The Republican journal., 1909-01-14

10 CQe DOdrQ ny IQe nunlClpdI asses
sors for the present year, 1908, is 1854,
1893, TIA. Compared with the valuation
returned in 1907, the total increase is
$40, 381, 866. The gain in real estate
amounts to $S,314,004 and in personal
estate, $2,O67, 1862.
The increase by counties is as follows:
Androscoggin 81, 2S5, 15s;Aroostook, SOB,
444; Cumberland, So, 595, 1873; Franklin,
1882, 1858; Knox, $3.50, 528; Lincoln. $3S,
TAP; Oxford, $4l9, $40; Per obscot, 81, 7O6,
321; Piscataquis, $249. 9O9; Sagadahoc,
$2s, 1926; Somerset, $125, 223; Waldo,
$157, 939; Washington, $120, SIG; York,
$3.50, 963.
The increase in valuation as returned
for the year 1907 was $14, 1873, 076, making
a total gain for the two years of 1907 and
1908 of S24, 529, 942.
The total valuation of the twenty cities
of the State for 1908 is $164, 1856, 500, an
increase of SIS, 375, S16, and with the in
crease returned in 1907, S., 500, POT, gives
for two years total gain of ST., 876, 023
The total taxes assessed upon property
amount to $7,602, 295 and upon polls,
$512, $50.
The average rate of taxation upon
property in cities, towns and planta-
tons is $20.83 upon each $1,000 valua-
ton. In 1907 the average rate was $22. 08.
The total amount of municipal indebted
ness as returned is $7,603, 03O, being
500 "a for each 81, 900 valuation In 1908
it was S22. 20, in 1907 S21. Sc. Two hun
bred ninety three cities, towns and plan
tations report no Indebtedness and many
of these have a surplus in the treasury.
The total amount appropriated for pub
lie schools by the cities, towns and plan
tations for 1908 is 81, 645, 300, an increase
CT Si97, 1874 on amount appropriated in
1907. The amount appropriated for main
tenance of highways and bridges is ST.,
422, 687, an increase of SIS, 1903.
The exploration of wild lands author
lied by resolve of 1907 was continued
through the year of 1908. During 1907
and 1908 there have been explored two
townships in Hancock county, one in
Franklin county, five in Oxford county,
four in Penobscot county and two in
Somerset county. These townships con-
tain total of 247, 3443 acres. In 1906 the
total valuation of these townships was
81, 401, ZIG and for 1908 the amount is
81, 713, 431, an increase of over % per
cent The amount paid the explorers for
this work is So, IT'S. 40.
THE sTURGIs COMMISSION.
Waldo Pettengill of Rumford Falls,
Henry W. Cakes of Auburn and Albert
H. Lang of Skowhegan, the Sturgis en-
forcement commission, in their annual
report give the cost of the enforcement
for the last two years as S54, 467 The
cases instituted by counties We're Andres
coggin 1853, Franklin IS, Knox 391,
Penobscot 972, Sagadahoc II, Somerset
109, Washington 81; total 1852. Com
menting on the work the commissioners
say:
Ceases enough have been brought be-
fore the courts by our deputies in each Of
the counties, where they have been at
work, to have practically put an end to
the liquor business in these several coun-
ties, had the full penalty provided by law
been imposed.
Undoubtedly a wide margin might
have been allowed for first offenders and
for special circumstances requiring leni-
ency, but when the liquor business is
analysed any liquor seller stands in the
position of violating the law simply for
what profit he can make out of it. The
conclusion seems irresistible that the
responsibility for the continuance in
business of these offenders lies with the
courts and the court officials.
The commissioners say the recent
supreme court decision that liquors while
in transit cannot be seized has seri-
ously affected enforcement conditions in
Maine.
1.-The result has been to open up an en-
tirely new phase of the liquor business
and to complicate seriously the question
of enforcement. Numerous express
companies have come into existence
whose real business is the unlawful sale
of liquors"
The commissioners make these recon-
mendations:
Express companies organized under
the laws of the State should forfeit their
charters upon conviction for violation of
the liquor law and should be subject to
investigation by the legal department of
the State. and foreign express com
panies, guilty in the same manner, should
be excluded from doing business in the
State.
THE statutes should be amended in
regard to the liquor law, SO that the
sentences prescibed by the statutes
should be imposed, and it should not be
left to the discretion of the court to
change them.
he statutes Ol hdIlSdS pIOVluG tlldl
proceedings may be instituted by the at
torney general, county attorney or any
citizen of a county, where liquor nui-
sance exists, in the name of the State, to
abate and permanently enjoin the same,
and that when judgment is rendered in
favor of the plaintiff the court shall also
render judgment for reasonable at
torney fee against the defendant, which
shall be taxed and collected as other
costs therein, and when collected paid to
the attorney or attorneys of the plaintiff
therein. Our statute should be amended
to give similar powers to the attorney
general, to citizens and to the enforce
ment commission
eff the conduct of liquor cases is left
in charge of the county attorney regard
less of his attitude toward enforcement
an entire docket Of criminals may prac-
tically escape punishment. We believe
it should be the duty of the court to see
that the liquor docket is fully and COM
pletely presented and properly acted
upon, and that the court should deal with
any county attorney who fails to attend
to his duty properly in this respect.
THE STATE PRISON REPORT.
The annual report of the Maine State
Prison, Bernes 0. Norton warden, is an
interesting document. The total number
of prisoners in the institution for the
wear ending November Both was 299. the