Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-05

vices of high grade men whose time
the State could not hope to command
on a commercial basis.
Fisheries and Game.
The game in the forests and the fish
in the lakes and rivers and along the
sea coast form an important economic
asset of our State. They provide
healthful sport and recreation for our
own people and bring many summer
visitors among us every year. The sea
and shore fisheries also furnish sup
port for thousands of families and
represent an industry whose total an
nual product is valued at millions OF
dollars.
For the preservation of fish and
game, the State has enacted certain
laws and is annually expanding large
sums of money. For making this pro-
gram more effective, the most urgent
need is better cooperation on the
part of the public in the enforcement
of the laws protecting fish and game
For example,. the lobster industry
worth millions of dollars in annual
revenue, is in danger of actual ex-
tinction from lax enforcement of the
law regulating the size of Holsters that
may be taken. Unless conditions in
this industry are improved, we shall
be driven before many years to one OF
two alternatives: close time in some
form or entirely unrestricted open time
with the abandonment by the State OF
all efforts either to propagate Holsters
or to regulate lobster fishing.
One contributing cause OF the pres
ent unfortunate condition has been toe
close association in the popular mind
between the warden service and partl-
san politics. | recommend i'll place OF
the existing Departments of Inland
FISHERIES and Game and Sea and Shore
Fisheries, an unpaid non partisan
commission of five, who shall deter
mine the general policy and appoint
the salaried executive officer for each
of the fields now represented by these
two departments.
Centennial of Names Admission to
the Union
In the year 1929 will come the centen-
NAL of the admission of the State OF
Maine to the Union. You might well pro-
vide for the appointment of committee
of distinguished citizens whose duty it
shall be to present to the next Legisla-
ture suggestions for a fitting observance
of this event.
The National Guard
The members of the National Guard
who took part in the expedition to the
border are entitled to our gratitude and
admiration. That the supreme sacrifice
of the soldier was not required of them
detracts nothing from their patriotic de-
votion to duty. We rejoice in their safe
return. You may properly consider a
State appropriation in any case of failurt
by the Federal government to make pro-
vision for the necessary aid furnished to
the family of n soldier during his absence
on this patriotic service. A careful study
of our State military law is also appro-
pirate for the purpose of making 1t har-
monious in all particulars with the laws
of the Federal government.
Public Health
Your are properly concerned with the
conservation of the States material re-
sources but it is your more important
duty to protect the people from dangers
threatening their physical welfare | call
your attention to the number of deaths
from tuberculosis. 1888 in the year 1915. A
distinguished authority has estimated the
pecuniary loss alone from this waste OF
life and productive energy at IS, 600 an
ually for the State of Maine. Our cam
paign against this disease should include
larger powers of the State Board of
Health for control of advanced cases
better support of institutions providing
treatment for patients and a wider pro-
gram of education. Public opinion need
to be further aroused to the necessity
of decreasing and if possible stamping
out altogether this destructive scourge.
ii is not sufficient, however. to conten,
ourselves with the treatment of this dis
ease More stringent measures should he
taken for its prevention Undoubtedly
many new cases are caused every wear
by human consumption of milk from
cows affected with tuberculosis. sue.
gest State law forbidding the sale OF
milk from INFESTED COWS The State
Board OF Health might we'll be given
charge Of the enforcement of this law
together with other laws involving the
question of public health.
One of the most common dangers To
the public health is the pollution of the
sources Of domestic water supply. The
State Board Of Health alone or in con.
junction with the Public Utilities Com.
mission should be given adequate power
to prevent such pollution. A water com.
pany or water district ought not to be
compelled. to purchase all the land sur.
rounding its source of supply in order to
protect the health of it's customers.
Inc expansion of our program for care
segregation and treatment of the feeble.
minded is one of the States most urgen,
needs. No further expenditures for ex-
tension of plant should be made, how.
ever. until there has been a thorough in.
Vestigation of the whole problem with
the aid of the best expert advice that car
be obtained. Appropriations for improve.
ments should be made available for ex.
penditure in the discretion of the Cover.
nor and Council after the results of such
an investigation are available.
Labor
1t is a necessary condition of real pros.
perity in state that industry profitable
to capital. be steadily prosecuted by com.
petent and contented workmen whose Ia.
Dor is adequately rewarded and per.
formed under rea soDahlv co,,fo-.,h,.