Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-06

1t is learned at the office Of State
Treasurer Pascal P. Gilmore, that if
Penobscot county does not pay the
State two months bills due for the
expenses of the deputy enforcement
commissioners who have been at work
in that county, that the treasurer will
take money from the countys funds
in the State treasury and send the
county the balance.
The county commissioners decided
some time ago that they would not pay
the bills of the enforcement deputies
until obliged to do so by order Of the
court The State treasurer seems to
have the whip hand and the power to
collect the money, as he has funds Of
the county. To bring the matter to the
courts the Penobscot county commits
sioners have requested County Atty.
George E. Thompson to take action,
which will probably be in the form of
suit against the State for the funds
belonging to the county should the
State treasurer take possession of a
portion, as he threatens to do.
The bills are now due, $1423 for Au-
gust, and $1513 for September. The
county has funds in the State treasury
amounting to enough to pay these bills
and also the October bill, if such is
of the average amount. In the last
legislature an amendment was passed
providing that counties in which dep
uty enforcement commissioners are
sent shall pay the expenses Of the
deputies. it being urged that counties
where the law is enforced by officers
should not be obliged to pay for en-
forcement in counties where Sturgis
deputies are sent through failure of
the regular officers to enforce the law.
The amendment also provides that
the deputies be paid by the State
treasurer, who shall be reimbursed by
the counties, and in failure of tho
counties to pay the State treasurer
may take the money from funds in the
treasury to the credit of such coun-
ties The county commissioners in
both Penobscot and Androscoggin, the
only counties in the State where dep
utics are at work, believe that tho
law is unconstitutional and will pay
no bills unless they are obliged to.
The bill for the salary and ex-
perses of the Sturgis deputies at work
in Penobscot county for September.
amounting to $1512, shows that 10
deputies have been in the county dur
ing the month although but 10 have
spent all their time here. These 10
have drawn salary and expenses from
Sis to $197 each.
The Stursis deputies claim that the
fines. costs and revenue from the SAFE
of seized liquors and vessels, II all col
lected, will net the county moro than
three dollars for every one that tho
commissioners cost. in other words
that instead of being an expense TO
the county the Sturgis deputies are
source of revenue.
In addition to Penobscot county
several other counties are also m
debted to the State for the same
cause. In the list of August bills Of
the commissioners. which were due
oct IA. the counties were listed as
follows Androscoggin, $504.S6; Frank
lin. s49,677: Knox, s42.SS; Penobscof,
s1423.S5: Sagadahoc. $4 Washington,
5000 The September bills, which
will be due Nov. 10. are as follows:
Androscoggin, $592.53; Penobscot,
s1512.S4: Sagadahoc, $14,30; Knox,
$6.67.
These bills are payable to the trea-
surer of State by the treasurers of the
several counties. as provided by
Cbapter 255 Of the Public Laws of
1909, and under said chapter If the
counties fail to transmit the amount
due the treasurer of State may deduct
the amount from any sum due the
county. or any action of debt may be
maintained against said county by the
treasurer in the name Of the State.