The Portland daily press., 1899-01-06
GOV. POWERS ADDRESS.

We exchange congrRt, Jations on the
threshold Of this new year as we APP
proach the termination OF the century,
with convincing eveidence on every hand
that our state is moving forward on
the highway of present ana future prog
ress. prosperity and industrial develop
ment.
The clouds of war which for a time
darkened the skies during the past year
have 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 grandest century the
world ever knew. A retrospectlon OF the
18th century furnishes us a valuable
guide for the present, hope and inspira-
ton for the future.
It is our first duty to rightly value the
possibilities of the state We inhabit, and
whose people have called and chosen you
TO legislate for them. This will enable US
to discover and open paths to new en-
terprises and beneficial industries. The
past seasons have brought us abundant
harvests. Our mills and factories are
very generally in active operation. La
Dor is remuneratively 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 state
and nation. We have every reason TO
predict, with implicit confidence, the es-
Establishment in our state before long OF
many more and some new industries OF
great value to our people. And II is my
deliberate judgment that the actlon OF
this Legislature may and will have tar-
reaching effect upon that future prog
ress and growth.
We have been remarkably free from
contagious diseases. except the typholo
fever contracted by our soldiers in the
Chickamauga camp. We are undoubt-
edly largely indebted for this immunity
to the regulations and care OF our state
board of health and especially TO It's
efficient and learned secretary, Dr Dung,
who so faithfully and effectively deVotes
his whole time TO sanitation. ana 10
thorough understanding of the best
known methods for control and prevent
ing all diseases and epidemics.
On Saturday evening. Nov. 20. 1898. one
OF the severest and most destructive
gales or billiards of which We have any
account, accompanied by binding snow,
visited our New England coast. IL
caused an unprecedented loss of life ana
property. wrecktng many vessels and
some steamers that were caught in It's
path, and it brought sorrow, misfortune
and death to a large number of families
and homes No calamity of this KIND, so
terrible and distressing, has, l think,
ever visited our shores before.
Among those who persisted on the ILL
fated steamer Portland was the Hon. IL.
Dudley Freeman of Yarmouth. member
and president of the executive council;
a gentleman of splendid and rare attain
ments, genial, upright, faithful and cor
scientious in the performance OF every
public and private duty. His sudden
death, in the prime of manhood and
the midst of his honorable career and
useful labors, was a severe blow TO his
grief-stricken family. and an almost
lrrepara BILE loss to the state.
IT 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
he may judge eXpedient.' In this my
sndeavor to comply with that require
ment, and To perform that duty, desire
to call your attention to few. at least,
Of the many important measures which
will come before you to he wisely and
lmpartially considered and determined.
The always important and vital ques-
tons of taxation and revenue upon the
one hand, and of expenditures or appro-
pria tions upon the other, are very large
ly within your province, and demand
unbiased and careful judgment at your
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 their
Judgment, placed upon property, have
caused the state tax to be somewhat
onerous in amount. and perhaps burden
some TO certain towns and cities.
l am confident that it will not be wise
to add to 1t, and also. that by the eXer-
else of strict economy-not parsimony-
you will find that it is not necessary TO
do 80: for / earnestly believe, and would
impress upon you, the truth that the
same principles of economy, diScrimina-
ton and care should be applied to all
state expenditures that the prudent
his own affairs.
l find also, from an examination of
the methods and processes of taxation
in other states that here are only three
or four. at most, In the Union where the
rate is as large as in Maine, while in
several states there is no direct taxation
at all. If. however, you should find that
all llOL COiISCtt anu lItll sumo injury
revenue is absolutely needed than can be
realized under existing laws, / think 1t
will be loo. h Just and advisable to seek
other sources from which to raise it
rather than Increase the rate of direct
taxation.
And in this connection 1 will repeat
substantially what said in my address
10 the last Legislature. that all leglsla-
ton exempting property from taxation
Is generally unwise, and has a tendency
10 work favoritism and injustice. To
exempt, and therefore fail to tax, is sim
ply to add so much more to that which is
Included in the list. and very often this
additional burden is placed upon prop
prty and persons that can i'll afford to
bear it Hence. l always contend, and
DO most earnestly insist, that both right
and justice demand that all citizens and
all property of the state of every kind
and description should bear their and
Its equitable share of the public bur
dens. and that any person that is not
willing to do his part and desires that
Maine shall in any sense. or to any class
BE- a "tax-dodgers' paradise, land threat
ms to emigrate in case he cannot shift
ais just taxes upon his neighbor is not a
dos 10 ,if nd nrfa it,lx Z 10