The Portland daily press., 1895-08-03
THE STATE gENEFIcIARIEs.
What Is Being Done to Relieve Their
Wants.

Councillor e. Dudley Freeman returned
yesterday from a three weeks trip spent
throughout the state When the first ses-
sion OF the present council met, Mr.. Free
man was selected as chairman of the
committee on te.benefciaries. 1t was
in connection with duties pertaining to
this committee that the chairman made
his tour of inspection.
Mr.. Freeman says he went to all the
points along the line of the Bangor q
Aroostook, and parts Of Hancock and
Penobscot counties. The legislature last
winter appropriated SIS, 600 to be expend-
ed for the relief of the. worthy poor OF
the state, and Mr.. Freeman's visit was for
the purpose of making the acquaintance
of the town officers and ascertain the
needs of their communities. In some of
the plantations he found considerable
distress and others in excellent condition.
Whenever help is needed by person or
family, the chairman of the town ad-
joining the plantation must be seen and
then it is the duty Of the official to take
charge 'of the case. Then the state is OBJ
liged to reimburse the selectmen after
bills have been audited by the council.
Mr.. Freeman said in large majority
Of cases everything was found all right.
There were two instances that needed
some reform. In a plantation where
pauper was sick and had for three months
required medical assistance, he found
IL. Ill 4I,~
bills contracted by this pauper for two
years. In the other case, the selectmen,
who keeps a country store, was provid-
ing the paupers with goods from the es-
tablishment and charging nice round
prices.
We have now, said he claims on file,
amounting to between four and five thou
sand dollars.
Speaking of the missionary part, Mr..
freeman said Long Island Plantation
is the most destitute according to the
size of any in the whole state 1t con-
sists of 16 islands, only one of which,
however, is populated. Four years ago
there were..132 persons on this island and
the number is about the same at the
present time. These people are as poor
as the famous gallinaceous yard fowl of
the patient Job. Thinly clad, many of
them suffer for the want of proper appar-
ell. They make feeble effort at work
by doing a little fishing on which they
just subsist. Meat is an entirely un-
known quantity to them. One colored
man among them not long ago built
rude raft and put out to sea. He was ov-
ertaken by some party who asked him
where he was going. The man replied
that he had started Ito return to Africa
He is now one of the inmates of the in
sane asylum. Still conditions do no be-
gin to be as bad as they were only few
years ago, says Capt. Lane of the mis-
sionary yacht Alert. 1t was not long
time ago when the place used to be the
resort of smugglers and pirates. There
is now small church on the island
Long Island plantation is one of the
most outward islands from Mt. Desert
and is 16 miles out. Mr.. Freeman regards
the place as one Of the most unique in
the state. On his trip to the place he was
accompanied by Chairman P. W.Rich-
ardson of the fremont selectmen. Tre-
mont is the town nearest to the island.
Councilman Freeman is home for few
days, but will soon resume his tour by
visiting Franklin and Piscataquis coun-
ties.