Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-01-10

HidhC hot Ouiy III thC pCoSS ".
the community, but that should aid
he National Government when the
country was called to arms. They
ought to protect and husband the
natural resources Of the State; to
preserve its fish and game, to make
public the most intelligent and eff
Gent methods OF forestry, to collect
statistics relating to the progress OF
industrial development and labor, to
heck epidemics and to suggest ways
# safeguarding the public health. to
noouIace and foster the pursuit OF
:siicultUre and kindred subjects, and
% prevent contagion among cattle.
With the Increase of wealth and the
profitable expansion of business came
he agitation and discussion OF new
'uestions affecting the economic wei.
are of tho State. A commercial de-
.eiopment was taking place that re-
.uired far more capital than could be
furnished by individual res sources, and
)ne that 10 successfully accomplish its
purpose E.ust ask and receive certain
privileges that only the State can
give. Corporations multiplied. and
special and practically exclusive
ri: hts were granted by the Legisla'
ture. To encourage this development
along lines of safety, to protect the
investor and not infringe upon the
rights of the citizen, to aid the corpo-
ration and at the same time guard
the physical and financial interests OF
the public, and all the while to secure
for the State in taxes a fair aid
equitable compensation - all these
were yexatious problems requiring
for their satisfactory solution the ut
most care and ability and the keeneSt
sense OF Justice. Such corporations in
particular as railroads, savings banks.
trust and insurance companies deal
with the public generally and in order
that their proper relation to the
State might be defined and fully un-
derstood, comprehensive system OF
laws was adopted that should specify
accurately the terms and conditions
upon which they might enjoy certain
rights and privileges.
While the State gradually assumed
and exercised the functions here
enumerated and many more, and did
this in conformity to law, yet the pas
sage OF laws alone could not insure
the transaction of this public business
in prompt and satisfactory manner.
Executives and responsible heads were
necessary, end so, cotemporaneous In
many instances with the laws them
selves. and receiving authority under
them, there came into existence the
various officials. Boards and Commits
s!ons, whose duties, clearly defined and
mandatory, consisted In managing
these subordinate departments OF the
States business and concerns. lnas.
much as every citizen has the right to
know the business OF the State. and ii
is assumed that he desires such knowl-
edge. ore of the most important essen
tials in conducting the affairs oi these
several departments Is the element OF
publicity. 1t is the duty, therefore. oi
each official or official body charged
with administration, to make and sub
nit to a higher legislative or executive
authority, at stated and frequent peri
DDS, a full and complete report OF all
the business transacted during the in
terval of such periods And with this
there has grown, properly enough, the
custom of embodying in these reports
such recommendations bearing upon
the future conduct and management or
the business as In the judgment OF
those familiar with 1t may appear to
be for the best interests OF the state
and for all concerned. | believe that
the officials to whom reference is here
made have administered the affairs or
their several departments with wis
dom. economy and honesty. and that
they possess a due sense of their re-
sponsibility to you and the public they
serve.
Without pretending to have acquired
full and comprehensive knowledge
of the States many and diverse inter
ests, | have examined and studied the
reports in question. and with the heads
of nearly all the Departments have dis
cussed in conference or correspondence
the purposes and leading features OF
their work. AS rule they have dis.
played great care and conservatism in
following the law, and tact and discr?
ton in those instances where the law
permitted the use of their own judg-
ment.
The public acts Of an official are
properly subject to the most rigid scr,l'
tiny, and the Official himself cannot
hope or expect to escape criticism. My
power as an Executive will be used TO
aid and protect every official in his
efforts to promote the interests OF the
State along the lines of his plain duty.
and will be used as freely and firmly
to check unwarrantable assumption OF
abuse of authority.
These reports are now before you or
are at your command. Their contents
supply information Of value to everC
citizen. They not only disclose the
logical and practical S'sults of past
legislation. hut they furnish figures
VI facts showing substantially al
tn. is being accomplished In the
srhore of the States endeavor. While,
for reasons already indicated, | do not
purpose at this time to present theii
details or even summaries for your
consideration, I earnestly urge you to
read and study them. that you may
gain the knowledge to act intelligently
upon their conclusions, suggestions
and recommendations.
do not mean to advocate the appro-
priation of any money In excess of the
amounts absolutely Necessary for tne
reasonable maintenance and operation
of the institutions now supported or
aided by the State. The State has been
generous always in its concern Tor
them, and there Is no likelihood OF
different course being pursued now.
Every sentiment of humanity, Justice
and well-being demands that those in
s.i.utions be furnished with means SUI
H,ient to enable them to iulfil their le-
sitimate purposes in creditable and
progressive manner Due consideration
also should be given to the constantly
enlarging field of the States charities,
aids, and the general public expendi-
lures, and to the natural and proper
desire of her citizens that work OF TINS
character should be commensurate TO
the public means.
Nor do | advocate at this time the
appropriation of money for new instl-
tutions. 1t is fact that many public
spirited men and women are consider
ing the advisability Of asking the State
to provide institutions for the shelter,
treatment, support and education OF
certain unfortunate ones, who, II al
forded the opportunity to live even for
a time under different conditions and
surrounded by different influences,
might be restored to health or might
hooomo useful members of society