Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-03

the measure and launched forth into
eulcgy of his friend Trefethen &C q
man fitted for the Office bv previous
service as civil deputy. He proved hi.
almost bull dog tenacity by withstand
ing the attacks made upon him during
several bitter campaigns, attacks quite
unparalleled i'll the political history Of
Cumberland county, and this is the
reason why Sheriff Trefethen is sher-
| lift today"
j. H. Mcdonald of Portland, chair
man or the Cumberland county COM
mSsloners, spoke in opposition. 81
nave no personal antipathy to Mr..
Iretethen, but have failed to find any
sentiment in the county that $1,000 was
not sufficient salary"
County Commissioner James Carroll
Mead o. Bridgton spoke in favor of the
act to increase the salary of the coun-
W commissioners of Cumberland coun-
W from S1050 to $3.50. He said the COM
mlssloners were the poorest paid of
any of the county officers, and at the
foot of the list in the State as far as
other counties are concerned in pro-
| portion to the valuation of the coun-
W. Recorder Whelden said that the
least $1,000 year. William F. Spear of
South Portland said he was in favor of
an increase in salary for the county
commissioners and predicted q change
| in the political complexion of the board
| at the next session.
County Commissioner J. II. McDon-
aid spoke in favor of the act reducing
the salary of the register of deeds in
I Cumberland county from $500 to $500.
He said that the present register of
deeds had time in which to attend to
private business of his own. He said
that he had gone over the matter with
the present register of deeds, who APP
proves the bill. Recorder Whelden said
that he believed that salaries should
| be nigh enough so that they were real
| ly cheap to the county, and that $25OO
was cheap enough to get a good man.
THE register of deeds has a chance
to earn 81 or 81 a day by outside work.
said Mr. Mcdonald.
| Repre- sentative Spear pressed him to
know what he did to earn So or 81 a
day, and Mr.. Mcdonald replied: 81
didn't say he earned So or 81 a day. L
said he could"
"Well, what does the register of
deeds do anyhow" persisted the man
| from South Portland.
80, he signs his name half a dozen
times a day, and superintends the work
of the clerks
Still Mr. Spear persisted. eff the reg
| lister Of deeds only does what you say,
| and is still worth $500, at that same
rate, what do you think the sheriff of
Cumberland county ought to receiver
about $1,000" was the reply.
Recorder Whelden explained to the
| committee that if the register Of deeds
did not actually copy the transfers he
was nevertheless obliged to hear them
read and copied them.
Charles +. Sweet. clerk of courts of
Penobscot appeared before the commit
! tee to ask for an increase in clerk hire
| from $500 to $1,000, which he said was
made necessary by the increase in rec
ord work for the five terms of court
which will include 1900 pages during
the past year No one appeared in re-
gar6 to the act relating to the salary
of the superintendent of the Insane
hospital at Augusta and his four as
siStants.
J Representative Boyer of the commit
appeared in regard to the act increas-
ing the salary of the deputy insurance
commissioner from $1,000 to $500. He
spoke of the steady growth of the bus
iness OF the department and the spe-
clad qualifications of the present dep
uty insurance commissioner. Josiah III.
Drummond of Portland, representing
the Union Mutual Co, spoke in favor
of the measure and said that Deputy
Insurance Commissioner Lang had
mastered the work of an actuary, so
that there was no need of the depart
mcnt calling on from outside for that
kiad of work State Insurance Commits
sioner Beecher Putnam explained that
the work of Mr.. Lang was a special
work, which was necessary to arrive
at The solvency of the insurance COM
panies doing business in Maine. f.. f.
Decker of Portland represented the
Connecticut Mutual and Representa-
tive T. NJ Grant of F'reeport also
SPOKE in favor of the measure.