Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-11
GOV. FERNALD's ADDRESS.
Will Lead to Much Discussion.
portland Advertiser

| WIN ASd0 " bU0Su 0lOSNSSsS's
portland Advertiser.)
| Governor Fernald's address covers a
wide range of topics and makes .sug-
gestions and recommendation on
many subjects which have been more
or less in the public mind. TO discuss
all these matters at this time would
not be practicable. 1t is therefore
proper to give some attention to what
the Governor has to say about the
question of taxation and the policy of
the State in reference to the liquor
problem, those being the two matters
which have been occupying the chief
share of public attention.
| The Governor wisely urges that in
| taking up the matter of taxation. the
| Legislature should make haste slowly.
| He speaks forcefully and well Of The
| wisdom of such legislation as will
give due regard to the rights of all
the people of the State. Likewise it
will be desirable, as the Governor
points out, to establish systems of
taxation which shall be permanent.
Constant changes in methods breed
distrust and uncertainty and open the
door to the escape OF those who SEEK
to evade the payment of their just
dues. If it can be attained, system
durable as well as workable is to be in
every way desired Laying down
these general principles, the Governor
declines to make specific suggestions,
it being the function of the legislature
to pass the laws, but in line with his
remarks concerning permanency in
methods of taxation, he refers to the
present system of taxing railways on
their gross receipts which he regards
as scientific, equitable and workable.
He makes the point, which seems to lie
we'll taken, that under this method
made familiar in Maine by long
practice, the regulation OF the amount
Of the tax to be paid by the railroads,
is kept in the hands of the representa-
tives of the people.
Coming to the consideration of the
liquor question, the Governor declares
that so far as he is concerned, pledges
given that the law shall be enforced
must be lived up to. AS he puts it,
state enforcement must not be
egislated out of the statutes. In this
connection he makes a remark which
is worth considering. He suggests
that the Legislature stop talking about
liquor to the exclusion Of other and
more important matters. Let the
liquor question alone, says the Cover
nor, except for such changes as may
be deemed advisable in the details of
the law, and turn to important matters
such for instance as the preservation
Of the great natural resources of the
State Many will regard this as good
L, ~, 7 ;c,1,
will get through the winter without a
lively discussion of prohibition, is too
much to expect. Like the poor. the
cum law is always with us. There
probably will be a determined effort
to repeal the Sturgis law and it is to
be noted that while the Governor does
not propose to have the State deprived
Of it's powers of supervision in the
enforcement of the prohibitory
statutes, he does not say that he re-
CARDS the much discussed Sturgis en-
actment as the only or as the best way
Of attaining the end which he has IN
view He demands that the law be
enforced, but, in conformity with his
ideas as to the functions Of the Chief
Magistrate of the State, he refrains
from appearing to dictate what action
the legislators shall take.
Among the other suggestions of the
Governor, those which are destined to
attract particular attention relate to
the creation Of commission to con-
serve the water supply of the State
with view to ultimate public owner
ship, the change in the date of State
elections from September to Novem
Der and the reform of the Maine cor
poration laws. The, Governor devotes
considerable space to a discussion Of
the question OF public health and what
he says on this subject is well worth
reading. In fact, the message raises
many question which are in them
selves interesting and likely to lead to
A vast deal of discussion.