The Somerset reporter., 1899-01-05
THE MESSAGE
Delivered before the Maine Leg
islature by Gov. Powers.

ientleHleD OF the 'oeIdie anu Rouse Oh
| Representatives
| We exchange congratulations on the
| threshold of this new year. as we APP
preach the termination of the century,
with convincing eYeidence 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 time
sarkened the skies during the past year
| AVE 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 retrospection of the
| 18th century furnishes us a valuable
guide for the present. hope and inspira
| ton for the future.
| 1t is our first duty to rightly value the
| possibilities of the state we inha bit. and
| whose people have called and chosen you
to egislate 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 CUR mills and factories are
very generally in active operation La
Dor is remunerst tive Y employed through
| out our borders. The disa greement or
| misunderstanding between employers
and employed, that prevailed for a time
| in TWO Of our cities has been amicably
ard InallV settled. our people enjoy,
| in a marked degree. the blessings of
| plenty OF health. of Individual liberty
ana personal security. Peace has once
more returned 10 rule and bless our state
and nathan We have every reason to
| nradict with iniplictt condolences the es-
- i.nn5ent N aslr state before long of
| many more ard some new industries of
| rreat val,1e IN nur people And II Is nv
| deliberate Indictment that the action of
| tbis lnoietat,,rs may and will have a far
reachin, effect upon that future prog
| ress ana Growth.
| We have been remarkably free from
| contagious d 4eases eXcept the typhoid
fever contracted by our soldiers in the
| Chicllansanro eanp. We are undoubt-
edly largely indebted for this immunity
| IN Tho ,s,stliat ans ard care of our state
| hoard of baalfh and especially to its
| ancient nd learned = cretarI DIR Young
who so faithful. Eqand effectively devotes
his whole time % sanitation. and to a
| thoro,Iph understanding Of the best
| known rnetboas on, ntrol and prevent
| inp oil dsseaea. and anider,ics
On Safnrdav evening. NOV. g 1898, one
| of tho eav.raet ana frcst destructive
| golae or bIiz2ar,s of which we have any
| account arru1snafipd bX binding snow
| visited o,,r Ny England coast. 1t
| caneed a., lirlleeedrnted loss of life and
| rrona,d, Nrnc<ine mary vessels and
| come et,4,nprs thqt were caught in its
| notb ond il hrafrbt sorroNy misfortune
and death to a large number If families
and homes M calamity of ;hi. kind. 50
| tarrible and DISTRESSING has. think
| evar visited o,lr shores before
| Amnne those who Derished on the Ill
fataG etaame,. Portland was the Hon. /.
| Drd1a,, Fraeman Of Yarmouth member
and nresidept of the executive council
a gentleman If snlendid and rare attain
| rnante GENIAL unright faithful and con
| soiortious in tho performance of every
| nuhlic and nrivate dnty. His sudden
| doth in tho n,ine of manhood and i'm
| ~ r,idst ~ bis bonora HE career and
| useful lahors was a severe blow to his
| oriof ct riclsan family and an almost
| tn,.anorat 1a l,,se IA tho state
| II is tbs in,uaralfva constitutional duty
| ~ tho povernor from time to time TO
| givo tbe legislature information of the
| condition of the state and recommend
| IN their consideration such measures as
| he NAV iudge pxpedient" In this my
| endeavor 10 comnlv with that require
| ronnt and to nerform that duty. desire
| To call vour attention to a few at least.
| If tba MANY important measures which
| will come before Won to be wisely and
| i,,1nartiallv considered and determined
| The always important and vital cues
| tiops of tavatfon and revenue unon the
ono hand and of expenditures or appro-
nriations nnon the other are very large
" within vour nrovince and demand
| nnhiosad and "a reful Judgment at vour
| hands The last legislature increased
| tho rate of direct taxation for state pur-
,,osas 70 i've and three fourth he mills on
the dollar. r'hls increase of rate and the
| Iaroalv raised valuations which the state
assessors have. in the exercise of their
| Judgment nlared upon property have
/ canead the state tax to he somewhat
| oneroue In auount and nerhaps burden
| some Ia certain towns and cities.
| am confident that II will not be wise
| To add to If and also that by the exer-
cisa of strict economy-not parsimony-
Won will find that IL is not necessary to
| do so. for earnestly believe. and would
| imnress anon Won the truth that the
| same nrincinles of economy. discrimina-
zion and care should be applied to all
state expenditures that the prudent
| hustness man would use in conducting
| his avn affairs
| | find also from an examination of
the nathods and processes of taxation
In other states that here are only three
| or four at most in the Union where the
| rofo T., ae loro, as in Maine while in
| several states there is no direct taxation
at all If however. YOU should find that
| I am uot correct and that some more
| ravcnun 10 absolutely needed than can be
| realized nnder existing laws | think it
| y.T ha both inst and advisable TO seek
other soi.rces from which to raise il
| rather than increase the rate of direct
taxation
And in this connection I will repeat
| t.,.-.,s,,I,. ,,.la. I ..,i,l -, 49,, 4 d,a.,