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 could not be born or married and could not die without sharing his substance with ecclesiastics. If we are not careful, another time will come when we cannot drink or breathe without paying tribute to those who have secured control of the natural supplies of water and air. Probably nine-tenths of the charters for water companies which have come before me in the last two years have been instances in which the parties securing the grants had no intention of supplying water to consumers, but sought to get privileges which would be available in the market. It is a subject of difficulty and ought to be studied.

Section VII, Article 8, of the constitution, adopted November 5, 1901, at an election by the people, provides: “All laws regulating the holding of elections by the citizens or for the registration of electors shall be uniform throughout the state, but laws regulating and requiring the registration of electors may be enacted to apply to cities only: Provided, That such laws be uniform for cities of the same class.” The adoption of this amendment indicates that some changes in the present system of registration were deemed to be necessary. I recommend that proper legislation to comply with this provision of the constitution receive your attention.

At the last session of the general assembly, an act was passed requiring newspapers to exercise reasonable care with respect to what they published, and further requiring them to print upon the editorial page the names of those responsible for the publication. Although, as was natural, it caused some adverse criticism upon the part of many of those affected by it, the requirement of the publication of the names of the editors and business managers was at once obeyed by the press of the state, and the act has resulted in a marked improvement in the amenities of journalism in so far as they concern persons in private life. It is also evident that the act met with the grateful approval of the people. At the recent election, of those members of the senate and house who voted for this bill, seventy-six were re-elected and two were defeated. Of those who voted against the bill, twenty-eight were re-elected and ten were defeated. Of those who voted against the bill 26.3 per cent, and of those who supported it 2.5 per cent were defeated. Further legislation is required for the protection of the commonwealth from the injury to her reputation and the disadvantage to the administration of her affairs which arise from the prevalent dissemination of scandalous inventions concerning her officials and their efforts in her behalf. It is not only an unseemly spectacle, but it is a crime which the state ought to 538