Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-04


Gentlemen Of the Senate and House
Of Representatives:
Be.ore presentiug fer your consid.
Grafton certain facts bearing upon the
condition OF the State, and before
making certain recommendation that
may tend to change and possibly i'm
prove these conditions, wish to
ihaak the citizens CT Maine whose suf-
frages permit me to hold this high Of
fee second term, and to assure them
that I shall not Intentionally use its
Drerogat;ves or influence Tor any pur-
pose other than to promote the well
fare OF all the people and to advance
the interests of the entire State.
Under CIR form OF government the
Chief Executive of State is proper
~ expected to assist il making effec-
tive the policies adopted and declared
by the party to which he owes his
nomination and election. In doing
this he is but carrying out the eX-
pressed wish of a majority OF the vot-
ere, ard to that extent is a partisan.
But Iartisa nship should end here. anu
that Executive is fortunate indeed
who is able to strengthen his party by
demonstrating to general satisfaction
the wisdom of its principles, and at
the same time so to conduct himself
that he shall be in truth the servant
CT the people and mindful of the COM
mon good Wc.l-meant intentions are
. poor excuse for ineficiency, and
no enc who willingly assumes a re-
Eponsibility to the public should COM
plain of that public's inevitable criti-
cism. But believe that no man ever ac-
cepted public Office without cherish
ing the sincere hope that when he laid
It down, he might deserve and re-
ceive not only the commentator of
his party. but also the respect and es-
TEEN Of his fellow-citizens. 1t is in
this temper, and animated by this
hope trust, that all of us enter the
service Of the State today.
Maine is more prosperous now than
ever before in her history. Visible
evidences of this are on every hand
and commercial and industrial statis-
tics prove it beyond a doubt. Agricul-
ture and its kindred branches, the
great industries dependent upon for.
ests and water ways. the multitude Of
manufacturing enterprises, the small
er but not less important trade that
responds so readily to the movements
OF the larger interests; all have shared
in the unprecedented prosperity that
has rested of late upon the entire
country, and all have contributed to
the wealth and well-being of the State.
The railroads are still developing new
territory and furnishing additional ia
cilities to the old, steamboats, are en-
larging and improving their service,
and electric reads are reaching from
the centres of population to quicken
the life and resources of the smaller
communities. The scenic charms Of
the State have not yet lost their pow
er to allure. and both city and country
have profited from the tides of travel
that sweep over them in an ever
swelling volume. The uninterrupted
growth of the deposits in the banks
and savings institutions testify to the
soundness and stability of general
business conditions throughout the
State, and the very marked increase
In those deposits prove that the wage
Garner, the fundamental factor in the
creation and support of values, is en-
1oying and improving the opportuni-
ties which have been opened to his
labor and his skill
One OF the industries, however, that
has made Maine famous in the past is
now languishing. and that is ship
building. Our State is particularly
well adapted to the successful prose-
cution of this business. and its decline
and present deplorable condition must
De attributed in great part to the fail
ure OF the National Government to
adopt measures that will place this
class OF property in a position to COM
pete for the ocean carrying trade Of
our own and other nations. Our Sem
ators and Representatives in Wash
lhgton have labored intelligently and
perslstently in it's behalf. and it is
most gratifying to know that their eff
Iorts. aided as they are by the friends
Vi allied interests in New England
ana certain other States, have brought
me congress to give to the question
such serious and practical cOnsidera-
uon as to warrant hope that the
near future will bring relief to revive
and restore this important branch of
names commercial activity.
S>uooAolA vi lHc anu uc.
iee:s OF any system of taxation adopt
&c by State. and the wholly neces-
sary and justifiable efforts of the law
nlaklng Body to reconcile the various
interests involved. opens a wide field
lor argument based on both fact and
.onjecture. BY universal agreement
axes are necessary burden. and the
Meiiare OF the State, municipality and
INDIVIDUAL demands that taxes be
eqaaiized in order that every class of
property shall bear its relative and
proportionate share. But the accept.
aace OF this theory does not material.
lessen the practical difficulties of
'ne problem, nor renders some prop
elty holders less susceptible to the de-
sire TO evade the payment of that
r.Ioportionate share. OF one phase of
. .als question We may be sure, and
.aat Is that there is a widespread
t tsseling among the people of the State
10 aa' certain classes of property are
tS Ss paying now their just share of
S as taxes, and they look with conf
th uce 10 this Legislature to investigate
80 ~ conditions. and if abuses exist to
~, re and apply the remedy. 1t is a
"laAe and wrong to call this feeling