Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-06

| ldlIS. lSut THESE were IIol ipi tUI I
| chambers. and better still, the Maynard
youth of both sexes were placed under
| q observation-disclosures and implying
no disgrace-that should incline their
| lives toward industry and sobriety.
| They realized that an intlamed public
| opinion might at some time threaten
| law and order, and they established Il
militia service that should make not
| only for the peace of the community.
! but that should aid the national gov
| eminent when the country was called
| to arms. They sought to protect and
husband the natural resources of the
| State; to preserve its fish and game,
to make public the most intelligent ard
| efficient methods of forestry. to collect
statistics relating to the progress of in
| dustrial development and labor. To
| check epidemics and to suggest ways OF
safeguarding the public health, to en-
courage and foster tie pursuit of aSri-
culture and kindred subjects, and to
prevent contasion among cattle.
With the increase OF wealth and the
profitable expansion Of business came
the agitation and discussion of new
questions affecting the economic vel
fare of the State. a commercial de-
velopment was taking place that re-
| Qllired far more capital Than could De
| furnished by individual resources, ana
| one Mat to successfully accomplish It's
purpose must ask and receive certain
privileges that only the State can give.
| Corporations multiplied. and SPECIAL
and practically exclusive rights We're
granted by the Legislature. To en-
courage this development along lines OF
| safety, to protect the investor ana not
| infringe upon the rights "f the citizen
| to aid the corporation and ut the same
| tine guard the physical and hnahclal
| interests of the public, and ali the
" nile to secure for the State in taxes
| a fair and equitable comrenSauon--all
| these were NCAatious problems requlr-
| irg for their satisfactory solution the
utmost care and ability and the Keen
| est sense of justice. Such corpora
tons 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 I'M
| dcrstood. a 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 fuHrtionS here emu
mcrated and many more. ana ana inns
in conformity TO law. yet the passage
Of laws alone could not insure the
transaction of this pdblic business II;
a prompt and satisfactory manner
Executives and responsible heads We're
necessary. and so. contemporaneonS IN
MANY instances with the laws them
selves, and receiving authority under
| them. there came into existence tn"
various officials. Boards and Commls-
sions whose duties clearly defined and
! mandatory. consisted in managing
these. subordinate departments OF the
| states business and concerns. mas
| murh as every citiZ n has the right to
know the business Of the state. and 1t
| is assumed that he desires such knOWl-
edge. one OF the most important essen
tails in conducting TIL" affairs OF these
several departments * the element OIL
publicity. 1t is the duty. therefore, OF
each official or official Body charged
with administration. TO max" and sub
| mi, to higher Legislative on executive
authority. at stated and frequent
periods. IL full and complete report Of
all the business transacted during the
intcrVa! of SUI n periods. And with TINS
| there has grown. pr0p''"lE enough. the
| custom Of embodyin~ in these reports
such Recommendations bearing upon
the future conduct and management OF
| the business as in the judgment Of
~.
be for the best interests of the State
and for all concerned.
! I believe that the officials to whom
reference is here made have admins
| tered the affairs Of their several de-
partments with wisdom. economy and
honesty. and that they possess du
sense of their responsibility to YOU and
the public they serve.
| Without pretending 20 have acquired
a full and comprehensive knowledge of
the states many and diverse interests.
have examined and studied the re-
ports 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 a rule they have dis
played great care and conservatism il:
following the law. and tact and discrc-
ton in those instances where the law
permitted the use of their own judS-
meEt.
The public acts of an official are
properly subject to TIL most rigid
scrutiny. and the official himself cannot
hope or expect to eS ape criticism. My
power as an Executive Will be used to
aid and protect every official in his
efforts to promote thu interests of the
State along the lines Of his plain duty
and will he used As freely and firmly t.
check unwarrantable assumption OF
abuse of authority.
These reports are now before you or
are ut your command. Their contents
supply information of value to ever.
citizen. They not only disclose the
logical and practical results Of past
legislation. but they furnish figures and
facts showing substantially all that is
being accomplished IN the sphere Of tlt
States endeaVor. Whiln. for reasons
already indicated. I 10 n"t purpose al
this time to present their details OF
even summaries for Your consideration
| earnestly urge YOU to ~eai and stud.