Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-27


Governor Carl E. Milliken. the Executiv
Council and appropriations committee
the morning being given up to the militia
ry department and the afternoon to tn
woman's Reformatory at skowhesan
the State School for Boys at South Port
land. the State School for Girls at Halo
WE'LL ana the state Board of Dental Elk
aminers.
. Adjutant General.
Representative Charles L. Barnes o.
ioulton presided on the part of tn,
committee on military affairs at the
Budget hearing Friday morning before
Governor Milliken, the Council and the
committee on appropriations. the hearing
being held in the Council chamber.
AdJutant General George Mel. Pres.
son Of Pennington explained that the
5000 for salary of the adjutant general
$500 for clerk hire and the $45, 900 for the
general military fund were provided for
by law. He asked for $4,000 for ar
mory rentals for each of the years
1917 and 1918. explaining that most OF
the $4,000 increase over the previous
year is necessitated by the new National
defence law. which will require the en-
largement of the strength Of the National
Guard in Maine.
The law limits the rent to be paid for
armories to 5000. some towns receiving
$3.50 to $500, some the limit. but none
what 1t is worth and some places paying
no
The National defence law will require
an increase of the Guard In Maine on
June 30, 1917 TO 1900 men, with an addi-
tional 600 each year until 1922, when the
Guard will have 400 men. This will nee
essitate the formation of platoons of
guardsmen in many small places and
each platoon will require an armory OF
some kind. The platoons and the pres
ent organizations will then total about
q places of meeting to be provided.
General Presson thought the $1,000 asked
for office supplies sufficient. The $66 for
each of the coming two years was to
satisfy belated claims which come in
every year from the Spanish War vet
Grams.
one thousand dollars is asked for tho
completion of the records of the Maine
sailors in the Civil Wars. Men enlisting
in the infantry at that time were as
signed to various towns, etc.. but Maine
sailors enlisted direct in the United
States navy and no record Is available
here and even the records at Washing
ton are in poor shape. One thousand
dollars was appropriated in 1915 for COM
piling these records, but not used that
year and was transferred by the Cover
nor and Council for use in 1916.
General Presson secured permission OF
the secretary OF the navy TO have the
services of the same clerks in the navy
department who compiled the same line
Of statistics for Massachusetts, Rhode
Island and Connecticut to do the work for
Maine and the work has been partially
The part done In the navy
department is completed by clerks In the
ndjutant generals office at Augusta
1t was found that most Of the Maine
sailors were enlisted at Klttery. Portland
and Calais. though they came from all
over Maine and elsewhere. About %
John Browns were found on the list, but
not an address. place Of birth, age, etc,
On file. This will require search through
he original enlistment papers land when
done will constitute an Invaluable
record
The special item OF $500 for repairs ON |
the Portland armory was stated to be !
absolutely necessary, as the roof was in I
bad shape and the State and national
property was In danger Of heavy
damage.
The special approximation Of s2l 900 for
,teel lockers for National Guard armor- :
es Gen. Presson said. was necessitated
~ the rresent Inadequate system OF
octers and the large amount Of property
'eedirr protection. Maine now has and
= responsible for about $5oo,ooo worth OF
-nited States property and In six months
rom now will have about $500 900 worth.
These articles, when not safely kept, are
rood Incentives for theft and we are los
ng yearly about 5000 worth of military
property. II Is hard to make soldier
,ay for articles lost by theft. though he
. legally responsible for all equipment
n his charge. The company commanders
re responsible 10 the State. The towns
urnish the armories. but the locker SER
lice installed in the armories is poor.
The steel lockers would be semi-fre-
roof and where In the past the United
states government has relieved us Of fire
osses. 1t has now notified us that we
must he responsible. hence though fire ,
night ruin the equipment, the presence ,
Z the various articles so damaged would
% grounds for proceedings which would
epiace them. But we would be obliged
o produce the goods-and steel lockers
you'd do away with large part OF the 1
,ss by theft. because each locker Will {
ontain all the equipment Of soldier
nd Il Is and can be checked up against
i'm. II missing. the cost can be deduct
a from the money coming to him. !.
Speaking of the matter of insurance.
|eneral presson said that he had taken
p the matter with several agents and
scertained that a blanket policy rate ,
'ould cost about Il per cent He did not ;
hink the State could stand the full In
urancs of all the property. some being
'en protected. but in other places abse- :
itely no protection was given. IN faet 8
he armoriss were in dangerous hrsuap ,
,cations. II
He had not understood that the intro I
a6Ace the =