The Republican journal., 1918-08-29
IN the military service Of the United

In the military service OF the United
| States
THE so-called Redistribution order
had in the meantime been rescinded
and Immediately upon receipt Of this
telegram l summoned the members Of
the district boards and the chairman
and appeal agent Of each local board
for q conference at Augusta where the
effect Of this new ruling was ex-
planned to them and they were in
structed to classify their registrants
accordingly.
Il have related this history at some
length In order to make plain that the
Governor and adjutant general were
acting In every instance under def
mite orders from Washington. Genar-
81 Crowder's Office has always said so
In response to any inquiries upon the
subject and those who spread stories to
the contrary are not only misrepresent-
ing the facts but are seriously threat
ening the smooth and efficient opera
ton of the selective service law. They
have deliberately exploited for their
own political advantage the natural
sensitiveness Of the public mind on all
matters relating to the selection of
men for the military service, and they
have therefore earned the title Of 'po-
litical proftser'.
For we have coined the word prof
iteer' to describe the man who COM
mercializss his country's emergency
for his personal financial gain, and by
his side we must place the politician
who risks hampering the administra-
ton Of necessary military laws for the
sake of gaining possible advantage
over political opponent.
PRECEDENT FOR AID LAW.
These political profteers' have
also been trying to trade upon the ten
derness with which we all regard the
relatives Of men in the service BY
spreading false reports about the At
utude of the Governor and Council to-
ward dependents Of soldiers and sail
Chapter 276 Of the Public Laws Of
1917, was one OF the war emergency
measures passed by the Legislature
during tho time between President
Wilson's message to Congress the
evening Of April second, 1917, and the
adjournment of the Legislature April
seventh. 1t was one of the few prob.
lens which We have had to deal with
where there was a precedent to 60 by.
Looking back to the records at the
time of the Civil War, we found that
law providing aid for dependents Of
soldiers and sailors was passed by the
Maine Legislature in 1851, amended
in 1862 and again in 1883 and again
passed in new form in 1864. The
changes made were evidently those
! that grew out of experience and we
took the act of 1854 as our model ex-
cept that the minimum amount Of aid
required to be furnished by cities and
towns was made more than five times
as great as In the law Of 1854
This act is generally known as the
State aid Law from the fact that a
certain amount of money furnished by
cities and towns to dependents Of SOL
diers and sailors is reimbursed to
them by the State under the provis-
ions Of the act. But in view Of the per-
sistent Misrepresentation lately upon
this point, you should carefully note
that 1t is strictly an act providing that
cities and towns shall aid dependents
Of soldiers and sailors. Certain mini
mum amounts are required to be fur
nishsd by the city or town and no max
imum limit is imposed upon .ths
amount to be furnished and no re-
or condition of the dependent of the
soldiers family. In other words, the
statute lays upon the towns and cities
the duty Of providing for any needs
that may arise in the dependent fam
lily of a soldier or sailor in the service
Of the United States. The only condi-
ton is the existence of need in the
Judgment Of the municipal officers
and furthermore it is expressly provid-
ed that such aid to the dependents Of
soldiers and sailors shall not be fur
nished out Of pauper funds and shall
not create any pauper status on the
part of those receiving it.
GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL DO NOT
DECIDE CASES.
THE Governor and Council have
nothing whatever to do with deciding
who shall or shall not receive financial
aid under this act. The decision rests
wholly with the municipal officers and
any failure to provide for the neces-
stiles of dependents of soldiers or any
payments paid for that purpose out of
pauper funds are violations of the law
on the part of the municipal officers
and indicate either ignorance or care
lessness on their part.
"In the interest Of certain caudi-
dates for Office and in some instances
by the candidates themselves, it has
been repeatedly stated that the Gov
ernor and Council had given aid or re
fused to give aid In certain cases
and that towns could not furnish
aid except under the pauper law.
These statements are absolutely I'M
true and indicate either gross
ignorance and carelessness or a de-
lberate intention to deceive.
1.-THE function Of the Governor and
Council is solely to determine how
much of the aid paid to the dependents
of soldiers and sailors by the ciues
and towns under this act Shail De re-
imbursed to them by the STATE. 1..7
question with which we deal IS Who!ly
a question of the State on one mana
and the city or town on the oth9f. IN
discharging this duty We nave done
what any Governor and CoH2cll MS
do under the Cons ttution; jisat . We
have administered the law as We soUlN
1t and have compiled strictly Win ;
provisions as interpreted to US ny lAe
attorney general.
LIMITS OF STATE AID,
There are various limita ions as 10
the amount which we may gally