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

Fernald delivered Thursday before the
1ith Maine Legislature:
Tn" oath of office taken here today IN
the pres" Of the people of Name mas
become solemn covenant binding them
and me.
Behind us both, as guide and pro-
lection Of that covenant, is the conStitu-
ton of Maine. which both TIL" loSisla-
tive and In" executive departments OF
this government have now sworn to OBJ
servc and To cherish. Under the proVi-
sions of that constitution, the powers
Of this government were divided INTO
three distinct departments Legislative.
executive, and judicial, with the cX-
press declaration therein that no person
belonging to one department shall ex-
ercise the powers belonging to either of
the others. Against any disruption of
preroFitivc, against ovcrstcppnS the
dividing line between your duties ana
mine | hereby give you the pledge OF
my solemn purpose thereto, and with
the notification that | shall exact the
same obligation from you. And also
In order to emphasize the Importance OF
this principle of good government. and
further to define the duties and powers
of the executive department under those
sections which relate to Distribution OF
the same, may | call to your attention
the apt expressions of a few of the ear
ler chief executives of our state upon
this same important question. which
seem to me to serve us so htly both
to counsel and admonish that l beg you
to hcarken to them today as to the voice
Of wisdom from out the past.
Standing here siXty-eight years ago
today Governor Kent, distinguished alike
rs a lawyer and an executive, said to
both branches of tn, Legislature: This
provision FOR the distribution OF powers
between the distinct departments of the
government of Maine. and the definitions
Of the functions of the same would re-
strain me from attempting to dictate or
direct the subjects or the course of leg
isation, but the constitution of Maine
also makes 1t the duty of the governor
to give the legislature information as
to the condition of our state, and to
recommend to its consideration such
measures as he may judge expedlent, ana
In fulfilling this direction l wish to be
regarded as performing duty strictly
enloined upon me by my guide and d.
tectory in tho discharge of my duty, and
ask and desire for my views no other
weight of influence but such as they may
be entitled to upon full and sober con-
hderaton. In my opinion, the great
characteristic feature of our government
-. is to be found in this careful
md jealous distribution of power and
Ihis solemn and decisive admonition to
zach department to keep strictly within
Us own limit and to beware of lntrlnS-
hg upon or assuming the power right
July belonging to another, With an I'M
soubtng assurance that the rights. pow
FRS, and responsibilities conferred on the
executive will not upon your part be in
terfered with or assailed, | can assure
you that 1t will be my pleasure. as 1t
my duty, to leave the legislature and
I'll other departments to the free. full,
md uninterrupted performance of the
su'les cnjoined upon them
Lot Morrill's View.
Exactly fifty years ago, to a day. Gov
.,hor Lot NJ. Morrill, also stood in this
pace, and said "The checks provided
aot only in the two distinct branches
~ the legislature, but also in the par
u'paton of the executive indicate with
mmhat Jealous care these important func-
AVls have been guarded"
novernor Enoch Lincoln in 1927 re-
Mslred to duties appropriate exclusively to
w. MS Office and Governor Hubbard went
sallher than this and even declared that
Up'nions formed and acted upon under
, me influence of party dictat ton or under
mat iat OF affiliated societies, whether poll
tn.ai moral, or fanatical are dangerous
our liberties and subvcrsive of demo-
,.auc principles" If these quotations
s s;.. the fathers of our state serve to
.se us clearer understanding of our
,specuve line of duties, they have
sed my purpose. Starting out, there
vo,, with this understanding that you do
b oH work and that I do mine. each in
spiuiness to the other, let us consid-
n, "nat are the duties that press upon
w. w. and tie Importance of our consecra-
'h TO 4 high estima re- of the same
AZ not believe it is necessary for me to
,ssest mat these duties are solemn
ibs. potential. You know. as well as l,
ma ma =, .he consequences of vicious, hasty,
=. A-adyised legislation may be a blight