Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-05

wear 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 trust will be continued
bv the law making power of the State OF
Maine so long as the necessity exists
REVISION OF PUBLIC LAWS.
The last Legislature entrusted the Revi-
sion of the Public Laws of the State to Hon.
Charles W. Goddard of the city of Portland,
bv a unanimous vote of both branches
This important work has been executed in
an expeditions manner, and the result of the
commissioners labors, embodying the legis-
lation of the past twelve years, will be be-
fore you Judge Goddard was peculiaraly
fitted to discharge the duties of his office.
and the character of his work has indicated
the wisdom of the selection. for his valuable
research and labor will be appreciated by
the State. 1t is very satisfactory to
our State to learn that great economy has
been practiced tby the Commissioner. The
entire cost, Sc far, of the revision. including
all unavoidable charges, will not exceed S.
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 necessary amount of volumes
will reach the sum of SS7 ,4S1.15. Although
the whole amount of our work must be re
printed, it must fall far short of the Massa-
chusetts expenditure.
The revision is accompanied with report
and valuable historical note on the sources
of land titles IN Maine. The Commissioner
also submits to your consideration forty-siX
amendments suggested by many of the emf
nent jurists of the State and adds some i'm
portant suggestions of his own; among the
latter there is reference to the taking effect
of constitutional amendments, to the publica-
ton of the laws and proclamations, recon-
mendation for a legislative draughtsman.
suggestions in regard to the double taxation
of mortgaged property, to the reorganization
of the Law Court to facilitate the more speedy
hearing and adjudication of law questions,
and to the calling of convention for re-
vision of the constitution, all which with the
Commissioner report, are commended to
your careful consideration. The addition of
a reference index and reference index titles
will greatly facilitate an examination of this
new draft, and reference to the revision of
1871 and the subsequent acts. 1t IS hoped
that the legislation of the coming session may
be incorporated into the new volume. so that
the fourth revision of the Statutes of Maine
may be issued first and need no supplement
tary volume until 1885. would recommend,
if practicable, that such an addition be made.
LAW DEPARTMENT.
The last report of the Attorney General of
the State will be laid before you early. You
will observe that the Court has sustained the
constitutionality of the statute by which ex-
press and telegraph companies have been
taxed under the provisions of the public laws
of 1880 and 1881. These taxes, here
tofore resisted, have now been paid into
the treasury. The several suits involving the
right of the State to tax railroad companies,
under the law of $780, have been tried before
the full Court, and the cOnstitutionality of
the law sustained. A suit brought against
the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad
Company, under this act, is still pending.
The Governor and Council. under the pro-
visions of the present law, levied a tax on
railroad companies amounting to 1919. l22 20;
of this amount S7l 1860 Al was promptly paid
The payment of the balance will depend upon
the constitutionality of the statute.
torney General are increasing. Important
questions involving the construction of laws.
the assessment and collection of taxes, the
preparation of suitable blanks, and a variety
of similar matters which require legal re-
search and advice, have been submitted to
the Attorney General, by the Executive and
other departments, and have received prompt
attention, with satisfactory results. The
statistics and information contained in the
report are valuable, and the suggestions are
worthy OF your consideration.
Fisheries AND GAME.
The reports of the Commissioners for the
past two years indicate favorable results
from the money expended by the State. Pop
ular feeling justly sustains the d, partment of
Fisheries and Game. Efficient laws should
be passed and enforced, sustaining the policy
of the State in the propagation of fish and
game. Serious complaints have been made
in regard to the manner of taking and the
disposition of small Holsters, which without
some remedy will produce deeterious conse-
quenees. The suggestions of the Commits
sloners are worthy of consideration.
INSURANCE.
The Commissioner has compiled valuable
statistic, in regard to the several companies
doing business in this State. l commend to
The business is important, far reaching in its
effects, and requ res thorough supervision.
INDIAN TRIBES.
personal inspection by the Governor and
Council furnishes evidence that these wards
of the State are making substantial improve
ment and advancement in education and ag-
ricclture. Treaty obligations require the
State to make annual appropriations for their
benefit in these particulars.
TAXATION.
The necessary expenses of the State Gov
erment should not be curtailed. The de-
mands of education, State Institutions, char
tiles, and military defence, call for adequate
appropriations for the public good. There
should be strict economy in all expenditures
The Legislature of 1874 inaugurated a new
system of taxation, seeking to equalize it by
removing part of the burden from the pro-
ductive industries of the State and transferr-
ing it to capital invested in railroad, tele-
graph, express and insurance companies,
savings banks, and all like corporations and
business. By repeated changes of law,
system of taxation has been legaized and
sustained By the constitutional authorities of
the State, which has brought new revenue
into our treasury, and thereby lightened the
burden on visible property.