The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-14
Governor Fernald's Address.
Continued from Third page

from the fathers OF our state serve to
give US n clearer understanding of our
respective line of duties. they have
served my purpose. Starting out. there
fore. with this understanding that you do
your work and that l do mine. each In
helpfulness to the other, let US consid-
er what are the duties that press upon
US, and the Importance OF our consecra
ton to a high estimate of the same
do not believe ii Is necessary for me to
suggest that these duties are solemn
and potential. You know, as well as l.
that the consequences Of vicious, hasty
and ill-advised legislation may be a blight
upon a state for years and fears to
come; while the fruits of wise and bene-
ter. | beg Of you. however, to consider
this phase of your duties seriously. II
there be any man here who looks upon
his oath of Office taken before God and
man, as of small account. let me beg
him to revise his views. If any man
there be who assumes his first duty to
be to his political party and his second
duty to his state. let me beg him to
dssist. This is not the proper field for
an exploitation OF party prejudioes or of
personal and political ambitions. The
gravity OF the duties here Imposed calls
for a higher estibate OF our service than
this and constitutes an appeal to the
patriotism of every man. In such degree
that he will unsrudgingly sink himself
and his party in a devotion to the service
Of the whole people.
/ need not say that large issues con-
front US. Rarely has a legislature faced
greater completely OF problems in both
moral and economic fields Of legisla ton
than does yours. Your solution OF some
of them may determine the policy Of
the state for years to come and be the
means of setting her face either towards
progress or decline. 1t Is not much legis-
laton, but wise legislation that we need
fearless regard for the rights of the
people is required of each Of us. The
study OF these problems demands our
whole time and requires that our ser
vice be in the very spirit of the religion
Of our better natures. l believe, in all
soemnity, as ! doubt not you do. that
the Lord has this nation and this state
in His holy keeping, and that He will
lead US by His kindly light as He has led
us until now. Reliance on Him. con-
hdence in ourselves, determination to
be swayed from what we believe to be
right, neither by wealth nor by power
nor by any influence or combination OF
influences that may be brought against
us. will carry us through to such an en-
pooIment OF justice into law that we
shall not fail to Justify our service alike
10 our consciences and to cur constituent
cies.
A Prosperous Two Years.
II is hardly necessary for me to say
that our state has been very prosperous,
the past two years. and that our imam
oes are in excellent condition. Our total
bonded Indebtedness Is but six hundred
ninety eight thousand dollars C$69S. O0O).
no part of which will fall dur during this
a r,,I ie,f-
there was S568,534.4 cash in the treas
ury. We have paid three hundred ninety
i've thousand dollars $685. 00) on the
bonded indebt edness in the past two
years. All but two hundred slxty-eight
thousand three hundred dollars C268, 3O0)
of our present bonded indebtedness Is
bearing interest at the rate of three
percent and while none OF our bonds ma
ture before 1911, ] would advise purchas
ing them, from time to time. as we can
make the purchases on a reasonable bas-
is. The present valuation is $428. 2l2,-
co. showing an increase of $50. 49,
90 over that of 1906.
The total receipts for the years 1918
were s6.29s. 252.4S.
The total expenditures for the same
years were 1921. 689.06.
The estimated ordinary receipts for
1903 are $3,95S, 440.S2.
The estimated ordinary receipts for
1910 are 3.S09. 393.82.
The estimated ordinary expenditures
for 1909 are 1886. 34329.
The estimated ordinary expenditures
for 1910 are $3.736. 751.42.
1t should be remembered that while
we have large cash balance at this time
much of this will be used In the next
few months for current expenses, or be-
fore the state receives revenue from any
available source. While 1t Is a matter
of gratifying pride that we are increas-
ing rapidly In wealth, we should practice
the same careful economy that has won
approval of the citizens in the past. In
using this term "practicing economy" ]
wish you to understand that employ 1t
in the broader sense which means to
deal literally with ALL" to stint no In
stitution or state function but to keep
within the reasonable limits of our abili-
ty. to expend our money wisely. to see
that we get good return for our ex-
penditures and to live 80 that We may
pay our debts without placing heavier
burdens upon the tax payers.
Conservation of Our Resources.
Since the legislature of 1907 adjourned,
the Supreme Court of Maine In response
to request Of the Maine senate. has
published an opinion affirming that the
legislature can regulate the cutting Of
lOBc ou WIN Ills OplnIOn wan wei
coined by the president of the United
States as an important and formal dec
laratlon in favor of the public rights In
public resources which ownership does
not ALLEVIATE, In the past two years his
tory has been making along these lines,
and the various congresses for conserva-
ton and irrigation and the gatherings Of
governors OF states which have been
held in 1908. have developed public
Aho, oil hA It,.aa 49,
opinion of our Maine supreme court.
am persuaded that the waste of public
equity. notably in our forests, makes 1t
imperative that the present Legislature,
should at least make a beginning in the
direction OF state forest reserves and
state water storage. From year to year,
the nation has gone on, hit or miss, our
rivers have shrunk. and our forests have
been invaded so that from one end OF
the country to the other. there Is reason
able alarm. Exhaustion of natural re-
sources, of water power and forests would
be grave disaster to corporations as
well as to the people. Floods waste and
destroy in the spring. and In midsummer.
autumn and winter we go dry. Unless
we preserve the forests on our mountain
and hillsides the soil will be carried by
the heavy rains into the valleys and the
mountain slopes be forever desolate.
Thousands of acres in other countries
now desert were made such by waste
and pillage OF wild lands. To preserve
and cultivate the forests at our river
headwaters, seems to me to be our imme-
date duty
Accordingly l recommend that the
legislature authorize and create a state
water supply commission, to devise
plans for the development of our water
power. under ultimate state ownership
"a nd control an far N 10 n a hla This
is no new matter. Since July IL, 1907,
there has been such a law on the statute
books Of New York state, operating I'M
dar exnarf direction The I'm Mira Sta 10