Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-04
Orders of the Day.
Senator Stearns in Chair.

The PRESIDING OFFICER: Under or
ders of the day, the Chair lays before
the Senate the first matter assigned for
consideration, Senate Document 56S, An
Act TO amend Section of Chapter 80
of the Public Laws Of 1909, relating to
the payment OF fees accruing to State
institutions aud departments.
The pending question is reeansidefa-
ton of the vote whereby this bin was
passed to be engrossed, tabled ON motion
of the senator of kennebec, Senator but
ton.
Mr.. BUTTON Of Kennebee; Mr.
President, this bill is designed, ! have
no doubt, to meet a situation that has
existed in this State for a number of
years, and is designed to work reform
in the various State departments and
institutions.
The very first part of Section of the
Jill says that "alI fees or other income
which may become due and payable to
any institution, etc." which is a sort of
misnomer. 1t would tend to give the
impression, properly no doubt, that
there was now a large amount of fees
payable to the State institutions or the
officers of the State institutions, which
are not now returned to the State treas
urer's Office, or are not used in the adj
illustrative work of the institutions.
But stripped of all its verbiage this
bill means simply this, that our State
institutions like the State hospitals and
State prison must carry on all of their
business through the Office of the State
treasurer; that is, that the State treas
urer shall be the paying teller of all
these institutions; so that little or no
moneys shall remain in the hands of the
officers of these institutions.
Now the idea, or the thing to be de-
sired or attained here is eommenda Bile,
that is. suppose it is the purpose of
the proponents of this measure 10 inake
it impossible for condition of affairs
to exist where the funds belonging to
the State institution appropriated by the
State, or private income of the institu-
ton, shall be misspent. if misanpfo-
priated, or misused.
Now il so happens that in some of our
institutions there is little or no danger
of this thing happening, for the reason
that the treasurers of these Institutions
are required tn give bond 10 the State.
Fer instance. the treasurcrs Of Insane
asvlums are required to give bond up
to $4,000. ! am Informed that this is
not true Of the officer in charge Of thc
State prison and some other instiIu-
lions. / had supposed that the laws of
the State required every officer who
handled funds belonging to the STATE to
give bond for the faithful perform
anee of his duties. and | think that If
there is no law to govern all those cases
one should be enacted even in thes,
closing days of the Legislature. so that
by no possibility can the State Of Maine
meet with loss.
With all the intended merit there Is
in this bill / regret that the history of
the bin is such--and | have no sugges-
ton that applies 10 the proponent Of
This measure at all because he is acting
in entirely good faith in this matter
but the history Of il is such that | could
not intelligently discuss the matter here
so as to make members of the Senate UNI
dcrstand the situation without going
into matters that ought not to be dis
cussed here. But ! will venture to go
this far, that this bill originated and
has its existence. today, before this
Senate, growing out. of a personal con
troversy between the superintendent of
the Maine Insane hospital and the treas
urcr of that institution.
Now these gentlemen are both friends
Of mine and l do not care TO enter into
that controversy. think that the bill
itself does not meet the situation that
exists. The problem is one that is now
before the Executive and his Council,
and ] feel that they should not be en-
barrassed in coping with the situation
by legislation of this kind. There is in
VOWED here cumbersome administra-
live method that will entail much ex-