Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-01-09

thing OF the States affairs ana to H.
miIiarize myself with the methods un-
der which they are being conducted.
In almost every instance the Depart.
ments are producing splendid results,
and their management II character.
ixed by intelligence and efficiency and
faithfulness to the best interests of
the State. They must continue to i'm
prove, and Il 10 no reflection upon any
az them 10 respectfully call your A.
tention to the fact that Il II your duty
and powcr to examine to the fullest
extent their operations IN order that
you may supply deficiencies and rem.
edy defects.
In addition to the money that will
naturally be appropriated for the or.
binary maintenance Of Departments,
Institutions and Commissions, and for
the fuldllment Of all other legal obli.
cations. this Legislature will be asked
to make special monetary provision
for many new and important projects.
All are desirable and some are abso-
lutely necessary. without assuming
to determine the order OF their i'm
portance, among the former may be
classed an Institution for the Feeble
Minded, those unfortunates whose
uncontrolled life and movements have
been shown by science and expert.
ence to be a terrible menace to the
social order and constant economic
burden to every family and commun-
ity that shelters them. The blind, too,
make strong claims for our pity and
generosity, for they ask not for life
long charity, but simply for the means
to secure special education In work
that Will enable them to become self
supporting members of society. The
welfare Of the insane will also appeal
to your sympathy. and you cannot re-
sist the demands that q recital OF
their needs will make upon you. The
residents OF the eastern part of the
State will urge an appropriation suf-
hcient to more nearly complete the
original plan and design OF the Asy-
lum at Bangor. and will present argu-
ments in favor Of this action based up
on the deplorable and conceded fact
that our facilities for the proper care
and treatment Of these beneficiaries
are still inadequate. About two years
ago the praiseworthy efforts of Con-
gresham Burleigh to secure the Ar
senal property at Augusta as a gift
from the National Government to the
State were wholly successful, and I'M
der the intelligent direction of the
Board of Trustees one of the large
buildings there has been so remodeled
and utilized that it has added greatly
to the efficiency of the Augusta Asy-
lum and to the well-bsing and comfort
of its inmates. But much more re-
mains to be done even at this Insti-
tuition, and the ACCESSIBILITY of fire.
proofing another wing of the main
building is question that should not
be overlooked.
Nor will the States just claim for
the further advancement and extern
sion of educational facilities be slight
ed or ignored, for her common
schools, normal schools, academies,
colleges and university are all pub
lie glory, and every dollar of a wise
and liberal expenditure there but
adds to the strength and dignity of
her citizenship.
The following are some OF the re-
quirements of tho State upon which in
my judgment immediate action should
be taken, and which l unreservedly
recommend:
The office OF State Auditor should
be created. The present system of
auditing the States accounts by the
Governor and Council is an archaic
absurdity. 1t is cumbersome, uncer-
tain and incorrect, and would not be
tolerated an instant by any individual
firm or corporation doing business in
accordance with approved and mod
ern methods. 1t seems to have been
permitted for two reasons it is
known to have been the custom near
ly one hundred years ago, and since
that time no authority has been grant
ed to change it. 1t has long since
outlived any usefulness it may have
possessed, and each year its ridicu
lous features are more pronounced
The methods of bookkeeping, too, en-
ployed by some OF the Departments
are extremely loose, and this whole
subject should be Investigated and the
defects remedied. Former Executives
have made this same recommendation
for State Auditor, and 1t is to be as
sumed that failure TO act upon it ia
vorably is due to belief on the part
OF the people that its endorsement
would simply create another Depart
ment or Office with additional and un-
necessary expense. l am of the opin-
ion, however. that the direct saving
effected by a competent Auditor with
power would far exceed his salary
and the expenses attending the office.
The last Legislature created the
Office Of State Highway Commission
er, thus recognizing fully the very
great interest manifested in the move
ment for good roads throughout the
state 1t is no longer necessary to
argue the advantages and opportuni-
ties that would accrue to Maine by a
system of better roads, for these are
now admitted and conceded by all
Public opinion seems to warrant
most generous expenditure for this
purpose. and the questions confront
ing you now are those of importan;
detail alone. The amount of money
to be spent. and how it shall be raised
and apportioned by and between the
State and the municipalities, the loca-
ton of the work and how and by
whom it shall be done, these are the
phases of this subject that invite your