Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-01-16

custody OF children. This should be
changed SO that the decision rested with
the State Board OF. Charities and Cor
rectlons and not be with the court;
also that instead of the towns paying
expenses of these children the State
should bear half the cost.
DR.. Gertrude f. Hall was next
called upon for some statements in
regard to the work of her department.
She said that Of the 554 applications
investigated the claims Of about so
per cent of the mothers had been al
lowed. The others had been rejected
for various causes. \ number Of the
mothers have since become self-sup-
porting for one reason or another.
and there were at present only 223
families now receiving state aid.
The number Of children of the ages
under ii averaged between two ans
three but with the older children
added the average was raised to four
and five.
The loss Of the husband in most
families is serious loss, not only in
the fact that the husband in most
families takes charge Of the family
finances but also the children. es-
pecially if there are a number Of
! boys, need the discipline that the
male member Of he household is bet
ter able to supply.
In many towns boards including
both men and women have been ap-
pointed to aid these families in ev-
cry way possible and the state sup
ervisors plan to visit each family at
least twice in each year.
Steam Vessels
Archie L. Fairbanks of Monmouth.
inspector Of steam vessels. gave
some valuable information in regard
to his department. In his estimate
for the next two years there is an
| increase of $1,000 year asked for,
| the reason for this increase being the
extra Office expenses. travelling ex-
penses and salaries. At present
there are two men employed in the
department, one a hull inspector and
the other an inspector of boilers.
| During the past year II steam ves-
sells and 141 motor boats were in
| spected. While one man could do
! all the work if he were allowed by
! law to inspect both hulls and boilers.
| the decrease in travelling expenses
would he small as many trips were
made by automobile and Of course it
is just as cheap for two men to trav-
el as one. In many other states the
| two Offices are combined and they
| 4 - L.
ed. At present all motor boats un-
der five tons used for hire pay IL fee.
The fees can be made larger to aid
the expenses if such should be
deemed advisable.
Public Buildings
/, Charles s. Brown. superintendent
of public buildings. aroused a round
of laughter by his opening remark:
Il feel that I have not asked for all
that l should have" He explained
that he had tried to make his es-
Inmates as low as possible and that
there We're very slight increases over
the amounts asked for at the previous
legislature. He had grouped his
eight large items and there was an
illCIedSe dSkcu lOT OIL SS,O1t over TWO
years ago. The increase was based
on an increase Of $500 in the salary
of the superintendent. 1890 in the
pay of telephone operators. and an
increase in the salaries of clerks.
The pay of male clerks had been in
creased but there were not as many
and women had been substituted in
many cases with a consequent reduc-
ton in wages. There had been an
increase in cost of fuel. the depart
ment had also taken over the care
of the Blaine Mansion. also there was
another item in trucking as the two
carloads of number plates formerly
handled by the secretary of states
office is now being done by this de-
partment.
In the list Of regular appropria-
tions which formerly averaged Sell
500 for the two years there was an
increase asked for OF $1,000 for the
current year, the amount Of 1920 re-
naming the same. Last year $4,000
had been taken from the contingent
fund but Mr.. Brown said that in his
judgment If this Appropriation was
granted it would be unnecessary to
take money from the contingent fund
Tor such purpose.
Treasurer Of State
State Treasurer Joseph W. Simp-
son said he asked no increase in his
own salary. but would advise in
creases for clerks amounting to 5000
over last year. Deputy Treasurer L.