Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-04
Govarnar Hills Inaugural. Address.


of his recognized ability and clear
headed grasp Of affairs. 1t was
strong, straightforward and business
like review of the conditions existing
in our State and the subjects that may
properly claim the attention and con-
Sideration of the present Legislature.
In clearness, in. comprehensiveness and
succinctness of statement il is entitled
to rank among the strongest of the
many inaugural addresses which have
been presented to the various Legisla-
lures by the able men who have occu-
pied the Executive chair of our State
in the years of the past.
In opening, Governor Hill reviews
lriefiy the splendid growth and de-
velopment which our State has en-
jcyed in the past decade, and calls at
tention TO the fact that although the
gain of Maine in population is not
rapid, it is substantial and permanent
in its character, and that the promise
for the future was never more favor
able than it is at the present day.
This is followed by a review of the
State finances which is a model of per-
spicuity and completeness. Although
it does not occupy an extended space,
it presents every fact of Importance
connected with the subject in a man.
ner SO perfectly clear and straight
forward as to be readily understood
by everyone who takes the trouble to
read it. Passing naturally to the ques-
ton of taxation, the Governor leaves
no doubt as to his position upon this
important matter. He strongly urges
a careful REIMBURSEMENT of the prevail
ing system and the enactment of
just and equitable valuation and as
sessment of all forms of property. This
question he regards as the most impor-
tant which will demand the attention
of the present Legislature. While
recognizing the fact that an ideal sys-
tenn of taxation which would bear
with absolute equity upon all classes
of property has never yet been devised,
he believes it to be the duty of those
charged with the responsibility of leg
islation to do everything in their power
towards the realization of so desir-
able a result. The Importance of econ
omy in the expenditure of peoples
money is strongly urged and the hope
is expressed that not dollar more will
be appropriated than is essential to the
efficient administration of the public
service. 1t is shown that the State re-
turned to it's various towns and NUM-
cipalities during the past year S520.019
from the school fund and mill tax to be
used for educational purposes. This
with the amount of school money
raised by the towns made up a grand
total of 81 1873 ,O2O raised for the support
of the common schools of our State, an
increase of s421,49 over the amount
raised for the same purpose in 1880.
The Governor recommends an extern
ton of the aid now furnished in the
education of the school children in the
SO unorganized townships. During the
past year schools were maintained for
722 children in such places at a total
cost of $2,2S2.13 and with results that
were highly gratifying. The Governor
believes that if appropriations for aca-
denies and seminaries are to be con-
tinued they should be made permanent
under certain definite restrictions. In
this connection he says:
Under existing circumstances,
school having Jealous and skillful ad-
yOcate in the Legislature may be able
to secure liberal appropriation in ex-
cess of it's actual requirements; while
equally worthy. but less fortu-
nate, must be content with a cOmpar-
lively small amount. The grade of the
school maintained and the number of
pupils receiving instruction should al
ways be considered, and l doubt the
wisdom of assisting in maintaining an
academy in a section of the State
where High schools of a high grade are
provided. 1t is an injustice to the State
to allow any of these academies to use
the amount appropriated in increasing
their endowment, instead of providing
more and better instruction to the pu-
pills who attend them: and under no
circumstances should the sums appro-
priated for such institutions be taken
from the fund provided for the common
schools
Favorable mention is made of the
State University which is in Il very
prosperous condition, having at the
present time about 800 students The
Importance of agriculture in our State
warrants the assertion that it is our
most important industry giving as it
does employment and support to more
than half of our population. The Gov
ernOr we'll says that in the growth of
our cities and manufacturing centers
in the increased volume of summer
travel. in the gradual development of
our magnificent water powers and in
the more general adoption of improved
methods of agriculture will be found a
hopeful outlook for the farming inter-
ests of our State. Special mention is
made Of tho hla -.