Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-04

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interest than the most polished and elaborate
article. The history of the volunteers Of Maine in
the great war isyet to be written, and the materials
| for it cannot be obtained too soon. Every citizen
of the State should take pride in helping TO accu-
mulate them.
| Eight companies OF the Volunteer Militia were
| by law entitled TO new uniforms in lSI6 The
Il stature of that year made an Appropriation of
ten thousand dollars TO be expended at the dis
cTeiion of the Governor aud Council for the pur
chase Of uniforms, in the repair OF the old ones
ard the Necessary expenses OF muster In the
exercise Of their discretion the latter alternative
was chosen. At the same time the militia law
amended changing the time of supplying
clothing from once in three years to once in five
years, reckoning from April FIRST 1873. Ac
CoIdiugly, twelve companies are to be supplied
with clothing this year, and | recommend an ap-
propTlation of the amount estimated by the Adlu-
tant General to he nece ssary for the purpose.
The claim of the State to an allowance by the
United States Of arms and ordnance stores to the
amount of Sl3,959.29, which had been pending
for several years and awaiting satisfactory proof
of the proper disposition Of the arms and stores
which had been issued to the State, has been sub
stantated by the required evidence and the
amount placed to the credit of the State
The Adjutant General, acting as Quai,ermaster
General, has been instructed to call ln for sale
or for storage, as may be deemed best, the large
amount of military property in the hands of citi-
zens, where il is of no use to the State and liable
to deter ioraon and loss. All persons response
qured to return IT. or account for satisfactorily.
The State exercises Just beneficence and hon
ors itself in bestowipg aid on those soldiers who
have been incapacitsted by disabilities incurred
in It's service from supporting themselves by their
own labor, and on the dependent relatives of the
fallen.
The appropriation for pensions last wear was
twenty-five thousand dollars, and nearly if
not entnely exhausted by the applications that
were allowed. The number of applications made
a nd @ her utau eli ly N px
cess of the corresponding number in the preced-
ing year. There is every cason TO infer that the
splhcatious the pre- ent year will be as numerous
aud deseiN ing as IN the year past, and therefore
recomms nd the appropriation OF the customary
amount for pensions.
OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.
The Attorney General reports that the suit
brought by him in 1876 for the recovery of the
State tax assessed upon the Maine Central railroad
company for 1915, and argued upon agreed
statement OF facts before the Supreme Judicial
Court Of the State has been decided in favor of the
State by that court and that the cause has been
carried by the company to the Supreme Court of
the tpied States on writ of error. The case
cannot be reached, if the regular order of the
docket he observed in less than two years. Tn
der a statute of the nited States permitting the
preferment on the docket of case TO which q
State is party, upon showing sufficient reason,
motion has been entered and argued for ca lier
hearing and the counsel for the company has ex-
motion now awaits the action Of the court. 1t is
plain that the Attorney General has done all in
his power to bring this suit to end and that the
counsel for the company has generously seconded
his efforts
Actions have been brought against the Atlantic
and st. Lawrence and the Newport Il Dexter rail
road companies for the arrearages of State tax due
from them, and it is presumed that both cases
will be argued and determined at the next law
term.
Three trials for murder have occurred within
the year. Ianthe Morgan and her sister, Mrs.
Sopbronia J. Libby, were found guilty of murder
in the second degree for Ing the life Of the in
iant child OF laphe Morgan, and sentenced to
| Imprisonment for life. Isaac N Cox, fourteen
years of age, found guilty of manslaughter
| for killing his father, and sentenced TO six years
Imprisonment. Edward NJ. smith was found
guilty. of murder in the first degree for the muir
| der of Melissa T. Ihaver st Bucksport in Ucto-
ber, 1876. In the latter motion in arrest
| of judgment argued at the June law term,
and The decision has uot yet been rendered.
In the two cases first mentioned the character
and condition Of the guilty persons aHi the cir
| cumstanccs attending their acts were such that
| Indignation must be tempered with pity in the
| minds of sll acquainted with the facts The muir
def at BuckspOrt was undoubtedly sn act of un-
relieved atIocity. | viii not undertake to discuss
the relations Of the law abollshlng the death pen
atty to crime but desire smry to express anew
my firm belief in its humanity and wisdom.
| Since the passage of the law there has been but
| a single instance OF convection OF crime in which
| the penalty is affected by it.
The recommendations of the Attorney General
are entitled to your consideration as the results of
| the experience of an officer whose connection
with the subjects to which he refers, gives him
the best claim TO be heard | am compelled, how
ever with great Difference to his opinion, to with
| hold my approval of his proposition to do away
with cOroners inquests, and to substitute therefor
some other mode Of lnyestig gation. In addition to
the primary functions which the coroners inquest
performs in ascertaining the guilty and causing
then immediate apprehension, and incidentally in
generating those upon whom suspicion is cast by
the community, the spectacle of public formal and
Instant inquiry into the manner OF death suppos
ed to have been caused by violence exercises most
salutary moral Influence. 1t affords pa.pable evi-
dence Of the of the State for the hives of its
citizens and of the promltness and zeal with
which 1t seeks TO discover and punish the guilty,
and tends thus to heightsn respect for human life
and to deter from the crime of taking it, The
Attorney General also refers to the great cost of
expert testimony" in criminal trials
and raises the question whether economy and the
purpose for which such testimony is gwen can
not both be subserved by providing by law for the
impartial selection of single expert witness IN
any tial where the testimony of a witness of that
character is desirable. 1t is for YOU TO consider
whether such limitation is eXpedient and in &C
cordance with the liberal spnit Of the constitution
towards the accused.
THE LAND OFFICE.
The Land Agent paid into the teasury for the
year ending November 30, lS77 on account of
permanent school fund, IS, S,000j2, on general ac-
count S6,S0O.46, account of reserved lands,
s5O3,16. During the same period 20,300 66 acres
OF land were conveyed, | 970il acres were con-
tracted 10 settlers, and seventy Islands sold
by him. The number of acres under contract to
actual settlers at the close of the year was ll2,-
S0j,04. The number of acres of settling lands re-
naming unsold was Is, ,561 So
Tie original plans and field notes Of early sur
veys of various portions of the State, for many of
which the State is greatly indebted TO Hon. A.
W. Paine, who obtained them from the State Off
cials of Massachusetts, have been carefully
mounted and substantially bound in volumes so
ndexed as to make their contents readily accessi-
bic. These plans have great historical value and
interest, and are of permanent practical in de-
termnpg questions of title and preventing litisa-
ton. 1t is matter for congratulation that they
have been rescued from destruction and obiv ion,
and put in order ior preservation and reference.
The Land Agent has employed no clerical aid the
past year. by direction of the Governor aud
Council he engaged a gentleman, skilled in this
specially, to assist him in mounting and preparing
the plans and field notes for binding, and he had
the services of the messenger of the Governor
and Council from time to time. The duties de
yolying upon the Land Agent are still many. null