Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-06
THE ADDRESS.
Governor Powers Second In
auguraI Message.
Words Of Weight on The States Con-
ditions and Issues.
An Able Document That Every Maine Citizen
Should Read.

Tho following is the full text of the
Inaugural address of Governor Powers.
ra,d before the Goth Maine Legislature.
Thursday noon
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives..
We exchange congratulations on the
4 threshold of this new year. as we ap-
,roach The termination OF the century,
with convincing eveidence on every hand
that our state is moving forward on
the highway of present and future prog
ress. prosperity and industrial develop
ment.
The clouds of war which for a time
Aarkenea the skies during the past year
4 lave rolled away, and we are fortunately
relieved from all future or further anx-
iety on this account.
This legislature will mark the COM
pletion OF the Srandest century the
world ever knew. a retrospection of the
18th century furnishes us a valuable
guide for the present. hope and inspra
lion for the future.
1t is our first duty to rightly value the
possibilities of the state we nlhabit. and
whose people have called and chosen you
to egisiate for them. This will enable us
10 discover and open paths to new en-
terplises and beneficial industries. The
+ past seasons have brought us abundant
harvests our mills and factories are
very generally in active operation. La
lJr is re,nunerativeiy employed through
out our borders. The disagreement or
misunderstanding between employers
and employed that prevailed for time
in two Of our cities has been amicably
and finally settled. Our people enjoy
in a marked degree. the blessings of
plenty, of health, of individual liberty
and personal security. Peace has once
more returned to rule and bless our stSte
and nation. We have every reason to
predict. with implicit confidence, the es-
Enlistment in our state before long of
many more and some new industries of
great value To our people. And it Is my
deliberate Judgment that the action of
this legislature may and will have far
reaching effect upon that future prog
ress and growth.
We have been remarkably free from
contagious diseases, except the typhoid
fever contracted by our soldiers in the
Chickamauga camp. We are undoubt-
eddy largely indebted for this immunity
10 the regulations and care of our state
board Of health, and especially to its
eficieEt ard learned secretary DIR. Young,
WIZ 80 I;L.LHlully ana tiltCtiNSls dtN otcS
his whole tirne to sanitation, and to a
thorough Understanding of the best
known methods for control and prevent
ing all diseases and epidernics.
On Saturday evening. Nov. 26. 1898. one
of the seTerest and most destructive
gales or bliZzards of which we have any
account. accompanied by binding snow,
visited our New England coast. 1t
caused an unprecedented loss of life and
property. Wrecking many vessels and
some steamers that were caught in its
path. and it brought sorrow. misfortune
and death TO large number of families
and homes. No calamity of this kind. so
terrible and distressing, has, | think,
ever visited our shores before.
Among those who persisted on the i'll
fated steamer. Portland was the Hon. f..
Dudley Freeman of Yarmouth. member
and president OF the executive council.
gentleman of splendid and rare attain
ments, genial upright. faithful and con-
scientous in the performance of every
public and private duty. His sudden
death. in the prime of manhood and in
the midst of his honorable career and
useful labors was a severe blow to his
grief-s;ricken family, and an almost
1rreparable loss to the state.
1t is the imperative constitutional duty
\ of the governor from time to time to
give the legislature Information of the
condition OF the state and recommend
TO their consideration such measures as
+ ne may judge eXpedient' In this my
endeavor to comply with that require
faent and tn perform that duty. desire
TO call Your attention To few at least.
VI the macy important measures which
VIII come befG;e you To be wisely ana
Nnpartlally considered and determined.
The always important and vital CUES
4 tons of taxation and revenue upon the
one hand, ana Of expenditures or appro-
rrlauons upon the other. are very large
~ within your province, and demand
unbiased and careful Judgment at Eoui
hands. The last legislature increased
the rate of direct taxation for state pur-
poses to two and three-fourths mills on
the dollar. This increase of rate and the
largely raised valuations which the state
assessors have, in the exercise of theii
Judgment. placed n3oa property, have
caused the state tax 20 be somewhat
onerous in amount and perhaps burden
some TO certain towns and cities.
] am confident that il will not be wise
u add TO il, and also, that by the eNer-
else OF strict eccnomy--not pa.simon:--
You Will find that it is not necessary t.
DO so; FOR | earnestly believe, and would
impress upon you, the truth that the
same principles of economy. discrimira-
tlon and care should be applied to al
state expenditures that the prudent
business man would use in conducting
ms own affairs.
ma also, from an examination OF
the methods and processes of taxation
IN other states that here are only thres
or FOUR at most. in the Union where The
rate is as large as in Maine. while IL
several states there is nosdireCt taxation
AZ All. II. however. you should find thai
am not correct, and that some mort
revenue is absolutely needed than can b.
realized under existing laws. l think il
WIN be both just and advisable to seel
other sources from which to raise i
rather than increase the rate of direc
taxation.
ana in this connection l will repea
substantially what said in my address
10 the last legislature. that all legisla
.ioh exempting property from taxation
IS generally unwise and has tendenc,
10 work favoritism and injustice. II
exempt and therefore fail to tax is sim
ply 10 add so much more to that which i
i ahciuoed in the list. and very often thi
doditional burden is placed upon prop
srty ana persons that can i'll afford t.
pear It, Hence, l always contend. and
no most earnestly insist. that both RICH
ma Justice demand that all citizens an,