Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-01-12

dsveropment OF new Engand. ana DO
lisvs Il will be necessary for Maine to
set about the construction OF thorough.
fares crossing the state from border to
border. A passage Of uniform laws 70.
garding the license and control Of auto
mobiles, uniformity In insurance laws
and the preservation and propagation OF
shell fish are also subjects Of common In
terest to New England The preservation
Of shell fish II Of more than ordinary
Importance az q legislative question at
this time, because II 10 being 20 seriously
agitated in. other New England states.
where they note the rapid depletion OF
treatment. Massachusetts proposes to
lease the unproductivs tide water lands
10 private parties for the cultivation Of
shell FISH. especially clans and quahaugs.
The chairman OF the Massachusetts, Fish
and Game commission estimates the
prospective value Of the clam industry
alone In that state to be from 81. 900. 600
10 $1,000, 900 annually. In place OF the
present income OF about 500, 600. Maine's
interest In q similar industry may east.
~ surpass that Of Massachusetts II We
take steps to prevent further extermin-
alton Of our beds and to cultivate them
in places where they have already disap-
peared. ] am aware that the state has
taken cognizance Of this situation In
previous legislatures. but much remains
10 be done. especially In the determine
ton Of some law by which this valuable
tered.
Whether additional legislation II re-
auired or Is possible touching riparian
rights l leave to your honorable body,
but recommend an inquiry into this
subject. There Is q provision In some OF
our states that no municipal or public
corporation or public board or other in
terest engaged In supplying any village
or city with water. should acquire lands
for additional sources OF water supply
save the state authority approves.
Whether the beds OF our rivers and the
.hores thereof can be alienated In such
way as to prevent competition In the
storage OF ice. and In other uses regard
Id to be for the public well-being, seems
10 me to be proper subject for inves-
legation.
Prizes For Forest Growth.
] shall transmit to you later the prop
ssition OF a citizen Of Maine to give to
the state OF Maine to be Its property for
ever, one thousand dollars. on condition
~
ptate shall. once in Is years offer FIVE
prizes for the Ave lots Of young forest
rrowth. the same to be awarded by the
tate forestry commissioner. subject to
he approval Of the governor on Jan. q.
1927, and once in Is years thereafter for
lver, In accordance with certain rules
aid down by the donor. said forestry
prizes to be known by the name OF the
,onor. The details Of the proposition vii
,e submitted to you In connection with
he offer. Inasmuch az the gift entails
he obligation upon the state for all
lime to give q similar prize once In Is
years by state appropriation, the mat
.er properly comes before you for your
consideration.
! desire also to call to your attention
the matter Of pollution Of rivers and
lakes. which are now or may become
sources OF supply for domestic purposes.
and to the determination Of the powers
Of the state board Of health under all
circumstances where public health is
menaced The evils arising from the dis
charge OF raw sewage into streams and
lakes are enormous. 1t is pointed out
that sanitary science prescribes definite
and effective methods Of sewage disposal
When you consider the fearful mortality
from this source throughout the country.
which In 1900 was estimated by the CEN
sus 10 be over thirty-five thousand lives.
Il is plain that there Is a material waste
as well as a disregard Of human life In
present crude methods observed In the
disposal Of sewage :.
Protection of our forests from fire will
require your attention In some measure
at this session. and II Is suggested first
Of all that the governor be empowered
to extend close season in years OF ex.
IRENE drought such as we have just
passed through. Other and possibly bet
ter methods than this will be presented
to you. trust and hope every posi-
BILE means will be taken by you to AFFORD
precautions that vii! diminish the dan
ger from this source.
and a Prospective Tax System.
In view Of the impending consideration
by you Of the report filed with the
governor and council by taxation COM
mission appointed by Governor Cobb. In
accordance with the provisions Of Chap
ter 10S. public laws Of Maine Of 1907.
shall not discuss In detail those issues
Of taxation which otherwise would have
had a place herein. refrain from this
discussion because the commission has
placed before you, as the law making
branch OF the government. for your de-
termination. such questions as the larg-
er taxation Of certain public service cor
porations. a more equitable taxation OF
the wild lands, and the creation Of a
public utilities commission-Questions
that. whatever may be our personal
views. must now be met. Through the
tax commissioners report these subjects
are EXPLICITLY before you. You do not
need to be told how grave are to be the
ultimate conclusions thereof. or how d.
verse and complex are the problems they
present. Certainly. ! have no desire to
add to their complexity through the i'm
position Of personal opinions. which
might be construed to carry with them
the weight Of Official approval or disap-
prevail in advance Of your own candid
deliberations. Later. shall not hesitate
to address you on any Of these Issues II.
in my judgment II seems to me that the
demands Of justice and equity are not
attained.
On the general proposition or the formu-
lation OF the tax system will. however,
enter an appeal that you make 1t. as far
as possible. complete and durable. Let It
be system, not subterfuge; let 1t
follow a policy. not a pretence. To my
mind that system Is best which Is in
elusive OF all interests in fair measure.
and easy Of modification so as to meet
the needs OF succeeding genera tons
without tearing down the whole struc-
ture. The time Is ripe for the develop
ment OF fixed policy and the determin
ation Of how to enforce Il. To depend
exclusively on one source Of revenue Is
not wise. There is an ethical, as we'll as
an economical side to this question:; for
you must not lose sight Of the fact that
q tax system that is broadly inclusive Of
every interest In the state 10 hereby also
broadly inclusive Of a watchful care by
those interests to see that the funds
thus taken by the state are properly ex.
pended
Easy Money sesets Easy Morals.
I am aware that II Is frequently urged
that revenue Is the sole consideration.
but permit me to say. that in my opin-
lon where the money from taxes flows In
q golden stream into q state treasury
from sources seemingly apart from the
people. extravaganza and corruption may
ensue In the administration Of public af-
And. In the final analysis, the people al
ways pay the bills. 1t Is better. therefore.
In my opinion to have every community
pays It's share Of the state taxes In some
form Of direct levy. that a responsibility
may rest upon the state to make pro-
per showing OF how the same was ex-
pended. and that every citizen may keep
his eye upon the state. believe that this
s wise course. for II is more and more
the disposition and the duty Of the mod