The Somerset reporter., 1907-01-10


able building were erected there, not
only would the cost of administration
maintenance and attendance be re.
duced TO minimum figure but We
would all feel that even the claims Of
these mental derelicts were no longer
ignored by a humane and watchful
State
fire occurred In the laundry Of the
Asylum for the Insane at Augusta last
fall, which not only caused a severe
pecuniary loss and much incOnven
fence, but demonstrated beyond a
doubt that the water supply for the
eXtinguishment of fire was altogether
inadequate. 1t is of the utmost i'm
portance that the Asylums be fully
protected against disasters of this ma
ture for the consequences of an uneon-
trolled eJnhagration there would be
most appalling The State should
avail itself of every possible safeguard
for the prevention of the loss Of life
and property in these Institutions, and
prompt action should be taken TO Sc
cure water in such quantity and OF
such power that all apprehension Of
danger from this source may be re-
moved
The business of the Departments
having offices at the State House has
expanded very materially in recent
years, and it is apparent that very
many of the rooms in this building are
no longer commensurate with the de-
mands made upon them. In these
particular cases they have been put
to uses other than those for which
they were originally designed, are
over-crowded and inconveniently ar
ranged. and lack even the ordinary
requisites of good light and air. While
In my judgment it would be unWise To
enlarge the State House. | believe
that proper regard for public con
venience and efficiency should nfu-
ence you to approve the erection or
lease of an office building in this city
for State purposes and thus relieve
the congestion of which there is SO
much just complaint.
There are other public questions
which while not involving the eXpen-
diture of large sums of money affect
to a very marked degree the welfare
of the State, and which should be dis
cussed and settled by this Legislature
If we are to continue to be progress
i've and mindful of the peoples rights.
The belief in the soundness and eff
ficacy of the principle of the initiative
and referendum as means to enable
the citizens to express more directly
and promptly their opinion of pro
posed legislation has become very
general in Maine, and has been recog-
nized in the platforms of both politi-
cal parties. We may safely assume,
therefore, that these declarations
We're made in good faith, and | heart
lily approve the adoption of a measure
that shall give them practical and
binding effect. The friends of the
principle have a very clear knowledge
of it's meaning and purposes. and will
vigorously oppose any effort that may
be made to grant form at the expense
of substance.
| also advocate and recommend a
revision of the statutes governing The
method of balloting for elective Offices
at the polls. Every reasonable facil-
ity should be furnished the voter to
exercise his right of suffrage in secret
and without fear or favor, and his de-
sire and privilege to register his pref
erence for any individual nominee or
candidate should not be hampered or
defeated by the opportunities of a
party organization. Party organiza
ton is both proper and essential. but
it should be the servant of the voter
not his master. And this principle If
admitted to be a correct one, should
be applied to the regulation of the
proceedings at primaries, so that
every safeguard thrown about the
final action of the voter at the polls
may be at his disposal during all the
preliminaries attending the selection
of candidates.
| especially urge you to change and
improve the laws bearing upon the
question of child labor in this State
Maine is tagging here and the chill
dren themselves are helpless. You
must be their champions, and neither
the thoughtlessness of parents nor the
Indifference of employers must be per
mitted to interfere with the perform
ance of the States manifest duty to
provide. as best she may, for the NOR
al, physical and educational welfare
of these children to whom unfortun-
ately so many of the pleasures and op
portunities of childhood are denied
The present manner of observing
Fast Day contains so little of the SEN
timent and traditions of its early con
secration, that it seems almost a
mockery to publicly ask for its recog
milton and then see its original spirit
SO universally perverted and ignored
| believe that our people generally
would not approve a lessened number
of holidays. and that we have none
too many legaliZed now and devoted
by common consent to recreation and
pleasure But unless the name of this
particular holiday be changed so that
the expected manner OF its observance
shall bear some reasonable relation
to its ayowed purpose. recommend
that it be abolished
Two years ago, speaking in this
place and under similar circum stane
es. ventured the assertion that the
public condition resulting froil the
notification of the prohibitory law
was the greatest issue confronting the
people Of Maine. The representatives.
of the people met that issue, recog
nized lis importance and the Sturgis
law was enacted, a measure designed
for no purpose other than to correct
or lessen the evils of notification
Under its provisions the Enforcement
Commission was appointed, and for
about eighteen months Maine has wit
messed the unusual spectacle of men
clothed with legal authority but oper
ating directly through Executive OPP
ton aud initiative, performing some
of the functions of certain officials
elected by popular vote, who either
wifully or lacking both courage and
ability have neglected the dutipS i'm