Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-23

L i
move that the Senate non-concur with the
House in the acceptance Of the report Of
the committee. and upon that l wish to
| submit few remarks.
1t seems to me. Mr. President. that We
should hesitate long and consider very
| carefully before we take any action
| which will tend 10 cripple or render aess
! efficient one of the most important de-
partments of our State government. This
bill is here for the purpose Of doing what
the title would indicate: namely. to abol
ish the Office of the assistant attorney
| general.
| j fear to analyZc this proposition too
| closely in any attempt to show why this
| measure happens to be before the Iegis-
| lature this year or why it received IA
! vorable report at the hands of the COM
| mittce to whom it was reported, or why
| it passed the House as il did. lest the
| argument should be turned into political
| channels and perhaps become almost per
-! sonal in its nature; but | am persuaded
| that there is scarcely Il senator within
| this chamber, perhaps not one. who down
| deep i'll his heart does not feel that it is
| mistake from a business point OF view
| to abolish the Office which has been of
| such immense benefit and profit to the
| State in facilitating the ever increasing
| business of a great department. and yet
| fear you feel constrained for certain
rea sons to support this measure and give
!. il passage.
| This is truly unfortunate. II is exceed
! ingly unfortunate that the circumstances
are such that you. upon whom the re-
| sponstbility Of Legislation rests, desiring
| to accomplish that which will rebound to
| the greatest good of the state, as | be
| heve YOU do, should feel constrained To
vote against Your solemn convictions in
| order to be consistent or perhaps more
| properly in order that your party may
| appear to be consistent.
| In registering a protest against this
| measure ! desire briefly to call attention
| To few facts in relation TO the manifold
duties and responsibilities Of this great
| Office. y part of the work of the attor-
ney generals office as required by law
| is as follows:
| To appear for the State in all suits and
other civil proceedings in which the state
is i party of interest.
TO render legal services when REQUIRED
to the secretary of State. State treasurer
bank examiner, insurance commissioner
State boards and commissioners.
y part Of the work of the attorney gem
erals office is as follows:
In all suits and other civil proceedings
IN which the State is a party or interest
ed. to appear; for the state,
Secretary of State.
| state treasurer
| Bank commissioner.
| Insurance commissioner
! State boards and commissions
To render legal services when required
by such officials. boards and commissions
| To bring all actions TO recover money
for the State.
To appear before departments and tri-
bunals of tho United states and commit
tees of Congress to prosecute ali claims
of the State against tho United States.
To consult and advise with the county
| attorneys in matters relating to their tu-
ties: and If in his Judgment the public in
| tcrest 50 requires. to attend the grand
jury in the examination of case in
which the accused is charged with trea-
| son or murder.
To appear for the State in the trial of
| indictment for treason or murder.
To prosecute persons who intrudc upon
| lands, rights or property of the state, or
commit or erect nuisance thereof.
| To enforce due application OF funds Civ
en- or appropriated to public charities
within the state. and prevent breaches
| of trust in the administration thereof.
To give his written opinion upon ques-
| tons of law submitted TO him BY the Gov
ernor and Council, secretary of State
| State treasurer. bank commissioner, in
surance commissioner OF any OF the State
| boards commissions or by either
| branch of the Legislature.
| To approve certificates of incorporation
To collect annual franchise taxes of
delinquent corporations when such are
reported to him by the State treasurer
| Under this last mentioned duty the
! treasurer has reported to the attorney
general for each Of the past five years
| from 300 to $3.50 corporations against
! which franchise taxes are due and UNI
paid. With these delinquent corporations
| the attorney general Immediately insti-
| tutes correspondence and proceeds to urSe
payment. OF franchise taxes assessed
against corporations for the year 1908 he
| collected. after repeated and urgent de-
mands. $40 li;99. OF franchise taxes assess
| ed for 1909 So, go
The charters OF corporations whose
franchise taxes for 1907, or any year prior
thereto. have not been paid. have been
suspended by acts Of the Legislature, and