Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-08
The Cattle Commissioners.

should be remedied The Board of Cattle
Commissioners has been active in its
work and i'll sections where the testing
for bovine tuberculosis has been going
on for the past three years, the percent
age of diseased cattle has dropped from
six percent to two percent. a report
of this commission will be before you,
and you will have to consider the ques-
ton of its finances, well as of the
other questions suggested.
Some reform is necessary in our eau
Gus law. The platforms of our politi-
cal parties are pledged to it and the
evils of our present lack of system are
apparent to every voter. Either a Sys-
tenn of primary elections or a law that
would provide for the holding Of all eau
cuscs the same day, to be fixed by sta
tute law, or such other method as seems
wise and judicious to you, are within the
scope Of my suggestion. The questions
involved in this leSisla ton are of great
Importance to the purity of the ballot
and to the safety of the state. l urge
you to work in harmony to enact law
which shall meet the requirements of
this state. I consider that there is no
issue of greater moment than purifica-
ton of our present loose and irregular
methods of procedure in caucus. We
have the benefit of the experience of
thrty-two states which have enacted
plludIy eltCtioIl idWS. We ouSHl " NC
able to profit by their wisdom. Such a
law, l believe. would tend to elevate the
right of suffrage in Maine
l heartily endorse a measure shorten
ing the hours of labor for women and
children in our factories. Upon this
question both of the leading political par
lies in Maine are united. Such legisla-
ton is humane and progressive in it's
tendency, ana the law proposed. which
limits the legal measure of the hours of
work for women and children in our fac
tories to fifty-eight hours a week is on a
level with those adopted by every 9TH
err state in New England
State Elections In November.
l suggest to you also the consideration
of legislation leading to a change of, the
date of holding our state elections to
November, 80 as to conform with tho
customs in other states of the Union. and
10 bring our election in presidential years
on the same day as that of the election
of presidential electors. 1t is a waste
of time and money to hold two elections
where one can serve as well.
| hardly need call to your attention
the crowded condition of public depart
ments and the lack of adequate commit
tee rooms in this state house for it is
evident to you all. Several departments
have been added within the past few
years. the housing of which greatly over-
crowds the building, understanding fully
MS YOU do that a limit must be set upon
our Expenditures in any given year, you
must, nevertheless. note the serious con-
Gtion that cOnfrontS us. Valuable doc
umens arc stored here in hazard of fire.
You have inadequate quarters for your
committee work There is every indiCa-
ton that the demand for room will in
crease greatly within the next two years.
If new departments are created the ques
ton of where to house them becomes
praC tically unanSwcrahe. Various eX-
pedients have been suggested such as the
erection of an Office building or an ex-
tension to the state house. | suggest an
early consideration of this by the COM
mittee on public buildings.
The School Question.
Several conferences have been held
recently between the governors and gov
ernors-elect Of the New England states,
the chief purposes of which have been
to promote. so far as possible, lesisla-
ton along lines which the New England
states have in common. i have been
privileged to attend some Of these ses-
sions. and it has occurred to me to sug
gest to You several, topics which have
been generally agreed upon as worthy of
especial attention in order that so far
as possible, we may fulfill our part of
- - i'' - - -
W i"'rtdsc ,le ptestiSt "a New rhSiano
anu 10 nehe!it 'he iiiuiFlu"ai states. !"
tniS cohhec'ioh' WISH 10 can 10 your
altcntloh I'VE reSohiiiitiiua'ioIS reia ivy
10 our common schoois ana Hish SCHOOLS
IN NAME "hich are part,cuariy essen.
tlal' IL seems 10 me, 10 1hls state. II II
Is 10 Keep III me WIN the rest % Nc"
ftnelahd IN euuca tiohal matters.
fifst' Inc requirements OF state
cefl'hcallon OF teacnefS WIN view 10
SecuF" bctter HudllicaliohS from tne
tea'nciS ana hisi'er sa'arlcs lor the
teachers. ne average sahry IN me
SchoplS Oh Maine IS lower IMAM any other
northern state ana lew southern states
nave lower average Inc result or
course. IS a constant GRAIN OF our tcach-
ing lofc" 70 other HheS Oh Worh ana 10
oth'r states. 30 great IS ms dra'h upon
us 'ia' even our norman schoois' support
cd afSeiN ny inc STATE. laii iuiiy 70
serve US III me supply VI 'ea'ncrS ne
cause large percentage Oh ,'eir graz
more reih'.hera.'Ne 'ie''S Oh lapor. MOI
:! 7P','t ioi ,'ic .'i'I't''i' stho'i W lisS
inquest poSoi"c i''uih" II, bood ci'iAeh
snip ny Hcnpo' mouse - the poorest
20 49, NJ - ~ ~ ,iopas - %
s'"i"is' ino 'ea'hel - pecuiihris "or-
t"H VI 'l's NY '.i' oeHere ,ia' II VIZ
are :" nl''I'ta'n me stanuard Oh our
Sc'',''. "'i 'i'c pds'e " o'iici ~" EitS
i i'aI h "" n,.I' pay sa,a, rsn Will