The Republican journal., 1903-01-15
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


deals in a practical way with matters
that call for legislative action. 1t should
be read in its entirety by every one.
Some of the facts and statistics it con-
tains are embodied in State reports of
which we have already given synopsis,
and the message is printed in full on
the end page, but reference may be
made TO the more important recon-
mendations and suggestions. Governor
Hill believes that our prosperity is to
continue. He says: "The future is full
of promise, and the evidences of contin-
ued progress and development may be
seen on every hand. Our various indus
tries are as a rule successful and giving
employment to more people than ever
before, and every indication points to
the continued growth and prosperity OF
the whole State"
The condition of the State finances is
excellent. The tax on the corporate in
terests of the State has resulted in a
substantial increase in the revenues
and the various State departments have
kept well within their appropriations,
turning into the treasury in the two
years unexpended balances amounting
TO nearly $4,000. The entire temporary
loan of $3.50, 600 has been paid, as well
as $4,000 of the funded debt and $780,
900 on account of the Eastern Maine
Insane Hospital; and there is S240,-
900 more cash in the treasury than two
wears ago. This is a net gain in the
last two years of 746,01367.
The increase in the value of prop
eTty TO the amount of S15, 500, 24S.00 as
shown by the report of the State asses
sors. and the condition of the savings
banks and allied institutions "show
clearly and forcibly the prosperity OF
our people" The depositOrs in our
savings banks and trust companies and
the shareholders in the loan and build
ing associations now number 237, 74O
equaling about third of the entire
population of the state. This is gain
of % 7GO during the past two years. In
1872 the savings banks were paying on
the average six and one third per cent.
10 their depositors, and the tax levied
by the State was one half of one per
cent. Now the average dividend is
about three and half per cent. and the
tax paid the State three fourths of one
per cent. In view of this large decline
in earnings the Governor believes that
it is only just that the tax be reduced,
and he recommends a reduction this
year of one-eighth of one per cent. and
a similar reduction in 1904, which will
bring the tax down to one-half of one
per cent, which it was in 1872.
Treating of education the Governor
says: 1T is gratifying to know that
the parents of children who are in the
schools, and citizens generally. are tax
ing a greater interest in school work,
and that much is constantly being done
in the improvement of school grounds
and buildings, and to make the schools
in every possible way more attractive
and efficient" The Governor recon-
mtnds that tie money derived from the
mill tax be apportioned among the
towns according to the number Of chill
dren who attend school, instead, as
now, according to the whole number of
children of school age who reside in the
= town, which would seem to be far more
in accordance with justice and better
promotiye of the object for which
the money is raised. He finds the con-
dition of the University of Maine "en-
urely satisfactory from every point of
view" and says that during the past
year there has been a large increase in
ehe number of students. Every county
in the State is now represented, and "a
large percentage of the students are
seeking to obtain an education by their
own efforts, and are wholly or partially
self-supporting."
Many will agree with Governor Hill
chat "sour present ballot law is mani
testify defective in some important de-
tails" and will endorse his recommenda-
lion that ''it should be simplifed and
made so clear and plain in all its pro
visions that every citizen can under
stand it." NO man." says the Cover
nor, should lose his ballot by reason
of a mere tecbnicality, when his intent
is so clearly expressed as to be evident
to ALL" Another needed reform is the
enactment of Il primary election law
t hat shall safeguard the party caucuses
and prevent, under severe penalties,
the members of one party taking part
in the caucuses of the other. The Gov
ernor says: THE necessity for some
action is so apparent as to make com
ment on my part unnecessary. There
have been so many instances of irregu
lar practices in the primaries that some
direct and controlling legislation is i'm
pelatively demanded"
As the most discussed, and in some
respects the most important, question
likely to come before the legislature al
this session is prohibition VS.. resubmis
a;o, xyo rapoof horo tho full fovt ~