The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-01-03

twenty years Of $4,000. 1919. or nearl,
200 per cent and In forty years Of So,
773.3Sl 81. or about 5000 per cent 1f,-
remarkable showing Is the strongest p9ssi-
Bile proof Of the prosperity Of the STATE. aud
forcibly demonstrates tie industry. tbril!
and economy Of the people Of Maine The
Savings Banks which as a rule, have geen
characterized BY conservative, conseiru.
tlous and able business management hive
had the confidence of the public and has.
encouraged the saving Of a large portion of
the money now entrusted to their care and
which might otherwise have been expended
needlessly.
The tax on Savings Banks deposits has
been source 81 large revenue 10 the state
the amount paid during the past year be.
Ing s44s. 93. an increase Of Sf2s.4s3.
u over the sum paid In 800
The report Of the Bank Examiner will
give you a detailed account of the condi.
ton OF each Institution.
The Fee System.
There has long been a feeling on the
part OF many OF our most intelligent and
progressive citizens, that the present Zee
sysfem should BIZ revised or modified and
that those public officials now recelvlns,
compensate ton for their services wholly or
partly In fees should be paid definite and
fixed salary that the people may know e1-
actly what their servants receive
This may not be practicable In every In.
stance but there certainly is no good rea
son why any officer should receive more
II gRF
Vices, or more than he would be paid II
employed In a private business Involving
the same degree Of responsibility. and re-
curing similar capacity
Ii Is undoubtedly true that many puhIfc
officials who are paid by fees do not re.
ceiye an excessive or unreasonable com
pensation but even here the public Inter
est would probably be best served by the
payment OF a salary commensurate vitb
the service rendered
| commend this matter to Your careful
consideration. knowing that whatever ar
tlon you may take will be dictated by a de-
sire to serve the best interests of the whole
people.
Good Roads.
The question of improved highways ia
one of great interest and Importance To the
whole state, and especially to the people Of
the country towns.
Good roads shorten the distance to mar.
ket Increase the value of contiguous prom
erty, and are potent factors in the develop
ment of every community. Although there
has been vast improvement In our trans
portatlon facilities during the past twenty
years. through the building of new railroad
mileage, there has been little improvement
In our highways, along which there will al.
ways be large amount of traffic and 1t
would seem that the time has come Hnen
we should adopt some definite and elective
plan for the improvement OF our main
thoroughfares.
] do not regard with favor a State high
way commission, or any similar plan which
would take from the towns any part of the
control which they exercise over their
roads, and cost an undue proportion of the
sum which would be likely to be devoted
TO road improvement but ii has seemed to
me that some plan of State aid might be
devised which would be effective and prac-
teal In its operation, and would gradually
result In greatly improved highways
The cost of really good roads is beyond
the means of most towns improved high
ways must come first, and In my Judgment
they can only come through State and per
haps county aid. Such distribution of
the cost would make the municipal burden
small when compared With the i'm
mense benefits which would be derived
from It,
The National Guard.
There Is stll u balance due the State
from the General Government, ON claims Tor
reimbursement of expenses incurred in
equpplng troops for the war with Spain,
amounting to SG2,3UO.4S. The original
amount OF l-ese claims was $s7,434.SO, on
which has been received SO, 1892.
Of the regular military appropriation for
the year 1898, $27,221.oi was applied to
war expenses, and is included in the claims
against the United States, having been ex-
pended under orders from the War Depart
ment.
supplementary claim for reimburse
ment of the State for property destroyed
by order of the Secretary OF War, that had
been condemned by Board of Survey con
yened by his orders, which amounts to
S03lo.G5, has been hed with the War De
partment
The Legislature of 1899 provided for the
payment of bills for medical attendance,
medical supplies and nursing of sick sol
diers, who served in the States quota and
were treated outside of authorized hospi.
tails during the period preceding their mus
ter out, and whose expenses were not pro-
vided for by Act of Congress. There has
been no Congressional action on these
of 81
In the Surgeon Generals Office pending
such action. II seems only just that some
provision should be made for their pay
ment.
No annual encampment was held In the
year 1899, the regular military appropra-
ton for that year being used In reuniform
was fully accomplished, and the militia of
this State is now In excellent condition,
and well equipped for State service
All OF the organizations that make up
our National Guard should be maintained
on practical footing. they should be
armed, equipped and organized In accord
ance with the requirements of the volun
teer army that the State may be ready,
when called upon, to place an efficient
force Of well-dsclplned men In the held
Since the last session OF the Legisla
ture, one division Of Naval Reserves mas
been organized. II fully maintains the cred
it Of the National Guard. and on Its first
cruise taken on the u. S. $. Prairie last
September, the reports of the officer In
made record seldom. II ever, equalled by
Naval Reserve organization during Its
first year.
The experiment of regimental camps was
tried at the last annual encampment with
very gratifying results. The health, alb
sence of intemperance, and conduct Of the
men In camp were most satisfactory. The
organizations now authorized seem ample
for the service, and to fully meet the re
qurements of the State. Maine does not
require large force, but her troops should
be of the best While we earnestly pray
that their services Will not again be neces
sary. We should always be prepared for any
possible emergency that may arise.
State Pensions.
The obligation which we owe to those
brave and patriotic men, who, by their
courage and valor, preserved the Union and
perpetuated the greatest and grandest gov
eminent that the world has ever known,
can never be fully discharged. The small
pensions paid by the State to those veter-
ans of the Civil War requiring aid and as
sistance, or TO their widows and orphans
is fitting recognition of their devotion
and sacrifice, and relieves many homes
from suffering and want. You will cheer
fully appropriate such sum as may be nee
essary for this purpose that no one OF
them shall suffer from prvaton.
Bath Military and Naval Orphan
Asylum.
There are at the present time seventy
children In the Bath Military and Naval
Orphan Asylum. the largest number for
many years Twenty-four have been ad-
mitted during the past year; This is a
well-managed institution, and merits the
support which 1t has received from the
State.
Inland Fisheries and Game.
The constant Increase in the number OF
sportsmen who come 10 Maine each year, To
spend their vacations in hunting and fish