Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-16
STATE HOUSE NEWS.
Preparations Being Made for Next
FALLS Election Ballots.
Reports Of Deaths to City Clerks Not Always
Complete Matters.

Col A. D. Russell, deputy secretary of
State, is just beginning the work of
working up the number of ballots and, so
far as possible of making up the ballots
for next falls election.
The law provides that there shall be 60
ballots made for every 80 votes cast in
1899, thus allowing for an increase of 20
per cent.
Mr.. Russell recently sent out inquiries
| to the several clerks of courts of the
different counties for the officers who are
TO be chosen by ballot the coming fall. In
1892 there were 1l6i officers elected, an
increase of about 80 over that of the pre-
vious presidential year. These officers in
clude the Governor, representatives to
Congress- senators, representatives to the
Legislature and the various county
officers
The ballots, when ready, will be dis
tributed to the clerks of the 500 or more
cities, towns, and plantations in the
State 1t is matter of only some II tons
If paper.
The returns of the officers for whom
there are to be elections, are placed in
book, and, as fast as the candidates are
book. from which the ballots are made up.
Much has to be borne in mind, as the
different cities and towns OF course, have
their special candidates Then there ar,
those who are voted for by all, and in
other cases, county officers, of the county
in which that city or town is included. In
some cases, with small towns, two or more
have to alternate all of which adds to the
delicacy of the situation.
DIR. A. G. Young, secretary of the STATE
board of health, is sending out through the
vital statistics department. abstracts OF
the returns made of deaths, whore they are
not complete. These abstracts are returned
20 the city clerks, whence they come, ex
cent in some instances where it is evident
that the mistake or omission, OR perhaps
incompleteness of return, was due to the
doctor who made the report TO the city
clerk.
Dr. Young says that there is more care
being taken, year by year, by the city
clerks and doctors, as they are getting tt
recognize what is required, and conse
quently taking more interest and con
sideratiol.
1t was necessary, last year. to send out
some 1000 of these abstracts. The number
for this year cannot yet be determined, a.
the work has not yet been completed.
In the board of health department, a fine
new auartered oak book case has been re
ccived the work of MI Stone, the State
House carpenter. In the adjutant general
office, rack of the same kind Of material
has been put in for filing blanks of various.
kinds, also the work of Mr. Stone.
=. The latter is doing and has done somt
excellent work in the different depart
ments, putting i'll various kinds Of eases
and racks. Being right on the spot, hi
knows what is wanted and succeeds il
making it.
In the basement, Superintendent ofI
Buildings Stevens Is having some con
venient lockers made for the workmen
who are employed; in, out and around
about the State House. which can be used
for storing their implements and any
other property they may wish They are
high and roomy and very satisfactory.
Mr. Stevens also proposes in the near flu
ture to have the old planking in the base
ment removed and replaced by new and
firm ones. The old are, like most old
boards which have seen the wear and tear
OF time, much too ricketty for conven-
ience's sake.
Colonel Stevens was in Portland,
Saturday, on business.
General Selden Common is expected to be
at the State House, Monday.
Governor Cleaves, who has been con
fined to the house by illness for the past
ten days, has SO far recovered that he will
be at the capital in Il few days.
The public can judge somewhat OF the
numerous correspondence of the Governor
in addition to his other duties when it is
known that more than six thousand per
sonal letters have been forwarded to Gov
ernor Cleaves relating to the appointment
of an inland fish and game commits
sioner. in addition to some five hundred
petitions.