employed. We must necessarily, to accomplish this end, inform other countries what we produce and have to dispose of to find the best markets, or perhaps any at all. There is to be an Industrial Exposition in Paris in the Republic of France either in 1900 or 1901. These expositions are one of the most potent agencies by and through which the nations of this world inform each other of their products and resources, both from the soil and by manufacture. The United States government has secured ample space and has taken steps to have this country make an exhibit worthy of this great progressive western nation. It is for you to determine what, if anything, the State of Maine shall appropriate to be used in this behalf. It has been suggested by His Excellency, Governor Wolcott of Massachusetts, that it may be advisable for all the New England States to unite and present a New England exhibit. Doubtless by so doing we could make it much more creditable and attractive, with less cost to the several states participating, and at his suggestion an informal meeting of the governors of the several New England states was held in Boston, last spring, to discuss this proposition of having the New England states represented together in the exposition. It was the consensus of opinion that a joint exhibit would be the better policy. Nothing definite was formulated or agreed upon, as most of the governors, at that time, had no authority to act, and I now submit the matter to you with this statement of facts without any further special recommendation. It falls to your lot to put a period to the legislation in our State for the nineteenth century, for your term of office will extend a few days beyond its sunset hour, and it is your privilege, as well as duty, to enact laws in harmony and keeping with the spirit of the time. Maine will in the future, as in the past, be true to every requirement and demand imposed upon it by the march of events. It will cheerfully accept its share and do its full duty in helping to settle any problems relating to the future responsibilities of our national government, growing out of the recent war with Spain. Whatever new obligations changed conditions shall place upon us in our career as a nation, we shall not shrink from them, but as in duty bound, accept them in honor and good faith, confident. in our ability, and realizing our imperative obligation to assume and solve them, in the interests of humanity, of progress and of good government. An honest and determined purpose to aid our State and nation to do this, and also to legislate for the best interests of every section and all classes of our people, should guide your deliberations, dominate and determine your votes. In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to express the wish that you may find your duties here and your associations with each other very pleasant to yourselves, and profitable to the State. LLEWELLYN POWERS. COMMUNICATIONS. AUGUSTA, January 12, 1899. To the Honorable President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives: I have the honor to transmit herewith the second biennial report of the Board of Commissioners for the promotion of uniformity of legislation in the United States, which board was created by authority of an act of the legislature of 1895, (chapter 138, Public Laws of that year.) LLEWELLYN POWERS. AUGUSTA, January 12, 1899. To the Honorable President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives: I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of the commissioners appointed by the governor, by authority of an order of the last legislature, to investigate and ascertain as to the desirability of establishing new normal schools in eastern or central Maine, with a bill for the expenses of same, accompanying. LLEWELLYN POWERS. AUGUSTA, January 12, 1899. To the Honorable President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives: I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of the Board of Registration of Medicine for 1898. LLEWELLYN POWERS. AUGUSTA, January 17, 1899. To the Senate and House of Representatives: It is with feelings of profound sorrow that I perform the painful duty of announcing to you that the Honorable Nelson Dingley, representative in Congress from the Second District, died in the city of Washington last Friday evening, at half past ten o'clock. For some time the people of Maine, and of the whole country, have watched with deep anxiety his brave struggle for life, earnestly praying that he might be spared for further usefulness to the nation. And as hope of recovery had begun to cheer and gladden their hearts, a sudden change for the worse ended his grand life, and put a period to his noble, practical and eminently useful career. We all sincerely mourn the loss of one so good, so just and so great, and tender our heartfelt sympathy to his bereaved family. As a statesman he takes a high rank among those who have wisely guided aright the republic in its onward march and who have written their names in imperishable letters high upon the nation's roll of honor. As a journalist, a legislator, a congressman, a governor, and an upright citizen, he has shown us a life and character worthy of imitation and reverence. In his long and varied public career he has been scrupulously faithful to every trust and duty-just and impartial. "Hew to the line let the chips fly where they will," was the principle which dominated and controlled all his acts. Maine will never forget his devotion to his native State and her interests, and though dead, he will continue to live in the grateful hearts and memories of all her citizens. In the halls of her legislature he began his distinguished public labors, they have closed in the capitol as the tried and trusted leader of his party in the National House of Representatives. His integrity, devotion to duty, love of right and justice, vast research, sound learning, thorough mastery and comprehension of all questions relating to finances and tariff, commanded for him on all occasions an attentive hearing and made him a recognized authority not only among his friends, but also with his political opponents. It is my deliberate judgment that in reference to these subjects he has never had a superior and but few equals on the floors of Congress. As a mark of respect I have directed that all flags on public buildings be placed at half-mast, and also that the executive departments of the State Government be closed during the day of the funeral services. It is for this legislature to take such further action in the premises as it shall deem fitting and proper. LLEWELLYN POWERS. AUGUSTA, January 17, 1899. To the Honorable President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives: I have the honor to transmit herewith a communication from the chief executive of the state of Florida, and my reply thereto, accompanied by a call for a National Militia Convention, to be holden at Tampa, Florida, on the 8th day of February, next. The object of this convention is to discuss, suggest, and perhaps formulate some general plan upon which the national guard may be reorganized and placed upon a more effective basis. Since this question of reorganization of the guard has already assumed national importance, it seems proper that I should call the attention of the legislature to the subject that it may provide for such representation of our State in the proposed convention as may seem expedient and wise. LLEWELLYN POWERS. AUGUSTA, February 6, 1899. To the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives: I have the honor to transmit herewith letter received from the President, in response to the joint resolution and invitation to visit Maine, as the guest of our State. LLEWELLYN POWERS. AUGUSTA, February 10, 1899. To the Honorable President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a concurrent resolution, recently adopted by the legislature of North Dakota, touching the submission of an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, providing for the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people. I lay this copy of resolution before you, as requested by the said legislature of North Dakota. LLEWELLYN POWERS. |