Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-11
Meaty, Broad and Timely.

cortland PreSs.)
Governor Fernald begins we'll. His
inaugural address is an admirable pa
per, broad, and statesmanlike in his
views and comprehensive in it's scope,
and besides the we'll considered recon-
mendations presented it contains much
timely information about State affairs
The finances stand first in Importance
of course. 1t appears that the bonded
debt has been reduced to $69S,0O0, be-
ing now considerably less than a dollar
per capita-and how rapidly it has
shrunk may be seen from the fact that
the debt on January 1, 1905, stood at
81, 403, 900, SO that in the last four years
$705,O00 of the principal has been paid
up and the interest reduced accord
ingly-and the larger part of the out
standing debt is at the low rate of
three per cent. The last year closes
with $568,000 in cash in the treasury
Hence we see that in all respects the
financial condition is excellent.
In the matter of taxation the Gov
ernor refrains from specific SUCCESS
tions, further than he lets it be known
that he favors the taxation Of rail-
roads, as now, on their gross receipts,
as being scientific. practical and easy
Of application. He agrees also that
the wild lands and some of the public
service corporations should pay more
| taxes. while on the general proposition
| he appeals for the construction of a
complete and durable tax system.
AS to the liquor question there can
| be no mistaking the Governors atti-
tude. He takes his stand squarely by
the principle, the constitution, the law
and the platform of enforcement on
which he was elected, and against
| notification. 1T is not my purpose to
threaten or cajole," he says. Il shall
| not declare here and now what l shall
do in this juncture or in that, but l
| do say that, whatever you do in regard
| to temperance legislation, you must
| not legislate State enforcement out of
| the statutes" Indeed Governor
Fernald's idea is plainly to let the
| liquor laws alone and pay attention
| to 'graver things" as taxation and
| conservation of natural resources.
Speaking of natural resources, one
Of the most important recommended
tions is of State water supply COM
mission to devise plans for the de-
velopment of the water power under
l
AS corollary to that he would institute
a system of forestry and replantinS
Of deforested lands under State direc-
ton. In the same connection the
Governor gives notice that a citizen of
Maine is to offer the State a sum of
money as foundation for forestry
prizes. Forest fires, the pollution of
| streams and lakes, and the preserva-
rf 81 ~, l,;, -,
discussed.
One Of the most striking sugges-
tions made by the Governor is a
change OF the time of the State cleo
ton from September to November-a
proposition which has much in it's
favor He presents the obvious need of
larger quarters for the State officials
at Augusta. He sets forth the need of
another wing to the Eastern Maine in
sane hospital at Bangor, he commends
the subject Of tuberculosis and the
Hebron sanatorium to the attention OF
the Legislature and he endorses the
retirement on half pay of State prison
: officials who have served 25 years. He
} wants the Legislature to consider
public aid for manual training and
! technical schools, State inspection OF
milk, extension of the competitive sys-
) tenn in State contracts, retrenchment
in legislative advertising, reform of the
: corporation laws, reform in the caucus
| law preferably by the adoption Of the
, direct primary. shorter hours of labor
, for women and children. the building
: of State roads on a plan in harmon!
| with the plans for the general develop.
!, ment of New England. and last but not
least, the improvement of the public
schools Under the latter head the
Governor presents five specific recon.