The Portland daily press., 1864-01-18

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clerk was employed during a portion of Oc-
tober and November, while the pressure of
business was very great, and thirty dollars
paid him by Mrs. Sampson. The Committee
having no authority to allow this claim, rec
onmend that the Association authorize the
Executive Committee to settle the same.
During the above period, from April / to
January /, 1864, one thousand soldiers be-
longing TO Maine regiments and batteries have
received assistance through the agency of the
Association. During the Month of December,
one hundred and eighty letters were written
at The Agency and one hundred end seventy
received. These letters were written by Mrs.
Sampson and Mr. Watson. The same month
seyenty-three boxes, barrels and packages
were received at the store-rooms, and nearly
all of them distributed according to directions
A case of flannel clothes has been received
from Acknowledgement Hodsdon. A large
and valuable contribution of clothes has been
received from Winthrop, and from Bath many
packages of necessary articles have been sent
to the Association.
At the present time the labors of the Asso-
citation have very greatly increased. The
business required of them has assumed a new
character. In most cases, our soldiers seek
ing furlough or discharge, or who have OBJ
tainedthe necessary papers entitlingthep to fur
Tough or discharge, are helpless to accomplish
their object without assistance. Every help
has been rendered these classes of soldiers
and in order TO be able to visit more frequent
ly and report more systematically the pa
tients in hospital, more force win be required
at the office.
The Executive Committee respectfully pre-
sent for the consideration OF the Association
the foregoing facts.
1t will be seen by this report that the sti-
pend received from the State is merely in
tended to defray the expenses Of the Agency,
and in fact is no longer adequate to that end
The Association is still as ever dependent on
the voluntary contributions of its members
and of the people of the State for means to
relieve necessities continually brought under
its observation. general impression has
somehow arisen at home, that the State has
given the Association authority to assume the
general care OF our sick, wounded, and needy
soldiers, with carte blanche Tor all necessary
expenses. The people give freely TO the San
itary and Christian Commissions. That is
right, but there can be not shadow of doubt
that while onr own soldiers are suffering for
the relief which the Association cannot ALWAYS
furnish, it is only a misapprehcnson of the
facts which stays full and steady stream of
supplies, ample enough far every need. There
are many who do not give to national commits
sions, who would willingly contribute to the
relief OF our own troops; there are many
more who, not neglecting other organizations,
would give again and more freely to the State
association. Whatever contribution comes to
the rooms /of the Association, passes intact
to the benefit of the soldier. There are no
charges and tariffs to defray expenses; the
agency is maintained by the State. and its SER
vices to the people on the one hand and the
soldiers on the other are as free as air.
The State itself will need to provide more
literally for the Agency than hitherto The
duties Of the agents have become much more
arduous within two or three months Here
are only two agents, and an annual expendi-
ture OF s24oo. New Jersey, with actually
fewer soldiers on duty and in hospital in this
vicinity, employs an agent and two assistants.
at an annual expense Of $500. The Massa-
chusetts agency cost $4,000 year, and en-
ploys seven men. New York and Pennsylya-
mia pay their agents $1,000 apiece, and New
York furnishes twenty-five assistants. In
view Of these facts and the high prices now
ruling in this city, it was voted last evening to
raise the salary of Mr.. Watson to 1920 per
daaum, and Mrs. Simpsons to $50 month.
provided the State Government sees fit to au-
thorize the additional expense. This is an act
of the simplest justice. The labors of the
agency are infinitely more complicated than
those OF any clerkship, while the lowest rate
OF compensation in any of the Departments is
That at which Mr.. Watson's salary is condi-
uonally fixed by this vote. A memorial,
drawn up by the officers of the Association,
and endorsed by our entire Congressional
delegation and the Vice President, will in due
time bring this matter formally before the
Governor and Council. ii. W.R.