Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-04-01

Maine has lined up with the
growing army OF states that nave re-
fused to ratify the federal child labor
amendment
State house opinion on the pro
posed gasoline tax seems to be
crystalizing about d two-cent tax,
with no exemptions. There will be
a lively fight for exemption of motor
boats from the provisions of the law.
They should be. The motor boats
of the fishermen do not wear out our
highways TO any great extent.
The anti-daylight saving time act
has been signed by Gov, Brewster.
II will not become a law until ninety
days after adjournment OF the legis-
lature, or some time next July, so
those towns that wish little
daylight fling this spring may do so
without violating the law.
The direct primary question will
20 to the voters at special election
some time next fall, on the initiative
petition alone, the primary repeal
measure having been killed in the
Senate Yesterday. The only excuse
for the passage of repeal legislation
would the moral support it might
give the opposition to the primary,
and to befog the issue before the
voters. The issue will now be plain
and lean-cut-primafy or no
primary-which is as it should be.
The first intimation of what the
State tax rate might be comes from
Chairman Wadsworth OF the APP
propriations committee, who predicts
that it will be seven mills for the
next TWO years, but only on condl-
ton that the new building programs
for State institutions are turned
down. This would be a slight reduc-
ton from last year, which would be
gratifying to taxpayers. The las
legislature fixed a rate of seven mills
for 1928 and seven and one-quartef
for 1924.
Not Ellsworth Falls alone, but the
whole city. meets with great loss
in the death of Ambrose w. Ellls.
Though he had lived beyond the
wears. of useful life for most men, 1t
was not so with Mr.. Ellis. His inter-
est in his city and in his fellow towns
men, especially in his home com
munitv of Ellsworth Falls, renamed
keen, and he gave generously to
every worthy cause. His charities
were unbounded, and unostentatlous.
He will be sorely missed by many
He died rich in the love of his fellow
townsmen.
The Barwise bill, proposing an
amendment to the constitution pro
hibiting the use of public funds for
sectarian schools, was defeated in
both House and Senate last week.
lacking the necessary tWo-thlrdS
vote. The vote in the House was I'M
expected, as it was thought the Dill
would pass the House and meet its
real test in the Senate. Many close
observers of affairs at Augusta be-
lieye the defeat of this sectarlan
measure mercy CledIS luc way III
the Maher resolve, which would for
bid the use of State money for all
private schools, institutions or pur-
poses.
We publish this week on page )
a communication from L. l.. Brown
of Marlboro on the Hancock-Sulll-
van toll-bridge proposition. 1t is
calm and dispassionate presentation
of the case. The columns OF The
American are always open to COM
munica tons of this kind-the fact
that we may not agree with the
writer on the question under discus
sion has no bearing-but when dis
cussion degenerates into mere dla-
tribe and abuse of opponents, we
draw the line. Such letters do more
harm than good to the cause ad-
vocated, and are usually a confession
of weakness in argument.