Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-12-28
Annual Report Of Attorney General.

Attorney General Emery has prepared
his annual report He says that no decis-
| ion has yet been announced in the case of
the State against the Maine Central Rail-
! road Company Tor unpaid taxes but one
! is expected soon. The case WAS made up
by the consent Of both parties and argued
before the Law Court last July. Ii the de.
cision is In favor OF the State. and there is
no appeal taken TO the Supreme Court OF
the United States, 1t is assumed that the
other delinquent railroad companies will
settle their unpaid taxes.
In the case OF the State against the
Winthrop Savings Bank for unpaid tax
the decision was adverse TO the State. The
Receiver of the bank. il seems. refused 10
pay the tax. claiming that the bank had
ceased I" exist, and there was nothing To
tax. \ preferred claim was brought, the
Attorney General contcnding that the tax
was on the deposits, and that the tax lien
followed them into the hands of the Re-
ceiver. In consequence OF thi. decision the
Attorney General recommends the passage
OF a law providing penalty upon the OH
cels OF banks who tail to make the reQui.
site returns. and enlarge the remedies for
the collection OF taxes. The charter should
BE- forfeited II the taxes are not paid.
No indictment has been found the past
year In case OF capital character. although
several capital crimes which have been
committed may result in Indictment.
among which is the case OF the Trim fami-
y murder AT BuckspOrt, In which Edward
NJ. Smith has been committed 10 await the
action of the Grand Jury.
No decision by the Law Court has teen
reached In the ''venire cases" In Penob-
scot county. and the case OF the Portland
liquor agency. which involved the authori-
~ OF the Mayor t" nominate 4 liquor a s,ut.
The great bulk Of prosecutions are Tor
violations OF the liquor law. which, in the
opinion OF the Attorney General. is en-
forced as faithfully and diligently as any
other statute. In the great proportion of
cases convictions take place. The Attor-
ney General thinks il importau, that the
county attorneys should attend the Law
Court In person. and unite IN the prosecu-
ton OF cases from their county. aud that
their expenses be paid by the State.
The Attorney General says that In many
cases county treasurers have failed to make
proper returns. For this di,obedience OF
law he recommends penalty. The largest
amount of fines and costs imposed Is In
Cumberland county. amounting to sl7. 1873
20; collected. SIC .23l 20. Pcuobscui coun-
Is next. the fine, and costs amounting To
siii 80; collected 5000 o.. In Aroos-
took county the fines aud costs amounted
to SEQ - collected $40 a.
Tony CkNDoK.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2l-Mr George F.
iloar says the forthcoming Louisiana re-
ports VIII probably be squarely contradlc-
tory. aud will be accompanied by mass
Of testimony so yolumiuous that the coun-
try ard Congress itself will not have time
TO digest II. There will be n proposition
IN refer the Oue-tipp n some .tt,.
nal. but that proposition will fail, first, be-
cause there Is no provision Ia the constitu-
ton or precedent In our history for II. and
second, because IN the struggle OF both
parties for the advantage ia the composition
Of the tribunal, an agreement Will be al
most impossible. This being the situation.
the Senate and House will meet aud the
President of the Senate will count the vote
and declare Governor Hayes elected. The
administration will see that he Is inaugur-
ated. In my opinion, Mr.. Hoar says there
will be no trouble. 10 revolution, no war,
and for these reasons. The Democratic
party is so strong, has pollcd so large a
vote and has so many advantages in its
favor, that its triumph four years hence i
as certain as anything in tie future can be.
The leaders OF the party will not be likely
10 do anything which would throw them
back into their old condition OF hopeless
minority, which they would certainly be by
inaugurating anything like rebellion. The
Sodth will be tranquil, because il knows
very well that the inevitable end OF resort
to force and violence on lis part would be
10 bring about a reunited North. aud the
South knows what that means.
1t Is the enrention of the leading Senators
TO take no part la any debate upon the
counting of the electoral vote until the re-
turn of the committee from the South.
when their statement OF facts is made, and
the evidence Is in.