The Portland daily press., 1899-01-06

OF companies of not lees than the same
number of physically sound mon that
the United States regular army require
ments specify. They should be armed
with modern guns thoroughly equipped
and drilled, and ready TO take the field
at any time upon short notice. and when
any call by the general govsrnment has
exceeded their numbers. and more SOL
diers ars needed, there viii be no lack
or eager volunteers. But two regiments.
with fun compliments OF officers, so that
no commissions oan be given TO those
who desire to bring men In, in which only
from 30 to 40 men are physically Mt for
duty, are expensive and difficult to raise
10 the United States standard and re-
quirements when called into active serv-
ice. and should cease to exist in our state.
In short, 1 submit that 1t Is very desir'a-
BILE to so change our military laws as to
form oar National Guard in every par
ticular, so far as we can. upon the regu-
lar army standard.
There were some soldiers enlisted and
sent to Join the First regiment Of in
fantry and battery A of the heavy ar
tillery, under the supervision OF the
United States government, and consu-
tuted a part Of our quota under the Sec
ond call. None OF these men have re-
ceived any Of the gratuity before re-
ferred to. believe that II "a right that
It should be paid TO them. as the state OF
Maine always has been and can AFFORD
to be not only just but generous to the
brave men who came forward and en-
listed In her behalf at the country's call.
All OF the officers in these four batteries
were officers in the guard. though some
OF them do not hold as high rank In the
batteries as in the guard. and all of their
men and the men Of the signal cor',s
have received the gratuity as above
stated, viz. the e...ep.lon oil tne lew
that enlisted in battery A.
For some Of these soldiers In the late
war with Spain, and for the odd soldiers
OF the war Of 81 whose valor saved the
republic and made II indeed a nation.
where the fires OF liberty will continue
to burn on the affairs OF freedom" rec
ommend that you make such reasonable
provision as shall help to smooth the
path of their declining years. and save
them from want.
The last legislature appropriated s75.-
900 per annum. which has been very care
fully and tudioiously distributed to the
most needy and deserving. through the
agency Of Colonel r. C. Miliiken. There
are also some needy families Of soldiers
In the late war with Spain. that have re-
ceived aid while their husbands were
absent In the service, from certain cities
and towns. submit that this add should
not pauper1se them. but should be as
sumed and paid by the state In the same
manner that state aid was furnished in
the War of the Rebellion: thus treating
them and their families as the state
treated the oldiers and their families in
the war of 81.
desire. in losing these already lengthy
suggestions and remarks on military
matters-for / can only recommend and
suggest, action and the initiative Is with
you-to call your attention to the fact
that In all the state has done In filling its
quotas. in equipping the men. in caring
for the returned sick and suffering the
service. foresight and experience Of Ad-
jutant General Richards have been most
valuable to the state, and indispensable
to me. He has devoted assiduously his
whole time and attention to the addi-
tional duties placed upon him and his
department. by the war, and to the wants
and welfare, health and comfort of the
soldiers. And as his compensation or
salary is very Inadequate for the service
performed. and Is based upon what
should be paid in a time of peace. there
fore, / know II will be your pleasure to
grant him such additional sum as is rea-
sonable and just and / recommend that
this be done.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
f' During the past two years the dormi-
tory. In connection with the state normal
school at Gorham. and the normal school
building at Pennington. have been COM
pleted and properly furnished for use.
Both buildings are all that could be rea-
sonably wished for TO serve the purposes
for which they were intended.
An additional building has been con-
structed in connection with the indus
trial school for girls at Hallowell. Also.
there have been marked and much
needed changes, improvements and re-
pairs in and about the state house.
especially in the senate chamber. The
moneys appropriated to be used for these
purposes about the state house have
been very tudiciously and economically
expended by Colonel Stevens, the su-
perintendent OF public buildings.
The training school at Fort Kent has
been so altered as to better serve the pur-
poses for which II was established, and 1t
Is doing most excellent and much needed
work in that section Of our state.
The last legislature made no approprf-
alton to continue the work on the Eastern
Maine insane hospital. II merely placed
at the disposal OF the governor and coun-
Gil the sum OF $500 per annum. to be used
in caring for II. Only a part Of that sum
has been expended in so doing. The state
has already used a large amount Of
money purchasing, locating and improv-
ing grounds for this hospital. and in the
partial erection of buildings thereon So
far as the work has progressed. IL has
been most thoroughly and properly done.
The site. TO my mind. rs an Ideal one. and
the location Is in the central part OF the
state. easily aceessibie by rail.
This institution was determined upon,
and the work upon II has thus far been
carried on, In response to a well settled
conviction tlat more. and perhaps bet
ter in the light OF modern improvements.
accommodations should be provided for
the unfortunate insane, as II was the con-
viction of former legislators that already
as many insane persons were aggregated
and treated In the insane hospital at
Augusta as II was prudent or desirable
to have in one place. These unfortunate
people are peculiarly the wards of the
state. Every humane consideration
urges and demands that they should
not only receive the best possible care
nursing and medical treatment. but that
their every surrounding should be made
pleasant and comfortable They should
not be too closely crowded together.
The number OF patients now In the in
sane hospital at Augusta Is 1888. an in
crease If some % Wfxhin the last wear