Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-16
CORPORATIONS AND pEpDLBRs
Both Proving a Source Of Revenue to
the 6tate-Figures from Secretary Of
OF 8tate's Office.

The constantly increasing business Of the
office of the Secretary Of State has been pro-
ductive of large revenue, so that now
enough 10 obtained from this source to meet
nearly all the salaries Of the State house
officials.
The receipts this year will amount to nearl y
$50. 900. OF this amount GIG, $50 has al
ready been received from corporations,
which un Ter the favorable laws Of Maine,
has grown to large proportions, parties from
other States, and especially from Massachu.
seits coming to Maine to organize and this
fact il due not 80 much to the laxity Of our
corporation laws a. to the more equitable
basis Of taxation obtainable and the absence
of arbitrary exposure Of the financial stand
ing and private workings entailed in the an.
nual returns. The fees from civil officers
which accrue TO the State through the medium
of the secretary's Office will amount in the
aggregate to about $500. Aside from this
the haw kers and Ieddlers law of the last
ser sion, the clerical work of which was placed
iu the Secretary of States Office, has proved
good source Of income to the State a. veil
as to the counties and to~ns. Since the law
wen. into effect. the fifteenth Of last July,
1873 State licenses have been issued, for
which the State has received %, ,l50; los
county licenses for which the treasurefs Of
the respective counties for which they were
issued receive o apiece; 257 town licenses
for each of which from . to go was paid
into town and city treasures amounting fof
the 257 licenses to S2.?39.
A knotty question arose in connection with
psddling in the backwoods. Every winter
there are men who 60 into the lumber camps
to peddle jewelry and other wares, and ~
these camps are located on wild lands, where
there are no organized townships or towns, il
WAS asked il it would not answer to take ouI
license in the town nearest such camps.
The Secretary Of State has replied that Z
State license would be safe, 90 Eustis mar
paid $50 for State license.
A Russian, who could not speak English
came into the office of the secretary recently
and asked IL license would be required to
sell pampas, or California grass. 1t vaI
held that If this was an agricultural produc
no license vas needed. A party in Bostor
writes that be paid license for . party il
Bangor, but the man was sick and wanted
the license transferred. The Secretary Of
State having no authority from the statute u
transfer licenses and having taken good lega
advice on the matter thought he had no righ
to transfer. Our Law diaers from the Mss
sachuset,s law in this respect. since the
Massachusetts Law makes provision for th'
transfer Of licenses by the Secretary oi
State while our Law does not This grea
increase Of business in the Secretary o.
States Office has made much more cleSics
labor necessary. and additions have beeI
made to the force employed in the once.
The following new corporation has died il
certificate Of organization st the once VI the
Secretary Of State: Electric Construction
Company, Boston; capital stock, 90, 900
paid 10 80 900: par value shares, 600
president, William d. Rich. Boston; treas
urer, Henry K. Gardner, Boston: direcsofs
William d. Rich. Ephrism G. Spinney
Henry r. Gardner; business to be prosecuted
establishing and maintaining gas and eisctri<
light and power planss.