The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-04

tuition has diligently and prudently performed
the duties incumbent on it.
will first call your attention to
THE STATE TREASURY.
The receipts of the treasury in 1877 were 27
Cash on hand January l, 1877 was..... 994.422.27
S16o2, ,l6O.54
Expenditures for the year 1877 were 37 ,g27 ga
Cash on hand December 81, 1877, was 230,532. 80
$t,6O2, ,16O.54
The receipts were derived from the following
sources:
State taxes S87t ,s7s,49
county taxes ....................... 9,l32.6l
Tax ON savings banks. 24S,19644
ID, IaA On LdIrodus. z9,0sS 5z
TAX on insurance companies. .....,... 1S,539.89
Lana agent OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1851 4S
miscellaneous sources. .,....,....,... 56,490 81
The difference between the amount of cash
on hand on the first day Of January and the
amount on hand December 81, shows that the
receipts Tor the year were not sufficient to meet
the expenses for the year by the sum of $780,
889.37. This result is accounted for in the re-
duction Of the rate of State tax from four mills
in 1875 to three and three-fourths mills in 1876,
decrease of S32, ,879.2S in receipts from the tax
on deposits in savings banks, aud of $24, ,443 "a
in receipts from tax on railroad companies,
from the receipts of the previous year. The tax
on insurance companies yielded So, 367. Oh more
than in 1879. Last year $46500 of the State
debt matured and was paid. The sum of S25,
900 of the State debt is required to be paid this
year. There ls a very small amount of State
taxes due i1 arrears, and the unusually large
amount of $49 600 of the tax of 1877 has been
paid and is included 10 the amount of cash re-
ported on hand in the treasury.
Assuming that the receipts for the current
year will be equivalent to the amount of the
tax levied for 1877, $675, 173 50, and that the
receipts from all other sources will be the same
as last year, namely, 1886 S49 rs, we have in
nj oh
hand, as our total resources for meeting the
expenses of the current year, 81 ,241 556 %, or
S13O 071,A less than the expenditures for
1877.
This bare statement of the conditions and
prospects OF the treasury is enough without
argument to prove that rigorous economy must
be praeticed in all departments and institu-
tions of the State; that appropriations must be
restricted to positive requirements and press
ing needs; that the rate of State tax should be
increased to three and three-fourths mills, and
that ample authority should be given the
Treasurer to borrow money in case Of exi-
gency.
The gross State debt on the first Of January,
1877. was S., ,920, 400 1t has been reduced since
by the payment at maturity of SAG, 5O0 and is
now So. 800. The sinking fund has been
increased $40, ,11e.e3, -and-BeW- amounts to
$911, ,436 04. The deduction of the sinking fund
leaves the net indebtedness 81, ,952, ,464
After March 1st of this year, when S25 900
until Aug 18th, 1880, when 1907 900 will m g.
ture. AH act approved Feb. 9th, 1875, directs
the Treasurer to extend and renew the bonds
maturing at the latter date-amoug others-by
substituting therefor bonds paying interest at
the rate of six per centum per annum, payable
to the amount Of two hundred thousand dollars
in 1890, and to the same amount each year
thereafter The new bonds are to be "exe-
cuted and issued only as they can ba substi-
tuted for at least an equal amount of the out
standing and uncaucelled bonds which they
are intended to renew and extend"
1t is somewhat uncertain whether the act re-
quires that the exchange shall be made accord
ing to the par value or the market value of the
bonds. L recommend that the act referred to
be SO amended as to make the rate of interest
payable on the bonds to be issued five per
centum per annum, instead of six per centum.
and to direct the substitution Oh them at their
market value for the maturing bonds at their
par value.
MILITARY AFFAIRS
The volunteer militia force of the State was
increased the past year by she admission of the
Richards Light Infantry of Gardiner, and is
now composed of the First Regiment of Infant
ry, three unattached companies Of infantry and
@ battery Of light artillery.
1t gives me pleasure to express my gTatifica-
tlon at the hne appearance OF these organzs-
tions on the occasion of the encampment at Au-
gusta in the month of August last They ex-
pline, drill and the performances of camp duties;
snch as can be attained only when officers and
men are thoroughly imbued with an earnest
soldierly spirit and the purpose to profit to the
utmost by their opportunities for improve
ment.
The good condition of the militia is attribut-
able in great measure to the fact that most of
the officers and many of the rank and file have
been taught in the sternest school of soldiership
and know what constitutes the essential in
struction of a soldier and that the object of
military establishment is not holiday pageant
ry.
The encampment was in every respect sue
cessful one. The Intense heat that prevailed
during the entire period of its continuance,
combired with the hard work of drill aud camp
duties, tested the foTtitude of the command
and lent to the occasioa something of the char
acter of actual service Good order was main
tained and the few cases of disorderly conduct
that occurred were properly punished. 1t is
hardly necessary for me to declare that / con-
slider the Volunteer Militia a credit to the State
valuable IN itself and as means of acquiring
that knowledge of arms which free people
should possess, and worthy to be well main
tained and provided with every reasonable
facility for improvement.
An addition has been made to the Cadet or
gapizaton by the formation of company from
the boys of the high school at Augusta 1t
was wise act on the part Of the State to au-
thorize the formation of these companies and
the issue of arms to them. Restricted to the
students Of colleges and high schools, as it has
been deemed advisable they should be, they
serve double purpose as auxillares of school
instruction, by promoting physical strength
and manly bsariug, and the good habits of
attention and prompt obedience and also as
a means of extending and dlffusing knowl-
edge of the military art.
Several cadet companies were present during
the encampment, in response to the conditional
invitation extended to all of them, that the
State should be at no other expense on their
account than that of rations, and received
justly earned praise for their good conduct and
their skill in the exercises of the drill
The AAdjatant General was authorized by
resolve approved Feb. 23d, 1876 "to collect
diaries, or obtain copies of them, letters, per-
sonal accounts and incidents of the battlefield
camp and hospital, or any other interesting and
valuable material for army history" aud 10
suitably arrange all such matter The resolve
implies an appeal to the soldiers of Maine n
the war of the rebellion, and the friends of de-
ceased soldiers to donate TO the State any Of
the specified papers and material they may
ave. All who respond to the appeal may rest
assured that their contributions will be gladly
rece ived and sacredly preserved. The literary
chara Gter of the productions is OF little conse-
ouence. A few hurried lines written on scrap
of paper on ths eve or at the close of great
battle will be of more interest than the most
polished and elaborate article. The history of
tue volunteers OA 4Aniu6 IL thS SIOAb wa ID
yet to be written. and the materials for it eau
not be- obtained too soon. Every citizen of the
State should take pride in helping to accumu-
late them.
Eight companies Of Volunteer Militia were
by law entitled to new uniforms in 1876. The
Legislature of that year made an appropriation
of ten thousand dollars, to be expended at the
discretion of the Governor and Council, for the
purchase of uniforms, or IN the repair OF the
old Gnes and the necessary expenses OF mus
ter. la the exercise of their discretion the
latter alternative was chosen. AT the same
time the militia law was amended changing the
time of supplying clothing from once in three
years to once in five years, reckoning from
April first, 1873 Accordingly, twelve COM
panIes are to be supplied with clothing this
year, and 1 recommend an appropriation of the
amount estimated by the Adjutant Geperal to
be necessary for the purpose.
The claim of the State TO an allowance by
the United States of arms and ordnance stores
to the amount of $l3, ,959.29 which had been
pending for several years and awaiting salts
factory proof Of the proper disposition of the
arms and stores whiea had been issued to the
State, has been substantated by the required
evidence, and the amount placed to the credit
Of the State
The Adjulans General acting as Quarter
master General, has been instructed to call in
for sale or for storage, as may be deemed best,
the large amount of military property in the
hands of citizens, where it is of no use to the
State and liable to deterioration and loss. Ali
persons responsible for such property have been