not. however advocate inter
ferng with or impairtng vested rights
where the general public are receiving
such services as they have right to ex-
pect
No corporation should be organized or
charter granted merely as a menace 10
some enterprise already established.
/ think that tie Legislature acted wisely
in providing that. i'll all cases where 1t Is
sought to parallel existing lines of rail-
road by organizing an electric railroad
system unuer The general law, that It
should not be done, unless the railroad
commissioners determine that public con-
yenence and necessity require 1t.
We should encourage investments In our
State by assurance of protection in the
use and enjoyment of all franchises
against unnecessary competition, SO long
as the pubic are well and faithfully
served. But the right of the people to
good services Al a reasonable price should
be more sacred than the claims of any
monopoly or corporation.
There is, also. / appcehend. a tendency
toward too much public legislation. Not
every proposed change in our statutes Is
necessarily an Improvement; and the bur
den should be upon those who ask for
them to show their necessity and wis
dom
1t is better to be conservative rather
than to try doubtful experiments. A peo-
pie IS not always governed best that Is
stances it is not of so much Importance
what the La is as that il be and remain
settled so that the people can govern
themselves accordingly, with a fixed
knowledge of its requirements and of
their rights and duties.
STATE AUDITOR.
awse received several communications
from Ssn who have had large experience
in our states affairs, setting forth the
necessity of creating the office of State
auditor. and also declaring that the State
would make large saving by so doing.
l believe that most states have estab-
lished the ofiee and have n state auditor,
whose special ~ Is to audit all ac-
counts and claims. and draw his warrants
upon the state treasury for the amounts
Section / of Article > of the Constitution
provides that the Governor and Council
shall draw all warrants of this kind. 1t
would seem to me that if 1t is desirable
to create this office. and establish an
other bureau, that it might be necessary
to submit to the people an amendment to
the Constitution, In which case we should
be able To get an expression Of their views
| know full we'll that when ap office or
department is once fastened hpon the
State it is almost impossible To get rid
of 1t, though it may have outliVed it's use
fulness and every purpose for which II
WAS originally created. The ineumbentS.
present or PROSPECTIVE. never IAN to De
tinuance, YET this should NOT deter us
from doing what Is absolutely essential to
better protect the treasury of the State.
But ! must express here and now my sin
cere belief that both good policy, good
politics and strict economy, Enthusiastically
declare that in this time of general de
pression-this Legislature so largely Re
publican, should not-eXcept for urgent
reasonS-create "A new Stat office or COM
mission. or increase the salary OF any now
In existence.
The Constitution of our State declares
that the Governor shall from time to
time give the Legislature information OF
the condition of the State. and recon-
mend to their consideration such meas
ures as he may judge eNpedient.' In this
my endcavor to perform that duty have
briefly called your attention to few OF
the many subjects upon which 1t will DO
your province to deliberate and act There
are many other important, varied, and
sometimes conflicting interests of the peo-
pie which will necessarily demand your
impartial consideration.
| may, In the course of this session.
should | deem it advisable. communicate
to you further suggestions.
A spirit of fairness and impartiality and
an earnest purpose to accomplish the
greatest attainable good for all. rather
than to especially benefit any one sec
ton, locality or class Of persons, should
guide and control your deliberations.
dominate and determine your votes.
Gentlemen, in conclusion let me in
dulge In the hope and belief, that your
assembling here will be pleasant to your
selves. profitable to the State, and that
the associations and friendships here
formed will he lasting, and among the
bright memories of our lives, never to be
forgotten or regretted.
LLEWELLYN POWERS.