Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-17

planned that the purpose of the hear
Iings and the budget is ITO curtail ex-
penses where we can without impair
ing efficiency"
Most of the forenoon was spent in
hearing explanations of the needs of
the agricultural department, which is
asking for total appropriations of
S159,54742 an increase of S29,750 over
| those of one year ago. The increases
are $4,000 for the live stock sanitary
commissioners department, $4,000 In
the appropriation for protection or
trees and shrubs from the ravages OF
smoths, $4,000 for a new department OF
seed inspection proposed by Commits
sioner John A. Roberts, $1,000 in the
account for agricultural statistics,
! $500 for the department of the sealer or
weights and measures and $3.50 for
travelling expenses.
| Commissioner Roberts, Live Stock
Sanitary Commissioner Boyden
Bearce, Special Field Agent E. E.
Philbrooks in charge of the work
against the gypsy and browntail moths
and A. NJ. G.. Soule, chief of the bu-
reau of inspection and food analysis. all
spoke on the different phases of the
agricultural departments work. The
matter Of decrea sing the number of
reports and be more careful that they
be distributed where they are wanted
was discussed. Rept. Barnes OF Houl-
ton, while the State aid to fairs was
being explained, asked If requiring
/ that there be more than one entry in
the different classes in such contribu-
n ianriva
state aid horse trots, and vaudeville
shows parading under the guise of
agricultural fairs" which he was con-
WINGED induce a few people TO exhibit
so as to share in the State stipend.
! The amount recommended for the
insect work by Commissioner Cup
till was $4,000 and by ex-Field Agent
Cady $50 900, but Filed Agent Phil
brook said he thought it would re
quire $35 900 to do the work satistac-
torily, and that that would cover IT.
He said of III infected towns his
predecessor had work in only 27, and
that the United States Bureaus in
vestigation showed the gypsy moth
spreading in this State.
Commissioner Roberts recommended
THAT the dairy bureau be changed into
"a bureau of animal industry. He also
spoke of the need of more room for the
agricultural department.
The Governor inquired particularly
from Mr.. Souie of the bureau of in
spection to the State. aggregating
$4,000 year, of assisting in main
tanning the L. S. Experiment Station
at Orono. Mr.. Roberts recommended
moving the laboratory from Orono to
Augusta.
Live Stock Sanitary Commissioner
Bearce explained that he was recon-
mending an increase in the appropria-
/ ton for his department from $4,000 to
S45 900 because he had found that
skimp as he might the $4,000 appro-
priation would not cover his expenses,
in spite of the fact that he was not
able to inspect as he wished. In fact
the amount paid for damages for con-
demned cattle exceeded the total ap-
preparation and left him no money, in
the case of tuberculous cattle discov-
cred in the Brighton market and in
other markets. to trace the disease
back to it's source. Senator Bartlett of
kennebec asked if some way could not
be devised to decrease the disease in
Sltdu ol HAVING ttiC oldlc pay liiOIc
and more each year for damages on
condemned cattle, and Governor Milli-
ken asked if sMr. 'Bearee did not think
the owners of condemned cattle should
not bear part of the loss instead of
having the State bear it all. The Gov
ernor also asked if a discrimination in
taxes between tested and INFESTED
cattle might not hasten the testing
and eradication of the disease, and Mr..
Bearce said he thought this would
help.
The appropriations asked by Insur-
ance Commissioner Erastus J. Carter
of Stonington were the same as those
of two years ago, except for investi-
ton of fires and inspection of build
'ings, where an increase from $500 to
$4,000 was asked. Mr.. Carter explained
that an act of 1913 gave the commits
sioner a percentage of insurance IL
cense fees amounting to approximate
~ $4,000 but that last June the Gov
lernor said we couldn't go by this stat
ute" and allowed him $4,000 instead.
Superintendent of Public Buildings
Harry A. Plummer whose department
| asks for $3S.l00 for each of the years
1917 and 1918. compared with s34 go for
! 1915. was the first called at the after
noon session. He explained that his
force of employees, about is on the av-
erage and p during a session of the
Legislature. had been discussing
among themselves the hours they were
! Obliged to labor and were more or
less dissatisfied with the length-even
20 taking tho matter to the State La
Dor department. They work about nine
j hours per stretch and get ss5 per
| month.
The item for $4,000 for repairing and
| improving the State House and
grounds was necessary, nothing hav-
| ing been provided for that purpose in