Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-01-11
Vol. XIII. Whole No, las. No. 2,

peioro tnc supreme Judicial
onrt OF the state, where it was argued at
ls law'term in July last.
Is expected that the decision of the
'ut VIII soon DO rendered. n il shall be
voraUle. 10 the state, there Is reason to
'iese mat the case will not be further
and that the delinquent compa-
es will secept the result OF this, which is
lostantially p test case applicable to them
over 5i47, 600.
The Attorney General reports that he
ioSaot been Informed of indictments
any In any courts during the year FOR @,
eo cAtai ofSebce, or offence hitherto call ~
inoictin He adds that it is probable
M. Stnitt~Rl be found against Edw
a. bucksposs murder of three pers
+ 1t would be~Qcsober. 80. ir..a.
9m the experieEsesiy uesnsn lie
sN, sweeping and conclusive inference
asQ the comparative efficacy of the law
pasNd by the last Legislature abolishing
uea'Nes punishment for crime, and the
aW Il(splaced. / am glad, however, to
She evident fact that the substitu-
t'ol oi Aprisionment for life for the death
PenaiIy As not been follwed by an in
crease OF q crime which 1t is the object
VI .ne IA" hder consideration to punish
VI any ihstAce of crime encouraged by
th9 mltigatioA0ti the penalty.
am persuaAd that the prevailing SEN
ument among II friend. Of the new law
Is not one OF tenarness towards the crlmi-
| ciety.
The much-mootedwestion whether the
enai seLer Oh tue punSment enters at all
.,to the eonsideratlo nsAwhich prompt to
the perpetration of the Sreatest offences,
has failed to obtain any answer meeting
with general acceptance. Vt is certainly
not demenstrabls that the hnalty of death
| exercises more deterring Influence up
on those disposed to crime THAI the penal
" OF Imprisonment tor life. Ths advocates
OF the later form of punishmsa. do not
claim that its adoption will CAUSE murder
TO cease or even to be appreciabls check
ed at once or within ashort period Of time:
II Is their belief that murder will not at
least be emboldened by it and that the au-
thoritative recognition by society OF the
lnvlolaoillty of human life, in forbearing
10 take that even the man who has disre-
garded Its sanctity, even is in harmony
with the spirit OF mordern social science,
and will tend to magnify the offences, in
crease the detestation OF 1t, and to exert
an educational and humaniZing influence,
which, aided by the Improvement of the
condition of society, will in process OF
time cause sTEsioe reduction OF crime of
every sort. W
The recommendation of the Attorney
General relative 70 authorizing the detail
OF WI Officers from asy part OF the state
10 investigate cases OF henous offence, to
the payment by the state of the expenses
OF county attorneys assisting at law courts
TO present cases from their countries, and
70 compelling country treasarers to make
the returns requi'st of them by law, are
all worthy nT -
THE A"IUrANT ;iS4SERAL's DEPARTMENT.
No charge has occurred in the organiz-
ed military force of the state, which con-
sists OF one regiment aud two unattach,,.
companies of infantry, and one conn ny
OF hSht artillery. Two companies OF catets
one at Bath, and one at Waterville, have
been furnished with arms and equipments
under the law OF 1872 authorizing the
formation of companies OF cadets, not TO
exceed ten in number to be composed of
boys not subject to military duties under
the militia law New tents sufficient in
number for the present force, made under
contract, OF the best pattern, quality Of
material and workmanship, were procur-
ed by the Adjatant General in season for
the encampment.
An encampment of the volunteer militia.
for drill and discipline lasting four days,
was held at Brunswick in September and
was very successful. The men were or
derly in their behavior, soldierly In their
bearing and obiedient to orders. Marked
proficiency in drill was made, showing the
value of the encampment as school of
instruction. The general appearance of
the command at the closing review, and
their marching were most excellent. The
success of this encampment amply war
rants my recommendation that provision
be made for holding one the present year.
1t Is greatly to be regretted that the re-
duced appropriation for soldiers pension
did not prove to enable the Adjutant Gen
eral to respond to all requests for aid
which he deemed meritorious. The great
excess of the supply of labor over the de-
mand for it. has caused the applications
for relief 20 be nnusally numeruos. Great
care IS taken in the granting of pensions,
and L advise an appropriation for this
purpose OF the full amount estimates by
the AdJutant General to be required. The
important consideration to the people of
Maine is, that the soldier who has ability
to support himself and family In their
cause, should not know want or humilia-
lion.
THE LAND AGENCY.
L ne receipts OF the Land office for the
year ending November Both, were SAP 399,-
II, from the several sources and on the
various accounts specified In the Land
Agents report.
Conveyances of % 304,3S acres of land
were made to actual settlers. Lands to the
amount of l3,O54,69 aires were contracted
to actual settlers; of the remaining state
lands 26,I73 ,39 acres are unsold and l27,-
665, 81 acres are in possession OF actual set
tiers and are to be conveyed when the set
Ting duties shall have been performed
The Islands on the coast aggregating
an area of 1853 acres. were sold at public
auction for 81 l,l09.l5. 1t required great
deal of labor and research to ascertain
what islands belonged to the State. 1t is
supposed there are a few remaining un-
sold, concerning which definite informa-
ton could not be obtained before the sale.
They are probably SO Insignificant in num-
ber and value that it would be well, iu or
der to avoid expense, to authorize the Land
Agent to sell them in such manner as he
may deem advisable.
The duties of the land agent have been
performed under the immediate direction
Of the Governor and Council, as required
by the act of 1876 relating to the appoint
ment and duties of that officer, and it has
been their endeavor to further as far as
possible the expressed purpose of that act
to prepare for the discontinuance of the
land Office at the earliest practicable mo.
ment. am convinced that the Office can
not at present be advantageously discon-
tinued, and that the transfer of its duties
to some other department would neither
benefit the public service nor effect an
economy.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The statistics of the common schools for
the school year ending April lst, 1876, do
not differ materially from those for the pre-
ceding year. They indicate, however, q
continued interest and progress in all that
relates to them.
The sum of o. ,054, ,497 was expended i0r
public schooiS to which the state ce,Ss-a aoe soe-
ted the available amount Ctiijt duTo,o2.
Eighty-six school housesSS.
the year at 2 cost af6rr af"s .delations of the
.,.,e es % ~: ,sys'; sss and
are hs.6e State Snnes. retnrns tn e hn