The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-12-08
The bounty system in Massachusetts.

When the last call Of the President was
issued, Gov. Andrew took the bull by the
horns. at once, and went to work as though
he wonld have his state do her work and do
it well. He promptly called the Legislature
together, and that body, in consonance with
his recommendation, voted liberal bounties to
volunteers, making them uniform in all parts
of the state, and making all municipal boun-
ties, by town or city, Illegal
The Government makes liberal allowance
to recruiting officers, enough In all conscience
TO pay honest men for doing an honest patri-
otto work. II we are correctly informed they
receive SIS for each new man enlisted, and
ss5 for each veteran. Things started off well
under the arrangements provided by the state,
and all portions Of the Commonwealth stood
on equal footing, but some towns commenced
las they have done in this state-to offer
special bounties, and thus competition was
got up between different sections, which could
result only in filling up some towns quotas
rapidly while others would be left untitled.
But Gov. Andrew again took the bull by the
horns, and by General Order has directed
that all such bounties paid to enlisted men
shall be considered as SO much money paid
on account Of the Commonwealth, and that
I" II be deducted from the State Bounty at the
time Of paying the same," and he directed
the Adjutant- General to prepare the rolls ac-
cordngly. The Governor says the law forbids
all municipal bounties, and that he will en-
20 10 Hntp dapa in
directly.
1t seems that some towns have raised
money, not as bounties, but TO encourage
enlistments," which is paid to recruiting off,
GERS as extra stimulus-to make them work
for the towns thus bidding for their services,
but the plucky, efficient and sharp-set Gov
ernor nips this mischievous practice in tie
bud by the following section of General Oh
der, No. 40:
III. No recruiting officer of volunteer reg
ilnent is allowed to contract to furnish, for
hire or reward, volunteers towards filling any
quota. ANY offer to do so should be promptly
reported to these Headquarters. The offer
can only mean that the officer will endeavor
to hold back men ready to enlist, in order TO
make dishonorable gain for himself, without
adding at all to the actual force recruited TO
the credit of this Commonwealth.
The Governor says "nothing will prevent
Massachusetts, raising her contingent, unless
II shall be the injury, injustice, fraud and
delay which competitive system of boun-
" ties surely breeds and which the law for
bids" and the Boston Advertiser, commen-
ding the policy of the Order, says 1t is calcu-
tated to check serious evil, and is "glad to
know that the progress of recruiting so far
"gives good assurance that Massachusetts,
g will fill her quota at the appointed time.
There never was any doubt that she would
do so under the liberal offers made by the
State and general governments, If matters
:. were allowed to take their proper course,
undisturbed by selfish local apprehensions
q and attempts to forestall neghboring COM
"munities.''
The Advertiser learns that recruiting is
going forward with method and spirit, and
hopes that now recruiting officers and CON-
mlttecs may go to work "hopeful and resolute,
"spurning any thought Of risking general
failure by grasping unfairly at local
" success