Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-09
Decision Regarding Tenure
OF Office Of Assessors
Makes Il Highly Probable That
Obadiah Gardner Cannot
Assume the Duties Of State Asses.
scr Until April 1, 1911.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Tuesday, Jan. 10 at q p, M.

lie absorbing question of interest
ahout the State House Saturday was
IN regard to the exact dat. unou
witch the term of office of the newly
appointed State Assessor. Hon. oba-
DIAL Gardner OF Rockland will b,pin
II hld bee II generally supposed out
SIDE OF the office of the State Board
~ Assessors that his term of office
would begin as soon as tie nou,i,,-
ton Is confirmed and he is qualified
but il would seem according. IN The
wording of the new law and a dc
"ision rendered by the supreme court
OF Maine in regar to the tenure of
Once OF state assessors that his tern,
canEpt begin until April /.
Section of the new law reads AS
follows: y board Of State assessors.
consisting If three members. not more
than two Of which shall be taken from
the Same political party. shall be ap-
pointed by the Governor with the ad
vice and consent of the Council, for
the term OF six years except in the
case OF appointing nts made To fill va
clncies aa1 the terms of Gfice ef
said memle rs shall be 50 arranged
that an appointment OF one member
shall take place oicnially. The Coy
ernor shah designate the member who
is to serve rs chairman Of the board
and he shall serve in such c1pacit,.
until the expiration Of his term eS
office or until Il vacancy occurs Pro-
Ni!ed, however, that me persons WHO
now constitute the board Of State
assessors under elections heretofore
made shall continue to hold their Of
flee until the expiration Of III" terms
for which they We're elected unless 4
vacancy occurs prior to that time.
In case of the death, resignation, re-
fusal or inabilitJ to serve Of any ono
or m0re ot said board, the Governor
with IL, advice and CcDScpt of the
Council shall, as soon as may b. fill
such vacancy by appointment and tue
assessor 50 appointed shall he'd said
cttlce until the expiration Of the terms
for which they worc elected unless
vacancy occurs prior to tiIa; tHlc.
In ease. of the leath. resignation. re
fusal or inability "a serve of any
one or more Of said board. tn" Coy
.rnar with the advice and tpnstn ut
of tic Council shall IL, soon ~ may.
iii such vacancy by appointment ana
the aSs.escr So appointed shall hole
said office iItil tine expiration OF the
term III which such vacancy occurs.
Each "a the members of Said boarl
shall receive an annual salary oi
$4,000 il equal monthly irstailmcntS'
and in Idditiun, actual expenses in
erred in the performance of thelr
duties to hc allowed by the Cover
Tor and Camel GA properly itemiHed
nf the new tttN#
r.ads: The members of such board
shan nc such as are known to possess
krowIed,., OF and training il Tie sub
ip,t II taxation and taxing laws and
skilled in matters pertaining thereto
Each member shall devote his entire
time to the duti,s OF the Office. sue
board shall be in continuous session
and open Cor the transaction OF lust
ness every secular day. Inc ho"i"
may hold sessions at any other place
than the Capitol wien dt emeG nee
essay III tie performance OF t1e'f
duties.
-'hc original Statute establishing tht
state Board of Assessors was pasS'u
bv III" Legislature of 1881 ana approN'u
March 26 of that year. The act Pt"Nldee
that the first Board of State ASSESSORS
Should be elected after the approval Oh
the act by the Legislature then IN ses
sion. In accordance with TINS act mo
first board of assessors was elected by
the Legislature. April l.. 1921. and quail
flied as such officials April ;. 1891
The question relating To the tenure
of office of members of the state Beard
OF Assessors was first raised by reason
of the election and qualification OF r
Marion Simpson of Bangor as MEM
Der oi the State Board to succeed Hon
William c. Marshall of Belfast. VINO
claimed that his term of office expired
in accordance with the date of the hrSt
qualification in his term April >, 1911
Hon. George NJ. Se!1GrS OF Portland,
then attorney general, ruled that the