Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-29
GODS Jdrsdpariil
and Pills
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Continued from page 5.)

have been dissolved under adjudication
of the courts, nevertheless there was
nothing which required corporations to
pursue either of these courses. The
result was that 22S1 corporations had
ceased to do business and that nearly
the whole of them, at the time of the
passage of the franchise law tax Al
1901, were virtually dead, but they
still remained on the books of the State
rs going corporations. In most cases
no officials had been elected for years,
hence it was impossible to get the ex-
act status OF such corporations and to
collect the taxes therefrom.
While the law of 1901 provided that
in case of the non-payment of the
franchise tax for a period of six months
after the same became due this office
should at once bring suit for the for
fixture of the charter of such corpora
ton, it did not provide for the ex-
pense of the carrying on the suits.
deemed it advisable, therefore, to pur-
sue such delinquent corporations in
another direction; that is, to collect
the franchise tax from all such corpor-
ations as had property or were doing
business. and to recommend to the
Legislature that Il law be passed at this
session FORGETTING the charters of such
delinquent corpora tons which had
failed to pay their franchise tax for
1901, where such corporations have not
been saasonably excused or dissolved
Suits could not have been brought
against such corporations without in
curing an expense to the State of at
least $4,000, had there been an APP
preparation for that purpose.
&c the large number. of dead cor
porations on the State books at the
time of assuming the duties of my Of
flee, l have excused 1920. During the
two years So have been dissolved by
decree of court. There have been also
As corporations whose charters have
expired by limitation by reason of their
lot having commenced business. There
remain on the State books at the pres
cnt time 64i corporations concerning
which | recommend that the Legisla =
ture shall pass d law FORGETTING their
charters.
BY this method all corporations
which have not paid their frapchise
tax for the year 1901 will be disposed
of without expense to the State, and
the books of the State will for the
first tine pc comparatively cleaned up
and he put in the best possible shape
for future work. An immense amount
of work has been required to accom-
plish the foregoing results. But. if the
franchise tax is to prove successf }. il
is most important that corporatio(Is
should understand that they cannot re-
main going corporations without Nay-
ing the franchise tax promptly. Such
course Systematically followed will
be the means of turning into the State
treasury many thousands of dollars
which would otherwise be lost to the
State.
For further information and data
relating to corporations and the fran
chise tax. l refer to the office of the
secretary of State
The report also contains COPIES of
IA opinions prepared by General
Soldiers during the past two years. in
response to requests of various State
officers. Most of these opinions have
been published as they We're received.
The report takes up the foliowin :
homicide cases. devotng considerable
space to each:
State vs.. Edwin II. knight for murder.
(AcquittaD
State vs. Edward GRAHAM and William.
HaEds for murder. (Convictions>.
State vs.. Charles A. McCloud for muir
der. pleaded guilty..
State vs. Electus Cakes. for murder.
pleaded guilty to manslaughterp.
State VS.. George III. Brainard for mu:-
der Convicted.
state vs.. Alexander Terrio for murder.
Convicted.
state vs.. Henry Lambert for murder.
Convicted.
state vs.. William L. Treworgy for muir
der (Acquit.ed)-
state VS.. Herbert E. Holbrook for muir
der. tConviction-sccond degrce).
Refe.once is made to the homicides in
volving the deaths of Martin Stanton,
John McElwee, William Thompson, alias
William Riley. and Olive II. Broad, tie
r,iltv persons not having yet been ap-
pretended.
Reference is also made to the case OF
State w. Frank a. Dreamer. for suit on
bond for non-feasance in office as clerk
of courts of Lincoln county, in having
failed TO transcribe the records of the
Supreme Judicial Court