Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-01-15

ing the existing military establishment
WIN an encampnient. would not hereafte,
exceed nine thousand dollars. The stats
couId hardly meet the reasonable expecta,
tions or the national government, or ex
erclse common prudence in providing II.
sell with iorce to meet any internal exi.
gency, without maintaining a yoluptee,
militia, which in case of necessity could bt
promptly expanded from one regiment in
70 ten or more. And IL seems to me clear
that our present volunteer companies can
not be well maintained without an animal
encampment.
SOLDIERS OF THE LATE WAR.
Among the obligations which pratef,,
State and nation recognize as pecnliarlv
sacred, 10 thGe Of generously caring for the
destitute families Of soldiers who Lost their
lives or were disabled in the late war tc
preserve the national existence. With
wnat hdeiify this debt Of gratitude is being
met Dy this State, as well as BY the Ameri.
can people, Is known to all. And vet our
ooixations to the men who took their lives
IN their hands and went forth at the cali of
their country, will not be redeemed so lone
as there shall remain a destitute .sboy in
Dlue, or an INDECENT family of a living or
ueau soldier, whose necessities are not sup
Pneo ana supplied too, not as paupers,
ous rs citizens who are only receiving
what they have more than earned.
10 this end, the national government
mas during the past year paid the yenerons
sum Of 81 24 $40 TO lO,s6O pensioners in
Maine and this State. under the direction
OF the Adjutant General. the sum of s2I :.
oio TO aid soldiers families S2,477 to aid
Ia the support OF soldiers orphans under
the charge Of the Board of Guardians ::
ano $lo,ooo for support of soldiers or
pnahs at the Bath Home, and Sl, 600 at the
bangor home. l suggest that the Board
o! Guardians OF INDECENT Orphans of SOL
uiers ana seainen, be abolished, and their
duties and funds transferred to the Pension
Department of the Adjutant Generals Of
nee, which can discharge this trust more
conveniently, Systematically and economi-
cally than under the present system. II
Will be incumbent on you either to con-
tinee in force the pension act of 1871.
which expired by limitation at the close of
1873; or II this shall not seem to fully meet
the obligations of the State to enact anoth-
er law more liberal in its provisions.
THE ORPHAN ASYLUM.
Inc Bangor Home is a general Orphan
Asylum, emnently deserving of the con-
TiDutioh OF generous people and so far
as IL cares Tor INDECENT orphans of soldiers.
u snould receive aid from the State, The
Bath Home has at the present time nearly
W children in its charge, all but three of
whom are soldiers orphans; and has fond
homes for other soldiers orphans in pri
vate families during the year. This work
reflects the highest honor on those liberal
minded men and women who have contri-
buted to found a Soldiers Orphans Home.
ana deserves continuance of the bounty
OF the State
MEMORIAL DAY.
In view of the fact that the thirtieth dav
OF May OF each year has been designated
Dy the Grdnd Army of the Republic AS the
Soldiers. Memorial Day, and is every year
coming To be more generally dedicated to
services commemorative of the noble men
VINO III the late struggle for national lite
gave their lives in defence of the Union.
there seems TO me to be eminent propriety
IN giving the same legal recognition 10 the
DAY ia tins state, as is given to other -hoIi.
days, and as has already been given by the
State OF New York. Such graceful act
would be deserved and tender tribute tn
the memory of that noble band who re-
sponded to the call OF this State for aid in
her time of need, and who rest in ceme-
teries In this and other States. or in name
less graves where they fell, in Virginia, in
the Carolinas, wherever the banner of free
uom was borne. Nay, it would be an elo
qurht teacher OF the duty and honor OF
patriotism, and would place the day which
honors the nations salvation side by side
with the day which celebrates its birth.
THE NATIONAL CENTENARY.
by authority of an act of Congress, ap-
proved March 3, 1871, "A Board of Commjs-
sioners was appointed by the President TO
prepare and superinteud the execution of
plan for the national celebration of the
one Hundredth Anniversary OF the Inde-
pendence of the United States, by the
holding OF an exhibition of arts, manufac-
lures and products of the soil aud mine. at
Philadelphia, during the summer of 1876.
The Centennial Commission, ably repre-
sented on the part of the State by Hon.
Joshua Nye as Commissioner, and Hon.
charles L. kimball aS Alternate Commis-
sioner, have made most successful pro-
gress in arranging such an international
exhibition as will serve as fitting recogui
ton OF 50 important a national event, and
at the same time as worthy exposition of
our progress III literature, art, science and
industry. 10 further the objects of the
Exhibition, and secure an appropriate rep
resentation of the Industries of the several
States, the Commissioners invite Maine to
appoint Board of Directors consistin- .,y
five members, who, with the Comm~> io,,cr
and Alternate Commissioner, shall cousti-
tute the state Board of Centennial Mana
gers, upon whom will devolve The respon-
sibilty of seeing that the State is properly
represented in the Exhibition, and all its
interests there faithfully cared for. | rec
ommend that you authorize the appoint
ment OF such Directors, to serve without
compensation.
MAINE IN THE NATIONAL srATUARY HALL
BY an act of Congress passed few years
since, the several States were invited to
furnish not exceeding two marble or
bronze statues of citizens illustrious tor
their patriotism or distinguished services,
to be placed in the old hall of the House
OF Representatives at Washington. which
was set apart as National Statuary Hall.
Many States, including all of New Eng
land, except Maine and New Hampshire
have responded to the invitation. 1t
would be peculiarly appropriate for you to
take such preliminary action as might re-
suit in giving this State, on the approach
ing centennial anniversary of American In.
dependence, the honor of contributing to
this national collection the statute of Ma
jor General Knox, the distinguished citizen
soldier, whose illustriOus services. both in
the struggle that gave our nation birth. and
subsequently in the cabinet of the illustri-
Ous Washington, have conferred imperish-
able renown upon the State and the Ma
ton.
RAILROAD INTERESTS.
The report of the Railroad Commission
ers gives detailed account of the pro-
gress and condition of the important rail-
road interests of the State, and makes rec
concentrations to which your attention is
directed. Inasmuch as the Board of Rail-
road Commissioners must, from the grow
ing Importance OF railroads, be charged
with as high and delicate duties, within
the sphere in which they act, as are oppos-
ed even upon the courts of justice, sug
gest whether it would not better compor
with the dignity of the STATE and the indie
pendence of the Office, if the salaries of the
Commissioners should be paid from the
State Treasury, and the State itself shoult
assess the several railroad corporation,
for the amount of the same.