The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-14

law. The provisions of this law are
broken every day in the week by corpora
tlons that employ women and children
The duties of the factory inspector are
performed with such laxity as to warrant
the belief that he is appointed in the in
terest of the corporations rather than in
the interest of the law.
Many of the laws which have been en-
acted in this state were put through nv
the aid of ths lobby, or "third house. !" for
the sole purpose of protecting CORPORATIONS
and monopolics
As an illustration of the workings OF
the lobby in the creation Of lnonopolies,
let me refer you to a recent act of the
legislature. which prevents gas and
eiectflc light companies, organized under
the general laws, from doing business in
any Guy or town in which "a company,
person or 1lrm is already authorized to do
the same business, without the consent of
ssa!u com pany, person or firm, unless per-
legislature.
rms leads me to say that this all
powerful lobby is a menace to the welfare
OF the state and unless men are elected to
the legislature who refuse to be bribed or
caloled the stability of the government OF
our State will seriously be imperllled.
The condition of the things I have men
toned should be changed for the benefit
OF tne people. In the enactment OF laws
the greatest good to the greatest number
should always be considered.
2 In my belief, one of the most unjust
and expensive evils with which the people
OF this state are burdened is the present
Zee system, which saps the treasures Of
our counties and absorbs the greater part
of the revenue which should be derived by
county or municipality from our courts.
One has only to examine the reports of
our county Scommissioners or the records
OF our lower courts, to learn that a great
amount of money which ought to go to
the benefit of the public is diverted to the
pockets of sheriffs, deputies, police and
petty court officials. The abuses of the
fee system result in very many instances,
in persecution and extortion. l would
most heartily recommend the abolition of
the present system and the substitution
of system whereby all officers shall
receive regular and reasonable compenSa-
tion for duties performed, and all fees be
turned into the county or city treasures.
Under such system our courts would be
more than self supporting instead OF
being burden upon county or munich
pal1ty as at present.
There are many laws now on our
statute books which should be repealed or
amended. In addition to these reforms
urged in our platform let us make loud
cal for curtailnlent of expenditures in
the management of the offices of our
state. Let no more sinecures ba created
and let those now existing be blotted out.
Let the statute books be relieved of much
that they now contain and let all future
laws be enacted with view of lettering
the conditions of the common people. Let
us give allegiance to the cherished princi-
pies of the immortal jefferson among
which are, equal and exact justice to
all men,. ECONOMY in the public ex-
pendltures that labor may be lightly
burdened.' And believing that these
much to be desired reforms will never he
brought about until the Democratic party
is in the ascendency in the state and
knowing our cause to be just, let us press
on to victory.
Very truly yours
SAMUEL L. LORD, +
Saco, July 10,