The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-02-16

Ammunition Of Town Debts
The majority and minority reports OF the
Sno.;ol Committee on Assumption are as fol-
lows: Z
An Act to equalize the oar expenditures of the
several cities, tO1onS and plantations.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives. in Legislature assembled, as
foLLo,cS:
SEC. l. AS soon as may be after the passage
of this act, and before the thirtieth day OF sep
TENDER next,the Governor and Council snail eA
anime the accounts of the several clues, toMms
and plantations in the State Tor furhisn thee
men to the State under the several cans =. u sIn.
President of the United States tnereiol ~ W Zach
press the late rebellion; and shaia t a exnendi
an amount not exceeding its actus ra "a ;,,a;
ture for bountes paid and the necessity ,; NJ,
dental expenses attending the saiie e ns
each to produce its vouchers anu luln ish any
necessary aid in settling sau anu ioi
this service the Governor and Couhcii shall be
ant;tInd to n reasonable compensation to be
paid by the State.
tanned with interest to the first day of Janua-
nv eighteen hundred aud siXty-seven, and GER
tilted to the treasurer, he shall notify the seye-
raj cities, towns and plantations OF the amount
allowed to each; and shall execute in due form
the bonds of the State for their benefit, in sums
of one thousand. five hundred, and one hum
whole sum allowed, not exceeding two millions
of dollars; but if one third exceeds two mil
lions, then each shall receive its proportion OF
that sum, Said bonds shall be payable at any
time within twenty years with interest couc
pons attached payable annually at the rate OF
SIX per cent, and shall be kept in the State
treasury until sold, and may then be register
ed in the name of the holder, and princlPie
and interest made payable only 10 his
order at any bank in this State or boston az
the option of the treasurer. o;.r
SEC.3 The bonds belonging TO any 1iIy,
town or plantation that votes SO to do, shaiI ps
sold by the State treasurer If they can De Soid
at par; and the amount SO receNeu en1'i NC
paid to the treasurer OF such clues, towhs ana
plantations and applied to the payment OF the
Indebtedness thereof or if not in debt, to pay
State taxes current town expenses or for the
sunnort of schools as the town may vote; and
while said bonds remain unsold, the interest
shall be applied to the same purposes; and for
convenience in paying such interest and State
taxes the balance only may be RENTED.
SEC. L. In addition to the ordinary State
tax, a tax of one and One-half mills ON the dol
lar shall be annually assessed on the State val
uation for the purpose Of paying the interest
ON said bonds and as a sinking fund for the pur-
chase or payment thereof whether owned by
the town or an diyidual; and in paving sad
bonds before maturity from said sinking fund,
the treasurer shall give preference to towns
whose necessities appear to be the greatest
koEC. ANY luOncy IcCtlNcu lIOll lllb u UlL-
ed States on account of the war claims of the
State on the general government shall be APP
piled towards paying the indebtedness of the
State in such manner as the treasurer with the
advice of the governor and council may deter
mine. aI. FfBHt go blti ,'ha p
SEC 6. This act shall take effect from and
after its approyalby the governor 1ai 1850
r ss. MINORITY RESOLVES. m
Resoloes relative to the assumption by the State
OF the municipal aCdr debts. i9HNf'l
WHEREAs,--The question of the assumption
and equalization of the war debts of the cities
towns and plantations of this State, has receiy-
ed the attention of several legislatures, and has
the approval of a joint select committee of this
legislature, provided the same be practicable
having a due regard to the principles OF ius-
tice to all parties interested therein.
ResolUed, That the governor and council be
and they are herein authorized and directed to
apply to their justices of the supreme Judicial
court for their opinion upon the constitutional
right and power of the State to assume and
equalize such expenditures, and, if in the opin-
ion of the court the State have such right and
power the governor and council shall appoint
a commission of five persons who shall have
full power to investigate and obtain all re-
quisite information in regard to the expendi-
lures of cities, towns and plantations for war
purposes, with power to send for persons and
papers and shall thereafter establish some
equitable basis Tor the assumption thereof, hav-
ing due regard as far as practicable to the cir
cumstances and considerations which may
have attended or affected the amount of said
ndebtedness-such as private contributions
and donations and furnishing of representa-
tive substitute, SO called, and other similar
causes which may have ightened the burdens
OF cities, towns and plantations. They shall
also make particular inquiry in regard to cases
in which extravaganza, lack of patriotism, OF
both may have materially affected the amount
OF such expenditures and shall exercise due re-
gard to those cities, towns and plantations
which have paid no bOunties, or have furnish
ed larger relative proportion without boun-
ties. fiB 5sH3 hs4 ~
Resoloed, That said commission be and is
hereby directed to consider the propriety OF an
equitable equalization of such expenditures, by
designating aspeeific sum mot exceeding in
the aggregate the gross amount OF said expen-
ditures as ascertained by this commission) to
be allowed for each man furnished from the
several cities, towns and plantations upon the
respective quotas. III d +...'s .t,T iitz
ReSOiOed That said commission shall give a
full account and report of said equity and fur
nsh all the data, whereby they are able to ar
rive at an equitable plan for assumption and
equalization and shall report the same for the
action of the next legislature.
Resolved That to defray the expenses incur
red IN the execution of the above resolves, the
governor be and is hereby authorized and di-
rected to draw his warrant from time to time
for said expenses, provided, they are audited
and allowed by the governor and council. ,as.
FREDERICK Robe,
j. M. MASON, -