Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-02
Whitman g.. Adams CO.

In the revision of 1883, Chapter u.s.
We find the same provision which is
just quoted from the act of 1879 This |
provision finally takes its place in the |
revision OF 1908, Chapter 116.
1t will be observed. therefore. that |
the legislature has provided for the |
payment Of the superintendent, etc. of |
the insane hospital out of the State |
treasury ever since 1910. n period of 81
years and that the superintendent. two |
assistant superintendent, steward.
chaplain and matron have been desig- !
mated as public officers ever since
1879. a period of nearly forty years.
The first legislation with reference
to the insane hospital at Bangor was
il, 1895 when in Chapter is of the Re
solves Of that year a commission
was appointed to erect buildings. The
Legislature of 1899. Chapter Of the
Resolves Of that year made an apprO-
priation for the completion Of the
buildings In the Public Laws Of
1899. Chapter 10, we find a provision ~
follows:
Sec 9 The government of the
Eastern Maine Insane Hospital at
Bangor is hereby vested III the truss
tees of the Maine Insane Hospital who
are authorized to organize and prepare
it for the reception of patients. to APP
point superintendent. treasurer.
steward and other necessary officers.
whose salaries they shall fix and to
perform such other acts as are neces-
sary to properly care and provide for
patients therein. The action Of said
trustees TO be subject to the approval
of the Governor and Council.
SEC. 8. The provisions of Chapter
143 Of the Revised Statutes shall con-
troll the government of the Eastern
Maine Insane Hospital so far as they
may be- applicable. and the board OF
trustees are charged with the same
duties towards and given tho same
authority over tho Eastern Main" In
s:,re Hospital at Bangor that they
now exercise in relation 10 the Name
Insane Hospital AT Augusta
The chapter last referred to is the
charter entitled THE Insane Hospital
and contains in Section 4 of Chapter
143 G2evisiun of 1889 the provision in
stituted in lS41 that the accounts OF
the trustees shall be audited By the
Governor and Council who shall draw
their warrant on the treasury Of State
for the amount due them and the 9TH
er officers of the institution.
While we have referred to but pOr-
ton Of the legislation relative to the
insane hospitals in this State. we have
not found in our examination any
legislation OF any kind providing IN
terms that the officers are To be paid
out Of any fund other than that pro-
videu for Salaries Of public officers"
or at least, out Of the treasury or
State.
Calling your attention expressly to
the present statutes now in force, you
will perceive that Il. S. 1909, Chapter
1i6 is entitled Salaries of public
officers and compensation of members
OF the government" that Section l OF
that chapter begins with the following
| language:
1.-The following officers arc entitled
| to receive annual salaries from the
| treasurer Of State in quarterly pay
ments Oh the first days Of January,
April, July and October as follows"
The list begins with the governor
and proceeds until We reach the fol-
| lowing language:
| superintendent of the Insane Hos
| pital at Augusta. two thousand dol
lars: four assistants, one of whom
shall be female. such sum as the
| trustees may from time to time vote,
not exceeding thirty-five hundred dol
! lars a year for the four; the steward.
! including his services as treasurer.
such sum as the trustees may from
| time to time vote, not exceeding sin
teen hundred dollars in full for all
services: chaplain. thrce hundred dol
lars; r,atron five hundred dollars"
| In view OF all Of the legislation in
| this State and of the express language
referred to in said r. S. 1903 Chapter
JIG, it seeer1s to this department as
above indicated that the salaries in
question may properly be paid from
the treasury of the State and out of
| the appropriation for Salaries Of pub
| lie officers"
! This would seem to be the intention
of the legislature under said r. S.
| Chapter 116 1t certainly could not
have been the contemplation of the
| legislature that the persons in question
should serve without pay and the
Legislature appears to have made no
other provision for their payment.
| This conclusion seems to be in har-
mony with the fact that as we are in
| formed the various legislatures through
! their proper committees in making up
! their estimates for the sum total for
| the salaries of public officers have in
cludcd in their totals the salaries due
J tie officers in question. Various acts
have been passed from time to time