Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-02-19

Mr., Stewart Of the Senate on Frida,
of last week reported the following bill to
lcsalize the doings of cities and towns, in
raising hountles for soldiers &c. The bill
was read twice and passed to be engrossed
AN ACT to ,cgalizc the doings of cities,
towns and plantations, in raising boun-
ties to be paid to volunteers. drafted men
and their substitutes. since Feb 81. 1864
Be Il enacted By the Senate and House o,
Of Representatives in Legislature assem-
bed, as foiiows,
SECTION |. The acts and doings oil
cities, towns and plantations, since Feb.
-, 1864, in paving, or agreeing to pay
bountes to volunteers, drafted men, ,or
substitutes have been. or shall hereafter be
actually mustered into the military service
of the United States, are hereby made
valid.
SrCT >. All votes passed by any CITY.
town or plantation, nj n meeting called for
the purpose of raising such hounties. and
all contracts for that purpose made or au-
thorizcd to be made, at such meeting, are
hereby made valid
SECr. }. All contracts hy the municip-
al officers oil any city, town or plantation
that has voted to raise bountics. made with
any such volunteer, drafted man. or sub
stitutc. for the payment of his bounty. and
not exceeding the amount voted, are here
by made valid.
SECT. 1. All contracts made nv said
officers with third persons or corporations
for the purpose OF raising money to pay
such bounties, under any previous vote Of
the town, are hereby made valid.
Sect. 5. All contracts made by such
municipal officers. or BY third persons. in
behalf of any city, town or plantation but
without previous authority therefor. to pay
bountics TO volunteers. drafted men or sub
siitutcs. or to raise money to pay such
bountics, where such volunteers, drafted
men or substitutes have been. or shall
hereafter be actually mustered into the SER
vice OF the United States. may be ratified
and confirmed by said city. town or planta-
ton.
SECT. +. All votes OF cities. towns or
plantations to pay expenses Of recruiting
for their several quotas, and all contracts
made in pursuance of such votes, where
expenses have been or shall hereafter be
incurred upon the strength thereof, are
hereby made valid.
SEcr.1 Any city. town or plantation
having voted. OF thar shall SO vote, may
fund the debt incurred in raising money to
pay the bountics aud expenses authorized
by this act, and also those authorized BY
the act Of Feb. 81, 1868; and may issue
bonds thcrctor,with coupons attached bear
ing interest not exceeding 8 per cent. pay
able semi-annually, and redeemable at such
time is they may vote, not, however, ex-
ceeding twenty years.
SECT. :. Such bonds. when issued ny
cities, shall BE- signed by the mayor and
treasurer: when issued by towns, they
shall be signed by the sclectmen or ma
jo-'ty thereof, and also by the treasurer ::
when issued by plantations, they shall be
signed hs the assessors and Treasurer. But
in ali cases, the signature of the treasurer
the coupons shall be sufficient.
SEor. q. Nothing in this act shall be
construed rs making valid 81 much Of any
contract herein named, as. by the existing
Ian OF the state. is nsurieus.
SgCT. 10. An taxes that have been as
scssed TO pay bounties, or TO fulfill con-
tracts for the objects named in this act,
are hcrch, ratified, confirmed, and made
valid.
SEPT. IL. Authority Is hereby confer
ned upon cities, towns and plantations to
ASSESS and collect in the usual manner, all
taxes necessary for the payment Of such
heuuties, contracts and expenses authori.,>a
hy this act, a remain unpaid.
Seer. IL. This act shall not be under
stood OF construed as making valid the vote
Of any city. town or plantation to raise
money to be paid by way OF Communication
to relieve or dischar e any person drafted.
or liable to be drafted, into the military
service of the United States, under or hy
authority Of any &C, Of Congress, when
such person has neither been mustered
into said service, or furnished a destitute.
Bu, all such votes, and all contracts for
such purpose. by any city, town or planta-
ton, or by any officer or other person in
behalf thereof, are hereby declared ALSO
lutcly void.
SECT, II. This &C; shall take effect
when approved b, the Governor.