Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-14
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Senate.


Papers from the House disposed Of in concur
renee.
To the Joint Special Committee on amendments
to the constitution relating to corporations, the
President joined Messrs. Swasey of Oxford, Don
worth Of Aroostook and Wheelwright of Penob
scot.
A commu nication from lion. S. J. Cbadbourne,
Secretary of State, received, transmitting the
ann ual report of the Bank Examiner for 1875.
| A report from the Special Commission on closing
mp the affairs OF the Land Office, signed by Nell
Dingley Jr., and 5. &. Hatch, was received and
read.
| On motion Of Mr.. WnEELwRIGHT of Penobsco,
the report ordered to be printed, and referred
| to the Committee State Lands and State Roads.
| The report says that the recent sale of all the re-
naming tracts of timber and swamp lands owned
| by the State, leaves undsposed of,only some small
! islands on the coast and about township and
half of settling lands, of the extensive domain
which Maine once possessed. The only business
which remains for the Land office, or any other
State department to which its unsettled affairs may
be transferred, is the disposal Of these few landed
interests the final settlement OF accounts OF set
| tiers, who have taken up about six townships and
have not completed their payments in road labor
and including also some balances against the Swed-
ish settlers; the collection OF the unsettled notes
and accounts against persons who have purchased
or permitted timber lands the case OF lew re-
naming reservations in unincorpoIated townships
until the legislature shall authorizethe sale of the
! timber and grass upon the same, which should be
done as soon as NAV be T.; and the preservation and
further arrangement Of the papers and records be-
! longing to the office.
The chief part of the business relates to the
township and half of setting land, nndisposed
of, and the six townships certihcated to settlers
but not yet entirely paid for and of such char
acter as to require several years to finally close It
up under the existing settling policy Of the State
Under these laws the Land Agent employs local
agents-at present 80 in number-to introduce ard
locate settlers and superntend from year to year
the working out of the road labor IN which all
payments for settling lands are made, and these
agents report to him and the basis OF these re-
ports he issues certificates in the case of new set
tiers and deeds whenever the payments are COM
pleted. If the Land department be continued
until these interests disposed of under the pres
ent system the office cannot be abolished for at
least two, and probably three years. If it be the
judgment of the legislature that the Land office be
continued until its affairs settled and the set
! Ting lands conveyed under the laws relating to
settlement, the Commission have no further legis-
lation to suggest beyond such modification of
laws relating to that department as will provide
for the transfer to the Treasurers Office Of all notes
and other securities belonging to the State; and
for the payment directly to the Treasurer of all
sums due the State on account OF TRANSACTIONS
with that office, and the auditing and payment Of
bills agains, the Land office in the same manner
as bills against other departments of State. Such
q modification OF the system OF managing the al
fairs of the Office is equally desirable in case its
unsettled affairs should be transferred to another
| department II, on the contrary, 1t is the )udg
ment of the legislature that the Land Office should
be discontinued before its unsettled affairs are
closed up-as it seems to the Commission expedi-
ent-they suggest two plans for the consideration
Of the legislature, the first OF which would proba-
| bly, be more economical and efficient:
| l. The care Of the settling lands not yet taken
up, and of those already taken up and certfcated
but not entirely paid for, may be transferred to
the municipal officers of the towns or plantations
L. -
mediate interest in securing good settlers in the
one case, and in having the road labor probably
expended in the other case; and where the lands
are not located in unncorporated townships, their
case may be transferred to the County Commits
soners of Aroostook county, in which all but a
| few lots are situated. Certificates or deeds may
be issued to settlers the report Of the municipal
officers or County Commissioners, by the head of
such department as shall be created Land Agent,
o6eio, and shall thus be charged with the unset
tied affairs of the Land office. The Land office
plans, maps, papers and records not required for
the closing up of unsettled business, may be trans
ferred to the office Of the Secretary Of State, for
preservation and such further arrangement as may
be thought proper
| g In case a satisfactory arrangement cannot
be made with the municipal officers or county COM
missioners of Aroos:ook, then so many of the local
agents now employed as are necessary, may be
retained to superntend the settlement OF the lands
undsposed of and the working out Of the road labor
]
partment as shall be created Land Agent offcio,
and certificates or deeds be issued by him instead
of by the land agent. The land agent, er o6ieio,
shall also be charged with the unsettled affairs Of
the land office, and the plans, &c, transferred to
the Secretary OF State.
| Mr.. DoNWoRTH from the Joint Committed to
which was referred the Governors message, re-
ported as follows;
That so much of said message relates to the
State debt, the sinking fund and taxation be re-
/ xa,v ~ fba Cpnmlffpa
That so much as relates to the militia and the
Adutant Generals department be referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
That so much as relates to State pensions be re
ferred to the Committee on Pensions.
That so much as relates to common schools and
education be referred to the Committee on Edu
cation.
That so much as relates to savings banks be re-
ferred TO the Committee on Banks and Banking
That so much relates to State lands and the
Land Agent be referred to the Committee on State
Lands and State Roads.
That so much as relates to railroads be referred
to the Committee on Railroads.
That so much as relates to insurance be referred
to the Committee Mercantile Affairs and H.
surance.
That so much as relates to fsherie be referred
to the Committee on Fisheries.
That so much as relates to the Insane Hospital
be referred to the Committee ON Insane HosPi-
tai.
That so much as relates to the State Prison be
referred to the Committee State Prison.
That so much as relates to the State College Of
Agriculture and the mechanic arts be referred 10
the Committee on Agriculture.
That so much as relates to the reform school be
referred to the Committee on Reform School.
That so much relates to the establishment of
State Board Of Health, and the punishment of
crime in capital cases, be referred to the Commit
tee on the Judiciary.
! That SO much as relates to the Indians be re-
ferred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
| That so much as relates to the centennial be re-
tered to Committee on Federal Relations.
| That SO mach as relates to the amendments to
the constitution be referred TO the Committee on
| Constitutional Amendments.
That so much as relates to city and town debts
be referred to Committee on Legal Affairs.
| The report was accepted.
On motion of Mr.. DONwORTH,
! Ordered, That the Committee on Legal fairs
be directed to inquire into the expediency Of
amending sect 3 Of chap. 81 of the Revised Stat
utes.
On motion Of the same Senator,
! Ordered, That the Committee on Legal Affairs
be directed to inquire into the expectancy of
amendin. sect. l5 of chap. 50 of the Revised Stat
utes.
Mr.. HASKELL ofCumberland, presented the petit
ton OF Portland Athaneum and Portland Institute
and Public Library for act of consolidation, with