Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-09


Sole Agents, New York.
was provided id 1891, increasing the
number Of assistants to the superintendent
to four, and the appropriation for the
salaries of these assistants was increased
at that time from $1,000 to $4,000. In
1893 the pay Of the assistant superin-
tendents was authorized to be further in
creased from $4,000 to $4,000.
1t will be observed, that during the
past six years the number of assistant
superintendent has been doubled and the
appropriation for the salaries of these Off
Gals has been increased from Sl700 in
1888, to $500 in 1898; and the salary of
the superintendent has been increased
from 1890 in 1885, to $4,000 in 1891.
The Legislature of 1898, in establishing
the insane department at Thomaston for
the care of the criminal insane, directed
that the superintendent of the insane
hospital shall visit the insane department
Of the State prison not less than once each
month to advise with the prison physi-
clan and warden as to the proper care,
treatment and disposition of the convicts
in said department. This service was
made part of the superintendent S
duties to the State under the salary he
was then receiving The last Legislature
evidently considered, that while he was
visiting the insane at Thomaston under
the provisions of the chapter above re-
ferred to, he would necessarily be absent
from duty at the hospital at Augusta, and
therefore did not deem it advisable to
authorize any additional compensation.
but did provide under chat act for 'all
the expenses of said superintendent in
connection with said department. and
directed such expenses to he paid by the
State by order of the Governor and Coun-
ell. :" All expenses so incurred during the
years 1898 and 1894, in the performance
OF this duty, were paid by warrant drawn
by the Governor and Council Of the State
! treasurer.
The present bill provides for an indirect
increase of the existing salary of the
superintendent by giving him a per diem
for services already due the State under
the salary now established by law, and in
addition thereto, mileage of 10 cents q
/ mile each way, instead of actual expenses
provided by the last Legislature.
= The amount involved by this legislation
may not be large, but it is establishing a
new departure in the method of increas-
ing the compensation of the officers ard
agents of the State now serving under
fixed salaries The superintendent is
required, under existing statutes, to visit
| the insane department at Thomaston not
less than once each month, and the num-
Der of additional visits to be made is left
to his discretion. Under this bill, each
visit carries with it mileage at the rate of
| 10 cents a mile each way, and per diem,
leaving 1t uncertain as to the amount OF
expenditure to be incurred.
| If mileage and per diem are to be
established in this instance, in addition to
the present salary of the superintendent,
on the theory that additional duties are
required of him in visiting the criminal
insane at Thomaston, it may appropriately
be applied to the insurance commissioner,
who, under the general laws of the State,
is required to perform additional duties
in making an examination of newly or
ganized insurance companies, whose char
tiers have been granted since the establish
ment of his salary; also to tho bank ex-
aminer, who is required to examine newly
organized banks, trust companies, loan
and building associations, and to various
other State officers having established
salaries.
All officials should be'paid just and
fair compensation for the duties per-
formed The valuable services rendered
to the State and the insane by the eff
cicnt Superintendent of the insane hospi-
tai are fully recognized and appreciated,
and it is not an agreeable duty to with
hold my approval of this bill; but with
the depression now existing in almost
every branch of the business interests OF
our people, with many of our citizens
now out of employment or working at
reduced wages, it does not seem an appro-
pirate time to iDaugurate an increase In
the salaries of our State officials. and
especially in the manner contemplated in
this bill.
therefore most respectfully return the
same to the House in which it originated,
as provided in the constitution, without
my approval, and for further considera
! ton. Henry Is. Cleaves.
On motion of Mr.. Prescott of York, the
message and bill were laid on the table
pending reconsideration of the bill, in
order that the message be printed.
On motion of Mr.. Nickerson of Lincoln
the Senate adjourned.