The Portland daily press., 1883-01-05


week, while the cost to the hospital during the
last four years averages more than $40 per
week. When we consider the cost of surgeons
fees and skilled attendance at home, 50 per
week would seem to be a small sum- 1t is not
local charity, for reports show that every
year nearly every county is represented. Aside
from the State appropriations, three-fOurths of
the contributions are received from Portland
people; this does not appear from reports ex-
cept as contributions for free beds; less than
one-eighth Of the relief is furnished to Port
land people The fund ia small, being only
3Q000 During the past year the total ex-
penses have been less than $4,000. The cost
of keeping Up the house would not be much
affected by an increase of patients. The insti-
tuition is under the best management, and we
trust that the Legislature will not fail to grant
its usual appropriation for this worthy object.
DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND.
The Institution at Hartford, Connecticut,
furnishes adequate provision for the education
OF the deaf mutes of our State, and the learn
ing of suitable trades The faithful care and
instruction bestowed on the pupils of this in
stltution are commendable, and warrant the
continued support of the State. Tne school
for the deaf in the city of Portland is worthy
OF commendation. The progress that has been
made by those who have availed themselves
OF the advantages of home institution, where
the articuiatibg method is used, is remarka-
BILE. This school is worthy OF patronage. The
unfortunate blind children of our State are ed
ucated at public expense, at the Perkins In
stitution for the Blind at Boston. The ad-
vantages OF that institution are unsurpassed.
There is no lack of financial means to furnish
all needed appliances ia books and school ap-
paratus, and every comfort is furnished. j
woald recommend that the appropriation of
last year be continued.
STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC CHARITIES.
call your attention to the fact that many
States advocate and enjoy the utility and ad-
vantage that result from competent board of
men and women, who are delegated with. a
general official oversight of State institutions
of reformatory and penai character. There
are in every State citizens of high character
and attainments, imbued with q spirit of phi
lanthropy and humanity. who are willing to
serve the public in these great interests with
out pecuniary reward. In our State there may
be wide field open for reform in our prison,
jails and reform school. A good result depends
largely upon the character of such board.
The progress of reforms which has bee~ Sc
cured by experience, study and research, if
properly applied and used, would undoubtedly
still elevate the moral and intellectual charac-
ter of our institutions, and benefit their fnan-
cial management.
THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC
ARTS.
/ commend this institution and its reports to
your special interest and attention. 1t has
gained largely upon public confidence in con-
sequence OF what it has done for the State. 1t
has received the fostering care of the general
government and Of our own State, and its
claims should be asserted until its efficiency for
permanent usefulness is fully apprec ciated, Sc
cured and established. 1t supplements our
common school system and affords an oDportu-
nifty for more thorough and practical educa-
tion of those who intend to follow as a business
farming or mechanics 1t is college for the
people, and should receive popular support Tt
still needs assistance in the purchase of shop
and apparatus for the necessary development
and continuance of the department of practical
mechanics. With such aid, am assured the
institution will recover from the loss of num-
bers occasioned by charging tuition. The col
lege still needs the fostering care of the Legis-
lature, and rests its claim on its faith in the
promise OF the State, when she accepted the
grant of land from the National Government
establishing the college. The endowment is
Sl32,5OO, yielding an annual revenue of 81 500.
The tuition the past year has amounted to $2,-
e0O This is all the revenue for the past year.
In consequence of the abandonment of free tu-
ltion, the number of scholars has been reduced
from 100 TO so. The General Government, it
Is expected, will render further assistance, and
whatever is necessary to be done to sustain the
college is worthy OF your prompt and generous
consideration.
THE MILITIA.
Under the laws our military force is COM
posed of the enrolled, the reserve and the VOL
unteer militia. The enrolled militia consists
OF all able-bodied male citizens between eigh-
teen and foriy-6ve years of age, as returned by
municipal officers, numbering 81 800. The re-
serve militia is organized, furnished with arms
and equipments, but is of no expense to the
State unless ordered on duty by the command
er-iD-chief. The volunteer force, consisting Of
two regiments of eight companies each, and
one unattached company of infantry and one
four-gun battery of light artillery remains
substantially as 1t was two years ago. The
whole force is organized into one DIVISION
by Gen. Joshua l.. Chamberlain,
who has been untiring in his efforts to bring
the militia of Maine up to high standard of
excellence. To his efforts seconded by the
staff, regimental and line officers, a large Dor
tion of whom have seen service on the sangui-
nary fields of their country in the late war, are
we indebted for the efficiency and high char
acter of the militia of Maine, which has been
highly complimented by an officer of The regu-
lar army detailed to attend the last annual re-
view.
STATE PENSIONS.
The State continues to make provision, to a
limited extent, to alleviate the pressing neces-
sites Of the deserving soldiers and seamen of
the late war, who incurred disability in the
service, and to their widows, orphans and de-
pendent parents. The appropriation for the
year 1881 was $23, 600; the amount expended
was Sl7 ,029 50; the number of applicants of all
classes was 1876; the number allowed was 543
Inc Appropriation for 1882 was 500, 900; the
amount expended was S20,550.10; the hum
Der of applicants was 757; the number al
lowed was Gil.
The advance in the prices of staple products
aud increase in the cost of living in the year
1882 over that of 1881 will account largely for
the increased expenditure in the latter year.
The execution of this act devolves upon the
Governor and Council, and the utmost
care has been exercised by the member having
this in charge to avoid needless expenditure on
the one hand, and injustice to applicants on
the other. This act is intended to prevent
those who served their country in the hour of
peril and are reduced to poverty, from incur
ring the odium of pauperism; a most worthy
object and one that 1 trust will be continued
by the law-making power of the State of Maine
so long as the necessity exists
REVISION OF PUBLIC LAWS,
The last Legislature entrusted the Revision
OF the Public Laws of the State to Hon. Charles
w. Goddard of the city of Portland, by an un-
animous vote of both branches. This impor-
tant work has been executed in an expeditions
and the result of the commissioners
labors, embodying the legislation of the past
twelve years, will be before you. Judge God
dard was peculiarly fitted to discharge the du-
ties of his office, and the character of his work
has vindicated the wisdom of the selection, for
his valuable research labor will be appre-
dated by the State 1t is very satisfactory to
our State to learn that great economy has been
practiced by the Commissioner. The entire
voidable charges, will not exceed $500. The
State of Massachusetts has just fully completed
the same kind OF labor and the entire expense
of revision and the cost of publishing the nee
essary amount of volumes will reach the sum
Of $S7 ,4S7.75. Although the whole amount of
our work must be reprinted, it must fall far
short OF the Massachusetts expenditure.
The revision is accompanied with a report
and valuable historical note on the sources of
land titles in Maine, The Commissioner also
submits to your consideration forty y-six amend
ments suggested by many of the eminent ju-
rists OF the State and adds some important
suggestions of his own; among the latter there
is reference to the taking effect Of constitu-
lonal amendments, the publication of the laws
and proclamat1ons, Recommendation for leg
slatlYe draughtsman, suggestions in regard to
The double taxation of mortgaged property, to
The reorganization of the Law Court to facli-
5ate the more speedy hearing and adjudication
1f law questions, the calling of a convention
Tor revision of the Constitution, all which, |
With the Commissioners report, are commend |
I'd your careful consideration. The addition of
\ reference index and reference-Index titles |
will greatly facilitate an examination Of this |
rev draft, and reference TO the revision OF 1871
md the subsequent acts. 1t is to be hoped that |
he legislation of the coming session may be in |
'orporated into the new volume, so that the |
ourth revision of the Statutes of Maine may |
20 issued fresh and need no supplementary vol |
lme until 1886. | would recommend, if prac- |
icable that such an addition be made
LAW DEPARTNENT