The Portland daily press., 1877-01-05
THE ADJUTANT GENERALS DEPARTMENT.

one regiment and two unattached companies
OF infantry, and one company of light ar.
tillery. Two companies of cadets, one at Bath
and one at Watervile, have been furnished
with arms and equipments under the law OF
1877, authorizing the formation of companies oil
cadets, not to exceed ten in number to be com
posed OF boys not subject to military dnties un-
der tbe militia law. New tents sufficient in
number for the present force, made under con-
tract OF the best pattern. quality of material
and workmanship, were procured by the Ad-
Jutant General 10 season for the eneampment.
AL encampment of the volunteer militia, for
dr'll and discipline, lasting four days, was held
at Brunswick in September and was very sue.
cessful The men were orderly in their behav-
ior, soldierly in their bearing, and obedient to
orders Marked proficiency in drill was made,
showing the value of the encampmeDt as a
school of instruction. The general appearance
OF the command at the closing review, and
their marching were most excellent The sue
cess OF TINS encampment amply warrants my
Recommendation that provision be made for
holding one the present year.
1t Is greatly to be regretted that the reduced
Appropriation for soldiers pensions did not
prove sufficient to enable the Adjutant General
to respond to all requests for aid which be
deemed meritorious. The great excess of the
supply OF labor over the demand for it, has
caused the applications for relief to be unusual
ly numerous. Great care is taken in the grant
ing OF pensions and | advise an APPROPRIATION
w euio purpOSe VI tub Iult amount estimated
by the Adjutant General to be required, The
important consideration to the people of
Maine is, that the soldier who has sacrificed
bis ability to support himself and family in
their cause, should not know want or humilia-
tion.
THE LAND AGENCY.
The receipts of the Land office for the wear
ending November 30th, were $40, 399. II, from
the several sources and on the yarious accounts
AUa
Conveyances OF q, ,304 38 acres of land were
made to actual settlers. Lands to the amount
OF l3,O5469 acres were contracted to actual
settlers; OF the remaining state lands 26773 80
acres are unsold and 127, ,66597 acres are in
possession of actual settlers and are to be con-
veyed when the settling duties shall have been
performed.
The islands on the coast aggregatipg an area
of 663 acres were sold at public auction for ST.
l09.15. 1t repaired great deal of labor and
research to ascertain what islands belonged to
the State. 1t is supposed there are a few re-
naming unsold, concerning which definite in
formation could not be obtained before the
sale. They are probably SO insignificant in
number and value that it would be we'll, in or
der to avoid expense, to authorize the Land
Agent 70 sell them IN such manner as he may
deem advisable.
The duties of the Land Agent have been per-
formed uuder the immediate direction of the
Governor and Council, as required by the ACT
OF 1876 relating to the appointment and duties
.. t tnat omcer, ana 1t has been their endeavor
pose OF that act to prepare for the discontinu-
ance of the Land Office at the earliest practica-
Ole moment L am convinced that the Office
cannot at present be advantageously discontin-
ued, 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 1, 1876, do Dot differ
materially from those for the preceding year.
They indicate, however, a continued interest
and progress 10 all that relates to them
The sum of S1,053, 497 was expended for pub
lie schools, to which the state contributed the
available amount of $375,852 Eighty-six
school houses were built during the year at a
cost of S164, ,399
The laws concerning the relations of the state
to the schools work admirably, and are height
ened in efficiency by the recent act recurring
sworn fiscal returns to be made to the State Su-
perintendent. 1t is believed that this law proves
Of benefit to towns also in enforcing strict
account of all school moneys belonging to them.
from whatever source derived
invite .ou to consider the advs bility of the
providing for the inspection of High Schools by
authorizing the State Superiute nu ent of Com
mon Schools to appoint sufficient DUmber of
competent persons to aid HIM in visiting and
their respective vicnities claiming the benefit
of the free high school laws.
That officer is required to be satisfied that the
provisions of the free high school act have been
complied with before issuing his certificate for
the sum due from the state. While as to most
Of the provisions of the law, he caE readily sat
isfy himself from the reports of the Superin-
tending School Committees, whether they have
been complied with, it is easy to perceive that
they do not furnish sufficient data to prove that
the proper attention has been paid to the speci-
fed studies required, and that the schools con-
form lu spirit, as well as in letter, to the intent
of the law.
1t is proper and 5usiness-like that the Super
intendent should, in person, or through his
agents, examine these schools before vouching
for the justice of their clam upon the state.
Besides affordIDg the Superintendent infor-
nation VIII ch should be in bis possession, such
an inspection would greatly tend to elevate the
standard and promote the efficiency of this class
of schools.
The virtual institution of High Schools by the
state, through the aid it proffers for their sup
port, was wise and timely act, in full accord
ance with the provisions Of the Constitution en-
joining the encouragement of education upon
the Legislature. The system has been four
years IN operation, and has fairy demonstrated
its value. But care should be taken lest by
only defeat the object of their institution, but
injuriously affect the common schools. My re-
is intended to subserve the in
terests of both grades.
1t is the universally expressed opinion of
those having the most knowledge of our schools
that better instruction is the one thing needful
to their efficiency. The Normal Schools are
doing good service in this behalf to the extent
of their capacity. Since the discontituance of
the Teachers Institutes, great majority of
the teachers of common schools have had no
opportunity for obtaining instruction in the art
Of fQan nhA a1 Of Txa -
spectfully suggested for your consideration.
SAVINGS BANKS.
No new savings banks have been organized
the past year. Since August 1875, four of the
sixty four savings banks in the state have be-
come insolveDt and been placed in the hands of
receivers, and three others have suspended
pay ment. One of these latter, tue Waterville
Savings Bank, has resumed payment by the
action of the depostors. No arrangement has
yet been accepted by the depositors of the two
other banks.
The amount of deposits and profits of the
sixty banks doing business, was, on the 9th of
November last, 1921, sis, ,764 20, decrease du-
ring the year of $4, ,264, ,549 5S, including ST.
029, $685. OF deposits placed in the hands of re-
ceivers The number Of depositors decreased
during the year 10,705. The present number is
80, 621, and the deposits average $4,000 to each
depositor
The Winthrop Savings Bank was taken
pOSSessiOu VI ny I6CtlV6TS D6IOro U06 uay UXeU
by law for making returns to the State Treas
urer for the six months then nearly expired,
and the receivers refused TO pay the tax for
that period. A suit to recover this tax was
brought by the State Treasurer, and prosecuted
by the Attorney General to final judgment by
the Law Court to the effect that the tax is up
on the franchise of savings banks, and the
Winthrop bank having ceased to exist before
the return for taxation was due from it, moth
ing remained upon which to assess a tax, and
the claim of the state was therefore not a valid
one. Applications growing out of this de-
by several banks for the refundlng of taxes al
legged to have been improperly paid.
The Commissioners appointed for the purpose
under resolve of the last Legislature, have
prepared draft of a general law relating to
savings banks which will be reported to you.
A principal feature of the proposed law is the
substitution of a tax of one-half of one per cent.
for the present tax OF one per cent. The present
rate of taxation, considered relatively to the
tax upon other franchises and property, cannot
be regarded as discriminating otherwise than
in favor of the banks The only question is
whether it is expedient, as tending to maintain
and increase deposits to reduce the rate. Ii
the Legislature shall favor the affirmative OF
the question l trust that the reduction made
will not exceed one-fourth of one per cent.
THE INSANE HOSPITAL
The past year has been made notable in the
history Of the Insane Hospital BY the construc'
tion of works for supplying the institution with
water. The source of the supply is an artificial
pond, excavated in that part of the farm east
of the highway, and so situated as to be fed by