Daily Kennebec journal., 1885-01-09

wisdom and experience of over sixtv wears
IT is to BE- hoped that all unnecessary change,
VIII be avoided by the conserva atism. OF
thoughtful legislation.
PUNISHMENT OF CAPITAL CRIMES
1t becomes my painful duty to call voul
r attention to the fact that during the past two
: years an unusual number of coli-blnoded
murders have been committed in this State
The change in our laws in regard to capital
offences has not afforded that Protection to
human life that was anticipated. Through
the vigilance of the officers of the law in all
but one instance, the criminal has been appre-
hended. Five nurderers have been tried con-
vicred and sentenced to be hung, two SEN
fenced for life in State prison, and others
are awaiting trial. There is sentiment
among our people that executive clemeucy
should modify the extreme penalty of the
law in each case. 1t cannot escape the OBJ
servation and judgment of the people of our
State, that the constitution sets forth that
each branch of the government has special
and separate duties to perform in regard to
our laws; one to make, one to judge and one
to execute. The will of the popular legisla-
tive branch of the State cannot be held too
sacred, and its deliberate enactment. require
prompt and certain execution. In the revision
OF the law fixing the penalty for capital Of
/ fences, the day of execution of person con-
DENIED 10 death is fixed and made Ger
tain by judicial authority, leaving no dis-
erection in the chief magistrate, but to issue
the warrant for execution. 1t will. therefore
be my purpose, however painful to execute
this law unless extraordinary circum,tan
should demand an interference as an act of
justice and mercy
| For thirty yaars Dray;aua to 1879 fha 1aa,h
penalty was on the statute book uf our State,
but its execution was disregarded, except in
! one instance. The legislature of 1875 made
ii certain whose duty it became to fix the dav
of execution. This change of the law was
followed by warrants from the Governor for
two executions for the crime of murder.
We have TO-DAY similar jurisdiction and
responsibility. The law, however, providing
for the death penalty, was repealed immed-
| lately following its certain execution in 1876,
and imprisonment at hard labor for life was
substituted With these suggestions, | leave
the matter for your serious consideration.
MATTERS SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE
CoUSCIL BY THE LEGISLATURES.
The question of making an abatement of
the State tax of several towns. and adjusting
the claims of a number of private citizens, as
set forth in petitio IS referred to the Execu-
1--WE tOuucll ny Tue dCtlO0 OF the legislature,
has been duly considered Each of the par
ties WAS notified that there would be hear
ing. the evidence and the facts offered were
not in either case considered sufficiently con
elusive to warrant the recommendation of any
change in the State valuation or the recogni-
ton of any just claim for abatement.
The matter of inquiry into the practicable
ty of building a new insane hospital, has
received the attention of the Executive Ceun-
ell, and the report will show that nothing has
been elected favorable for such an undertak-
ing.
The resolve for building an addition TO the
State House contemplated such an exanns-
ton and exhibit AS would show the plan,
specifications and cost of such an enlarge
ment. The report of the Executive Depart
ment of 1884, with accompanying plans and
an estimate of probable cost, has been made
and will be transmitted to YOU in the early
part of the session | trust the importance
and necessity of better and safer accommoda-
tons for the most valuable property of the
State will be duly considered by this legisla-
ture
| STATE FINANCES.
! The adoption of the biennial system of
legislation seems to make review of the
; finances of the State for the past two wears
desirable in this message, and it is accord
ingly given in brief.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
The cash on hand January l, 1888,
The receipts during the year
amounted TO 1.aS6. .6S4. 63
Total. $l.sol ,sssIs
The expenditures during the year
amounted to Sl,773,7Sf.e6
The cash in Treasury December 81,
1883, was s7,6o4 10
!, Total, $l,s6l .3s9.l5
The cash on hand January 1, 1854.
: was ss7,6oa. 10
The receipts during the year
amounted to 1907 ,64S. IL
! Total, sl.ss5.252 30
The expenditures during the year
The fsa"h'i cash in Treasury December 81, ''''|''
1884, was Is2,3iS4l
Total, sl,ss5, o5e 80
LIABILITIES AND RESOURCES.
Liabilities Jan. I. 1884. Jan. 1885.
Bonded debt, $5,36.e00o0 s5, 266,o1oo 90
Trust funds 17,sd2.o2 7l7,s539,
, Due school district No.
2. Madison. 100000 900 90
, Soldiers bounty scrip, 10000 500 OC
Balance due on school
fund, rolls of accounts,
interest and warrants
uncalled for, SC, 4lQ,95s.Ss 402, ,730 II
| County taxes collected, l2fO0.9S II, IL
ss46s,9al.ss q, ,s99, ,72o2C
Resources. Jan. !, 1884 Jan. I.ISS5'
, Sinking fund, sl,7o9, 1872 % sl,s26, 200 0C
Uncolected taxes, s96,5S 25 s73, Is
Cash in Treasury, 57,64l9 l92,3194l
, | Balance net indebted
ness, 3,I15,S3s2l $3,50S, ,O6l 81
ts,4ss.a2i.ss ss,sss, ,72o 20
The actual net Indebtedness of the State
was reduced during the year 1888, SlOS, 1884.
81; during the year 1884. S267, 7,276 so
Total for the two years, 1876, 5000.
BONDED DEBT.
. The total bonded debt of the State, less
, the sinking fund,
January |, 1883, was $4,17s,7i5.oO
l, 1884, i" 1907 50s.00
/. 1885, q" 3,i39 10000
Showing the very creditable reduction OF
s57l 207 for the year 1888, and Sl61, ,708 for
the year 1884. Total for the two years,
S73s, ,9l5.
PUBLIC INDEBTEDNESS.
The net reduction of Indebtedness of all
the counties of the State for the year ending
= December 81, 1882, appears to have been
Sol, 436. 81; for the year ending December
: 81, 1888, S34 ,9lS.91; total for the two years,
SOC, ,357 IS; which is an average of S4S, ,l7S :
"a per annum, or nearly one-fourth of the en-
tire indebtedness of all the counties The
) ! net rsduetion of Indebtedness of the citips