The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-14

properly Understood. l agree With the
governor OF New York that me grant
should be made of water power pffvi-
leges without compensation. nor without
restriction that will properly protect the
rights of the public from whom the privf-
leges are derived"
1t is noted that tho science of forestry
is now invoked in 20 percent of the for
ests yet remaining In the hands OF the
nation and of states. while In but one
percent of forests owned by corporate tons
forestry has been invoked. The excellent
record of public forests as distinguished
from corporate forests Is due to the fact
that forestry in public lands has been
conducted by experts devoted to scienu-
&c forestry. The opinion of the supreme
court. enforces the rights of the people
to regulate the cutting OF logs against
destruction of forests and l call to your
attention the power thus vested in you,
to be used judiciously for the preserva-
ton Of your rights and those of your pos
terity.
Our State Institutions.
have visited nearly all the state insti-
tutions within the past few months. l
find their condition to be satisfactory,
and their management a general credit
TO the state and to the officials
Under the provisions of what Is known
as the state care act, which becomes op-
erative in 1910 all OF the insane of the
measure by municipalities are to be sup
ported by the State, expense for the
same to be paid from the state treasury
About three hundred people will thus be-
come wards OF the state under this act
and this Legislature must make provision
for their support. To meet the require
ments | suggest that one more wing
with a capacity to care for one hundred
and fifty patients. be added TO the East
ern Maine Insane hospital at Bangor
This will balance up this institution in
all it's departments, and complete IL in
accordance with its original design both
as to architecture and to capacity. This,
It seems to me, will meet the states re-
quirements for the coming two years.
Any subsequent addition to the insane
hospitals In Maine should be, for The
present believ. on what ia known as
the cottage plan" Under this plan,
buildings of lesa expensive material can
be constructed In which harmless pa
tlents can be cared for in such way as
TO relieve the state OF the enormous ini-
tial expense entailed in their care. Tn
der present conditions. bills for the sup
port OF insane patients are usually rem
dered to the town few private pa
tients paying directly to the hospital.
large amount required for the mainten
ance of the insane. is collected from the
estates or the families thereof. When
THIS new law goes INTO erect lneTe VIII
be no available way of continuing these
collections according TO the present meth
Cd and some other method must be de-
vised by you.
Well Directed Philanthropy.
Such institutions MS the Naval and
Military Orphan asylum at Bath, the
Maine Industrial School for Girls at Hal
lowell the School for the Deaf, and the
School for the Blind at Portland and
the State School for Boys at South Port
land, are excellent examples OF well di
rected public philanthropy and merit
the outlay Of money required from the
state for their proper support. Some OF
these will require larger appropriations
this year. both for running expenses and
for needed improvements. The State
School for Boys at South Portland has
undergone an entire change the past
ten years. and when the new stable Is
completed, for which an appropriation
will be asked at this session of the legis-
lature here Is one institution, at least.
that will be absolutely complete. and
for which / can conceive of no further
requirement in the near future.
In connection with our philanthropic
work in Maine. I wish TO call your at
tenton to the Maine sanatorium at Heb
ron. for the treatment Of tuberculosis
of the lungs. Today this sanatorium.
which Is largely endowed by private phil
anthropy, Is Obliged to turn away many
patients for lack Of room. The results
obtained there surpassed in point OF
recovery by no other institution in the
country. I recommend the merits OF this
institution to your consideration in the
way OF approximation and with II. also,
a congid grafton of the grave issues OF
tuberculosis matter Of general leg
islation. 1t may be that II rests with us
in this generation to stamp out this dis
~. h.akt
fancy In calling this subject and the
Maine Sanatorlum at Hebron to your at
tention and to urge upon you a consid-
Grafton of the same.
SO far as cursory examination OF
the condition of the Maine State prison
can go, | find evidences OF good manage
ment and "a spirit of cooperation and
harmony among its officials. A bill will
doubtless be presented to you providing
for the retirement on half pay OF all
wardens and inspectors who have actual
ly served rs years or more as such. l
heartily endorse such a bill. You will also
have for your consideration a proposal
for the building of a fireproof carriage
shop, harness shop and repository at an
expense not to exceed $15 900. There Is
no question of the great need for such
building.
Some Suggested Legislation.
May I suggest for your consideration
the ACCESSIBILITY Of some legislation look
ing to public aid for manual and tech
nical training schools? A proposition to
meet the expenditure by towns and cit
les for these purposes by an equal APP
preparation from the state within certain
limits, Is akin to laws in other states
where technical training schools are
proving a blessing to the individual and
spur to the growth of industry.
Recent developments in regard to I'M
purity OF milk offered for sale In Some
of our Communities and the presence of
bovine tuberculosis among dairy herds
suggest faulty construction of our milk
inspection laws so far as provisions for
the enforcement OF the same by local in
spectors Is concerned l suggest to you
the need OF legisla ton looking toward
the state inspection OF milk. The ex-
pense thus entailed upon the state, would
be lifted from the communities. but even
II the expense were not thus relieved,
the lives OF little children and the safe
ty of the whole people are not to be i'm
periled by false economy. The present
laws are VIGOROUSLY inefficient In many
cities they operate practically to create
sinecures for political workers with not
even a pretense at the inspection of the
watered and doctored decoctions that
pass for milk.
The competitive system which has al
ready been established in the state in
certain lines should be extended and 9TH
er contracts entered into by the state.
Much of the legislative advertising OF
hearings before committees of the legis-
lature Is waste. Your cooperation is de-