The Somerset reporter., 1909-01-14
Governor Fernald's Address.
Continued from Sixth page

involved In this legislation are of great
Importance to the purity of the ballot
and to the safety OF the state. urge
you to WORK In haT TTI0IIy 10 uuaet law
which shall meet the requirements OF
this state. consider that there Is no
issue of greater moment than a purlfica-
ton of our present loose and irregular
methods of procedure In caucus. We
have the benefit of the experience OF
thirty-two states which have enacted
primary election laws. We ought to be
able to profit by their wisdom Such a
law I believe, would tend to elevate the
right of suffrage in Maine.
| 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
hes in Maine are united Such legisla-
ton Is humane and progressive In its
tendency. and the law proposed. which
limits the legal measure of the hours of
work for women and children In our fac
tories to fifty-eght hours a week is on a
level with those adopted by every 9TH
er state In New England.
State Elections In November.
1 suggest to you also the consideration
Of legislation leading to a change of the
date of holding our state elections to
November so as to conform with tho
customs In other states of the Union. and
to bring our election In presidential years
on the same day that OF the election
of presidential electors. 1t is 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
les rooms In this state house for 1t 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
as you do that limit must be set upon
our expenditures in any given year, you
must, nevertheless. note the serious con-
dition that confronts us. Valuable doc
uments are stored here in hazard of fire,
You have inadequate quarters for your
committee work. There Is every indca-
ton that the demand for room will in
crease greatly within the next two years.
IL new departments are created the ques-
ton of where to house them becomes
practically unanswerable. Various ex-
pedients have been suggested. such as the
erection of an office building or an ex
tension to the state house. l 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
elect of the New England states,
the chief purposes of which have been
to promote. so far as possible, iegisla
ton along lines which the New England
states have in common. | 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
Ia MIA n In a IN lie hll
to increase the prestige of New England
and to benefit the individual states. In
this connection. | wish to call to YOUR
attention five recommendations relative
to our common schools and high schools
in Maine. which particularly essen
tial, 1t seems to me, to this state. II IT
Is to keep in line with the rest of New
England in educational matters
First: The requirements of a state
certiflcation of teachers with a view to
secure better qualifications from the
teachers and higher salaries for the
teachers. The average salary In the
schools. of Maine Is lower than any other
northern tate, and few southern states
have a lower average. The result. of
course. is a constant drain of our teach
ing force to other lines of work and to
other states. So great is this drain upon
us that even our normal schools, support
ed largely by the state, fail fully to
serve US in the supply OF teachers be-
cause a large percentage of their grad
yates leave soon after graduation for
more remunerative fields of labor. Mon
ey spent for the common school brings
highest possible returns in good citizen
ship. The school house Is tho poorest
place conceivable for the display of par
simony The teacher IL peculiarly wor
thy of his hire. and / believe that If we
are to maintain the standard of our
ha NJ Ofh
land states we must pay salaries which
shall be proportional to the salaries paid
by them based upon the cost and stand
ards of living in those states. l have
no special suggestion as to definite leg
islation covering this point. but 1t has
occurred to me that II the state take
cognizance OF the conditions and 80 pro-
coed as to assist In raising the standard
of the teacher in Maine by proper certif-
cation on the standards of teachers in
other states. the remuneration will fol-
low. I believe that today we have as
fine teaching force In Maine as can be
found In any other state in the Union.
but II Is unquestioned fact that every
year the difficulty Of retaining our best
teachers Is greater than before.
Second I would be glad to sec an
Increase in the minimum required school
year.
Third: 1t has been suggested that
change be made in the free high school
law permitting the approval of a stand
ard high school course of study for one,
two three or four years. In place of the
arbitrary course of four years now re-
quired.
Fourth; l strongly urge upon you some
form of legislation to encourage medical
inspection in our public schools
Fifth: I suggest the fixing of a mini
mum of standard schoolhouse construc-
ton and equipment in accordance with
views of advanced education-these
standards to meet both educational and
sanitary requirements.
State Roads.
Other New England states are build
ing state roads on general plan for the
development of New England. and l be-
lieve II will be necessary for Maine to
set about the construction OF thorough
fares crossing the state from border to
border passage of uniform laws re-
garding the license and control of auto
mobiles. uniformity In insurance laws
and tho preservation and propagation OF
shell fish are also subjects Of common in
terest to New England. The preservation
OF ehell fab is Of more than ordinary
Importance as legislative question at
this time because II Is being 50 seriously
agitated in other New England states,
where they note the rapid depletion OF
the shell fish beds through unsclentifc
treatment. Massachusetts proposes to
lease the unproductive tide water lands
to private parties for the cultivation Of
shell fish, especially CLAIMS and quahaugs.
The chairman of the Massachusetts, Fish
and Game commission estimates the
prospective value of the clam industry
alone in that state to he from S. 900. 900
to $1,000, 900 annually, in place of the
present income Of about 800, 900 Names