Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-01-14
THE NATIONAL GUARD.

The total number of citizens Of this state.
between the ages of eighteen and forty
five, able to perform military duty, accord.
ing to the last returns, is 10i IS. Under
the present law. the active militia is des-
ignated The National Guard of the State
OF Mime As now constituted, IL consists
OF two regiments of infantry Of twelve com
panles each; naval reserve; signal corps;
and an ambulance corps; total of 1918
men.
There has been great improvement in the
work of these troops as Il result of the
active interest in the service which has
been shown by both officers and men. The
Spanish War has given us many veteran
officers, whose services are of greaf value,
and whose work has done much to improve
the morals and increase the efficiency, Of
the guard. The annual encampment has
been productive of good results, and both
regiments have made noticeable and praise
worthy advancement.
The signal corps and ambulance corps
are worthy of special mention for the pro
ficiency of their drill and the interest which
their members manifest In the discharge of
The naval reserve. consisting of three
officers and forty-six men, Is Etost fortu'
nate In being commanded by officers who
have made themselves thoroughly familiar
with their duties The command would
not suffer by comparison with anv similar
organization in the country. The practical
experience which the men have gained as
n result Of their cruise each summer has
familiarized them with the service per
Termed at sea, both officers and men being
every way as II they were members Of the
United states navy.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
There was no superv sion of Insurance
In Maine prior to 1865. at which time the
office Of bank and insurance examiner was
created. In 1870 the Office of insurance
commissioner was established and a srpa
rate department was organized or sixty
eight foreign fire and marine Insurance
tbpp doing business in the St1fp
hut twenty remained at the close of 1901.
OF forty four old-line life insurance com
panies, then under the supervision of the
department, only seventeen were licensed
There is not single stock fire insurance
r.ompany organized under the laws of
Milne which is doing bus ness In the state
at the present time, our fire underwriting
being largely done by foreign corporations.
Nineteen ce enn poan Wifn eaplfai aggre
state in 1901, and 1t Is now impossible to
secure adequate insurance In licensed com
panics. 1t is unwise to impose upon these
corporations unnecessary or burdensome re-
strictions, which must either force them
to withdraw from the state, or charge In
creased premiums for insurance;
There has been Il much smaller number
of incend airy fires since the law was en-
acted giving the commissioner authority to
make investigations, During the past two two
of incendiarlsm, and are now confined In
the state prison.
In 1901 the property loss by hre In TINS
state was 81, 40 OH The insurance loss on
the same was $1,356,723, leaving a direct
loss to- property owners of more than
SSOU.UoO during a single year.
There has been very large increase In
the amount of business done In this state
by the life Insurance companies during the
last ten years. on December 31st, 1901
risks to the amount of I6,4t2.S57 were in
force as again S31 70 ABS on December
3lst 1891 There has also been a large In
crease in the membership of the fraternal
beneficiary ORGANIZATIONS whose members
are TO be found In nearly every town In the
state Over no class of insurance corpora
lions does the law give the department so
little control. and there ARE none whose
operations should be more carefully guard
ed and protected.
The fees of this department in 1870
amounted to S3.777, no tax being imposed
at that time In 1902 the fees collected
by the insurance commissioner amounted
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