Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-13
STATE HOUSE
CONTINUED from Page Ten)

examined a second time for any discrep-
ancies that may have escaped the first
examination and If they are discovered
further correspondence is inaugurated to
supply the missing information. The re-
ports are also checked up with the yearly
reports of the assessors
In years when the Office force and APP
preparation have been sufficient an addi-
tional checking system has been used,
The department has taken half dozen
or more papers from various sections of
the State that make special effort to
report births, marriages and deaths,
These reports have been carefully ar
ranged and checked up with those sent in
by the clerks and the highest number not
reported to the department found in any
one year was $50. which was very small
considering that the total yearly report
is in the neighborhood of 1900 births,
14,oOO deaths and about 1000 marriages.
The statistics that are received at the
department are finally filed away alpha
betically in a double row of deep cases
which nearly fill one side of the office,
where they are most convenient of ac-
cess. When it is desired to examine d
filing case takes the cards containing that
particular family name to the desk and
goes over them with the party desiring
the information, at no time allowing the
cards to be out Of her sight, in order to
guard against the possibility of some one
seeking a record for the purpose of de-
stroying it.
DR.. Young believes that through the va
rous systems of checks which his de-
partment has adopted that records of
births, marriages and deaths are now
reported more accurately than in many
other states. The method of checking by
newspaper reports is entirely new to his
department. originated with him, has
been highly commended by the chief of
the vital statistics bureau at Washing
ton and a paper upon the method used
has been read by him before the Amer-
can Public Health Association
1t is possible to secure a record Of a
birth, marriage or death though the orr
ginal record be lost through legislation
the passage of which was secured by DIR.
Young. This is Chapter 157 Of the Public
Laws of 1913 which provides for dispositions
both for amending records and as the
basis of record not previously made.
The clerk receives his fee In connection
with administering the oath and receiving
and recording the affidavit and forward
ing copy to the registrar Of vital statis-
tics from the town instead of from the
individual so that the service is free to
the person desiring the amended record.
The registrar of vital statistics receives
appeals almost daily in regard to birth
records on file at his department.. One
recently came from a young man who
was about to be married in Sweden. They
are also sought in regard to the securing
of passports and in relation to titles to
property and other business matters.
DIR: Young believes that since the new
law went into effect the Maine records,
so far as his department Is concerned,
are kept more accurately than in Massa-
chusetts. which is frequently held up as a
model In Massachusetts he is informed,
the records are compiled as sent in, with
out the extra effort for check and correc-
ton made by the Maine department.