Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-24

CHARLES W. JONES
Augusta, Who Gave Address Of Well
come
Matters pertaining to the work Of
county commissioners in the State
We're fully discussed at the business
session of the 23rd annual convention
of the county commissioners of Maine,
which was opened Wednesday at the
court house and will be continued to-
day. There was a large attendance OF
the commissioners from the differen:
counties Of the State with their ladies
and the opening session proved to be
very interesting and profitable to all.
In the absence Of the president, Hon.
o. E. Libby Of Pittsfield, the meeting
was called to order at 10 o'clock by
Hon. John G. Yeaton Of Winthrop. The
address Of welcome vas given by Hon.
Charles W. Jones, clerk of courts for
Kennebec county and clerk to the
board of county commissioners Of the
county. Mr.. Jones spoke of the i'm
portance of the duties of county COM
lr,issioners ana mentioned as one Of
the most important that of looking at
ter bills Of various kinds which are
presented to the Legislature, affecting
the counties Of the State. In the ad-
dress he brought before the meeting
for discussion features Of the law in
relation to coroners and medical ex-
aminers and Of the law in relation to
the protection OF children.
The response was made by Hon.
Harry E. Atwood of Lisbon Falls, the
secretary of the Maine Commissioners
Association, after which his report as
secretary was read and accepted
Officers Elected
The election Of officers for the ensu-
ing year then was held, the following
being elected: President, Hen. George
Pottle of Lewiston; secretary, Hon.,
Harry E. Atwood of Lisbon Falls, who
has held that position for the past six
years. The Legislative committee was
continued for the ensuing year, the
members being: Hon. w. H. Eastman
of East Sumner, Hon. Charles H. Ma
son Of Bath, Hon. f. f. Turner of
Milbridge, Hon. c. w. Stephens Of Old
Town and Hon. George Pottle of Lew
iston.
Discussion Of Topics
The remainder of the forenoon SEES
sion was devoted to the informal dis
cussion of topics PRESENTED by the
commissioners. Hon. Charles w.
Stephens of Old Town spoke upon the
matter of excessive charges of humane
officers stating that now in Bangor
the commissioners make the figures
and use the blue pencil freely in the
bills Of costs sent to them.
Commissioner Pottle Of Lewiston
said that there was formerly a HUI
name agent from outside his county,
who used to have a fine time travelling
into Androscoggin county but now he
cannot be induced to go into that
county.
Hon. W. H. Eastman Of East Sum-
ner spoke of the drafting Of a bill for
the Legislature, providing that cruelty
officers shall be appointed upon the
recommendation of county commission
ers, and later of the introducing to the
Legisla ture of bill which left out the
above provision but provided that not
more than two should be appointed in
any county and their jurisdiction
ty. The bill died between the two
houses of the Legislature.
The features of the law in relation
to coroners and medical examiners
were then discussed. Hon. C. w.
Stephens of Old Town said that the
commissioners Of Penobscot county
have had trouble with the bills Of med
ical examiners in that county and he
cited a number Of instances in which
unnecessary. A fee of SO in ordinary
cases he considered excessive when in
the days of coroners the fee was but 50.
And he thought that it should not be
at the option Of doctor to make an
autopsy in a case. Regarding the bills
sent in by cruelty officers he said that
the commissioners of his county could
not complain.
President Pottle thought that the
law in relation to medical examiners
although it had its faults was better
than conditions were in the days Of the
coroners.
A number Of the commissioners pres
ent were of the opinion that this law
regarding medical examiners should
be repealed. In place Of this law it
was suggested that the power be CIV
en- the sheriff. deputy sheriffs and the
county attorney of each county to ex-
anime cases as they are better quail
fed to do it than the medical examin-
ers.
There was also an expression Of opin-
ion at the meeting that the law in re-
lation to the protection Of children
should be amended SO that the power
Of a county agent would be restricted
and that the county commissioners
would have some power over the bills
before they We're contracted.
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