The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-03

such repairs on the foundation of the monu-
ment, erected by the State at Bath to the MEM
CRY. OF the late Major General William King,
and on the grounds and fence enclosing the
same, as were found necessary to put them in
good condition. The expense incurred was
one hundred and fifteen dollars.
PENoBsCoT TRIBE OF INDIANS.
The trust funds of this tribe now amount to
about $73 900 which is deposited in the State
Treasury The interest amounting to nearly
$4, 400 is expended by the Indian agent for sup
port of the poor, and for other necessities of |
the tribe
By the terms of the existing treaty the State
is'bound to furnish certain articles amounting |
to about 49, 900 annually. The State has also |
made annually further appropriation of about |
the same sum. The rents of the shores and |
islands owned by the tribe have been largely |
increasing, and now amount to about $4,000 |
annually. This is added to the Trust Fund. as |
the law provides. The Indians see no reason |
why 'ney may not have the proceeds of the |
rehts ior tnelr present use. AS there is no |
speeIai occasion Tor the increase of this trust |
this income to be used for the beneft Of the |
tribe; the State could then be relieved from the
special appropriation usually made leayi,o on
ly the obligations of the treaty to be provided
INSURANCE.
The Insurance Commissioner, in his last an
nual report makes some suggestions in regard
to important change in the insurance laws, to
which 1 invite your attention.
This is subject in which all classes of our
people are deeply interested. No wise man
deems it prudent to invest the means on which
| he and his family depend for support in prop
erty liable to be destroyed, or in business with
out some form of insurance.
The great fires in Chicago and Boston which
| carried down so many insurance companies,
and by which many of cur own citizens have
| suffered severely, have attracted attention to
the general management of insurance compa-
nies,and their failure to meet their obligations in
| emergencies when the insured most needs the
| relief Tor Which he supposed he had provided
| The failure of an insurance company to meet
its obligations affects not only the person who
is compelled directly to suffer the 1oss but he
may In consequence, fail to meet his own liza
bilities, and carry many others down with him.
Besides this, it is no little annoyance when
one supposes he is insured to find his policy
worthless whether his property has been de-
strOyed or not 1t would seem that as fire
and marine insurance companies doing bust
ness In this State, only pay back for losses
little more than fifty per cent of what they re-
ceiye from the insured, they should be able to
accumulate enough to meet any liabilities that
business men of ordinary prudence would as
sumo in single city. If my Judgment is not
at fault, no company should have been al
lowed to take risks in Boston any other city
beyond what they could meet if the whole city
had been destroyed.
The people expect to pay large rates for in
surance, but, having done that, they very prop
erly desire to know that they are absolutely in
sured. After man has paid one or two thous-
and dollars a year for fifteen or twenty years
for insurance, and then meets loss by which
he is entitled to one-half what he has paid the
companies in which he is insured. it is hard for
him to be informed that he must settle for fifty
cents on adollar, and yet such cases are not
uncommon. Itwould certainly be wise to linn
it the amount of risks which companies are al.
lowed to take to their ability to meet any liability
that could arise in the ordinary course of events
i The amount paid by life insurance companies
, on account of losses is SO small compared with
what they receive from the insured (being less
, than sixteen per cent that they can hardly fai
to be in condition to meet their liabilities.
The State of Maine pays to life insurance com
panies out of the State nearly million dollars al
uually more than is received for losses. This fol
the present at least is SO much capital removed
from the State every year, and suggests wheth
er 1t would not be advisable to require a portion
of this capital to be invested in the State
! where it would aid our own business enterpris
es.
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS AND SESSIONS OF THE LEG
STATURE.
deem it my duty to renew my previous
Recommendation relating to biennial elections
: and sessions of the legislature and change O.
: the day of the annual election to the Tuesda,
. next after the first Monday in November. MY
= convictions in regard to the advantages of thes
!, changes have been strengthened since tn
! recommendation was made two years ago. TIL
: organization of railroad and all other corpora
tions where only the power and rights usual,
granted are sought for,-which hope will no
:. be delayed beyond this session,-will make an
4 nnal sessions emit rely unnecessary except il
/, special emergencies, when the Legislature car
be convened by the executive This woud.sav,
! one-haf OF the time and expense of elections
and the political cam paigns that precede them
and some fifty thousand dollars of Legislative
expenses every two years. The interests of Law
| and order will not suffer by the change; an,
e the Legislature, being relieved of the excit
lug and sometimes demoralzing questions il
which large monied corporations are interested
a would be at liberty to devote more time witt
, greater singleness of purpose to necessary leg
: isation. ID 3HfH 3 -as I.af .effI+
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. .-ltr -s.1
The question of renewing the geological sur
: vey of the State will be presented for youl
consideration. 1t is believed that such a sur
vey would bring to light treasures that now lie
buried or unappreciated within the State. The
amount of wealth already foun l in the partially
; developed condition of the State justifes thu
, expectation that great advantage will be gain
| ed by complete knowledge of our hidden re-
sources. Ft CT Er-a sEf z
BARBOR COMMISSIONERS
Your attention will be called to the prophet,
OF establishing State Board of Harbor Com
| misSionerS. l am not prepared to make an,
recommendations on the subject, but man;
whose business and observation lead them to it!
consideration, are of the opinion tibet such {
board would be of great advantage to the com
mercial interests of the State.
BATTLE FLAGS AND TROPHIES
The last legislature made an appropriation
ITO be expended under the direction of the
} Governor and Council in providing suitabl,
cases for the preservation of the colors and tro
ph!es IN the rotunda of the capitol" Suitable
} cases havn been provided and the colors an6
trophies appropriately arranged.
1t is fitting that, as we and those who come
after us enter this building, eyes shall first
: rest upon these silent but eloquent reminders
OF our great national struggle. They will brin.
to remembrance the price this generation has
paid for the preservation of our national union
and inspire devotion to is principles.
Ihe soldier as he gazes upon the old regi
mental flags under which he fought so braveiy
and tr:umphed so gloriously, and reads the
names OF the battles inscribed upon their folds,
and calls freshly to remembrance the irving
scenes attending them, will drop tear for the
memory of comrades lost, and breathe a prayer
for the country he loves better than life.
Every star, every stripe, every color and letter
OF these battle torn flags are sacred to him
who loves the cause they represent Let them
re faithfully protected and sacredly pre-
served. =. -
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION
A centennial exhibition in commemoration
OF our independence is to be held in Philade-
phla in 1776 The Commissioner for the State
OF Maine has attended all the meetings of the
Commissioners, and reports that the prelimina-
| ",
Maine should be especially interested in this
exhibition, as 1t will give our citizens an OBJ
portunity to bring the products of our industry
to the attention of the people of our own and
other nations. 1t if fitting that this State re-
spond promptly to any demands for the pro-
motion OF this great national enterprise.
.7 IMPROPER LEGISLATION.
My duty on this occasion would be but mar
TALLY performed if I should fail to renew the
suggestions made to your predecessors in regard
to special and private legislation. An inspec-
ton of the acts of the last legislature, shows
that the number of public laws passed was
eighty-seven; and that they were printed on
hfty-fve pages of the volume in which thew
are published by the State: while the private
and special acts number one hundred and nine
one, and cover two hundred and eight pages.
Some of these latter acts are for the organiza-
ton of companies, for which ample provisions
are already made by law. One half at least
OF this legislation could be saved by appropri.
ate laws, based upon general principles. with
| suitable limitations and restrictions This
would save delay and expense to the parties
interested, and secure more exact Justice and
greater uniformity in the application of the
law. 1t would also save much time of the leg
islatuae, and reduce the expenses of the State.
Great caution should also be used by legis-
4