The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-10
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

LIE GOVEkNUh'S MESSAGE.
Governor Cobb's message, printed in
full in other columns, should have, and
no doubt will receive, a careful reading.
Like all his public utterances it is
framed in clear and scholarly English
and stamped with the courage of his
convictions. The financial condition of
the State is most gratifying, and gov
ernor Cobb says that Maine is more
prosperous now than ever before in her
history. The cash balance on hand
Jan. /, 1907, was $59s, 900 and the bond
ed debt at the same date was 81 ,093, 900.
This will be reduced at an early day by
at least $3.50, 900, making reduction of
the bonded Indebtedness in the past two
years " nearly 100000 A like reduc-
ton during the next two years will
leave the State nearly free from debt.
Among the important recommendations
made by Gov. Cobb are the following
That the office of State auditor be Gre
ated; generous appropriations for better
roads, with the adoption OF the best
methods practiced in other States; the
erection or lease of needed office build
ing for State departments, which are
overlooking the State house; revision
of the statutes governing the method of
Dalloting for elective officers; the es-
fabishment of a separate institution
for the care of the criminal insane now
confined at the State prison; the initia-
tive and referendum; improvement of
She laws bearing upon child labor; an
institution for the feebe-minded; in
creased facilities for the proper care
and treatment of the insane, and the
abolition of Fast Day unless the name
be changed. also that the expected man
ner Of its observance shall bear some
reasonable relation to its ayowed pur
pose.
These recommendations have all met
with public approval. As was to be
expected Gov. Cobb stands by the
Sturgis law, which he says was passed
to correct the evils of notification
which prevailed under the prohibitory
Jaw because local officials could not or
would not act.' This law has appar-
antly met the need. 'The day of open
and easy notification of the prohibi-
tory law has passed in Maine" says
Gov. Cobb, and he submits that cit is
incumbent upon every man who be-
lieves in law enforcement to support
the Sturgis law or to propose and sup
port some other measure which will
advance that cause as WE'LL"
Concerning resubmission Gov. Cobb
says: ut is extremely unfortunate for
what | conceive to be the true cause of
temperance that a resolution to resub-
NIT the prohibitory amendment must
be, in form at least, a practical con-
demnation by the legislature of the
policy of prohibition, and not the au-
thoriZation of simple referendum to
ascertain the peoples views. Were it
not for this fact believe there would
be little or no opposition to the reason
able, plain and unencumbered PROPOSE
ton to place the original question be-
fore the voters again for their approval
or rejection" Under such conditions
he believes the citizens of Maine ''would
rally to reaf1irm their belief in the pro-
hibitory law and the cause of temper
ance be infinitely strengthened and ad-
Vanced."
The SturgiS law and resubmission are
the two issues most prominent al this
time and the presentation of the above
quotations should not deter the reader
from a careful perusal of the message
itself This is the more necessary in
VIEW of the effort in certain quarters to
make it appear that the message is not
clear and emphatic upon the question
OF what is called resubmission.