The Portland daily press., 1866-01-05


bank from which they were converted, to
very large amount, without filing any bond, O
furnishing any additional security to the pub
iic. Ii this course of proceeding is tolerated
IL may happen that the bills of such bank
Will be issued up to the last day when the SUI
rendering bank is liable to redeem the same
and large amount of its currency kept afioat
having no legal sponsor to redeem it, an,
whose value will depend solely upon the hon
or Of those who have put it on the public
This has never been regarded in Maine, as al
adequate pasis for bank circulation. The faitl
" the State is involved to the extent of guard
MI tS against possible abuse of this kind. Tht
;sn, Dns, except for the authority it has given tt
=, .'tI az tneni, would be worthless, and contro
VI then issue should be reserved to it unit
sney are retired and DESTROYED. 1t will be fol
YOU you W look INTO this subject and ascertain il
tnere IS any danger tIom this source. and if SO
W guard against 1t, II possible. 1 would suo-
geSt In all cases where the bills of Stofe
bank are to be employed subsequently to the
surrender OF its charter and conversion into q
national association, that State tax be levied
on such circulation.
The addition of the State note circulation
above referred to, added to the national cur
rency issued by the banks, helps to swell the
amount, and L deem it proper that the State
require the earliest practical redemption OF
these notes, doing thereby its part in contract
ing the volume of the currency, and as a mat
ter OF safety TO the public.
l would likewise suggest that the banks
surrendering their charters shall be required
TO return as often as once in three months, the
amount OF their bills in circulation, to the
Secretary of State, until the time allowed for
the closing of their affairs expires, which re-
turns he shall cause to be published in such
newspapers and for such time as the Legisla-
ture may prescribe. Additional notice should
also be given of the time when the obligation
OF banks surrendering their charters, to re-
deem their bills, ceases. 1 advise that this no
Hce shall be given in each case by the Secre-
tary OF State, who shall publish the same in
certain designated newspapers during the last
three months of the existence of the bank.
for such time as the Legislature may provide,
Inc notice now given, at the time of the vote
to surrender, naturally passes out of the pub
nc mind, but the renewal OF it towards the
close OF the banks existence, viii arrest pub
lie attention, and secure return of the bills
In season to save loss to the community.
N- BoUNTIEs, ETC.
The expenditures of the State for bounties
and other military purposes have ruE up to mil
lions, instead ofthe few hundred thousands re-
CURED for the civil expenses in times of peace.
1t IS not surprising that suggestions and insin-
uations OF fraud in the disbursement of these
large sums, should obtain currency II not Gre
dence. BY the law granting State bounties in
1864, cities and towns were not authorized.
but substantially inhibited from the PAYMENT
OF bounties, the State having made large pro-
vision therefor. But these municjpalities
moved by the anxiety of their citizens to es,
cape the conscription, almost universally vot-
ed lavish sums to ill their quotas, and ap-
pealed to the Legislature OF 1885 to sanction
their proceedings, which was done. The ae-
ton OF the cities and towns at the time being
without color Of legal authority, the Execu-
tive Of the State disclaimed all supervision or
control except TO insist that they must be bound
by law of the State. so tar as thess CORPORA
tions are concerned, the agreement to pay boun-
ties or sums for the filing of quotas, was a
contract between them and the recruit or the
agent OF the town, whether a substitute bro
ker by profession, or the specially authorized
agent OF the municipality, to be enforced In
the same manner as other contracts, subject
TO the legal rights OF the parties. So far as
the payment Of State bounty was concerned,
every possible precaution was enjoined upon
the officials having charge thereof, to prevent
the payment OF the same to any party but the
recruit himself, or to the municipal autholi-
ties, who had previously and according to law,
advanced any portion of it to such soldier
The rule in disbursing these bounties, when
not advanced. by the towns-and only small
portion was so advanced-was to withhold
them until the organization was ready and
about to leave for the field, when the soldiers
composing it were mustered in a body and all
paid at the same time. Occasionally absen-
tees did not get their bounty at the time of
the general payment. The total number of
| these was small, and great care was observed
that they should be paid on sufficient and well
authenticated vouchers. No well-erounded
complaint has reached me that the State boun-
ty has not been honestly and fairly paid.
Under the circumstances of the case, the
war being ended, and as the books OF this ae-
count should be closed, would suggest that
the Legislature cause thorough Investigation
to be made into the financial management Of
| the State and into all other departments of
the public service, that the people may lealn
whether they have been properly and faithful
ly served or not. This is due to the people
and to the gentlemen who have had charge of
public affairs during the protracted struggle
through which we have passed and under
the vastly increased responsibilities imposed
thereby. .-7'44a % ..-..'I, -
',a. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. .1g-
For the condition of the various institutions
maintained by or under the State, you are re-
| ferred to the several reports of the officers
thereof Those in the State have all been vis-
tied by the Governor and Council the past
| year, and those beyond its limits by the Coun-
| Gil. From the examination made they appear
to be progressing satisfactorily and still entitled
to the continued favor of our people.
An appropriation Of $4,000 for building an
additional wing 10 the Insane Hospital, was
made by the Legislature of 1865. The crowd
ed condition Of the institution rendered this
indispensable. The work was commenced
under the direction of the Trustees, upon
whom the expenditure was devolved. The
work done has been of the most permanent
character. Causes well understood have made
the cost much heavier than in former times
| When the walls were completed the appro-
priation had become exhausted. 1t was of
| the highest necessity that they should be COW
| cred by roof to protect what had already
been done, from injury by the storms and
| frosts of the coming winter. The Governor
and Council having fully examined and con-
| sidered the subject, advised the prosecution of
| the work to that extent, and an advance from
the Treasury to do it. The necessity of the
| case required the erection Of the addition, and
good economy demanded that what had been
done, should not be suffered to incur injury
| from exposure. I can have 70 doubt that you
| will justify the action of the executive depart
ment of the government and make an appro-
priation which shall finish the structure. The
number OF insane persons in the State is such,
and increasing with its growth, as to make fur
ther accommo odation for them indispensable. An
additional wing, of the size of the one in pro-
cess Of construction, will make the present
hospital as large as it should be- Patients al
ready there are to fill it. Probably it may be
postponed some little time, but its necessity
will become more pressing every year. The
erection of another hospital at some other
point in the State, will without question be
required to supply the wants of this unfortu-
nate class. The numbers accommodated by
the present institution, when completed, will
be as great as can properly be cared fo- under
one Superintendent, and as large as, from
sanitary considerations, can be grouped to-
gether. mention what Ibelieve will, at an
early day. becomea public need, not with a
view to any action by you, but for the purpose
of presenting it to the attention of the peo-
pie, ' A 1a..
The affairs of the State Prison since the ac-
cession of the present warden, Mr.. Rice, have
exhibited very dattering improvement over
| anY nreYiolls neriod of L. historu IIpdon H.