Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-29

From the House: Resolve to Gre
ate a State insurance fund. In the
Senate this resolve was referred to
the committee on judiciary. In the
House the resolve was indefinitely
postponed.
On motion by Mr.. Clark of Lincoln
the Senate receded and concurred in
the action Of the House.
Communications From the Executive
and Heads Of Departments
STATE OF MAINE
department of State Auditor -
Augusta January Is, 1921. g
TO the Honorable Senate and House
of Representatives:
SECTION "a of .Chapter 2, Revised
Statutes, requires that whenever
any appropriation or fund is expend-
ed all bills and accounts presented to
the State Auditor and drawn on said
expended appropriation shall not be
approved by him, but shall be report
cd by him to the next session of the
Legislature" The law establishing
the State Contingent Fund authorizes
warrants to be drawn uhon,"
charged to, and paid out of said fund.
to pay outstanding bills. or accounts
that were properly chargeable to the
several appropriations previous to
the first day of January of each
wear -..-- -----'-- -.
In 1918 the Attorney General in an
opinion to this Office interpreting the
two acts above said: 1T was un-
doubtcdly the intention of the Legis-
lature, to limit the claims which could
be paid out of this fund, to those
which became properly chargeable to
the several appropriations within a
year previous to the year in which
the bill is presented to the Governor
and Council. Any other Interpretation
would involve such sweeping powers
and SO much authority over the
money of the State, that we cannot
believe that the legislature ever in
tended to relinquish so much author
ity to the Executive Department"
Bills for 1920 are therefore referred to
the Governor and Council for pay
ment from the State CONTINGENT
Fund. while bills contracted prior to
Jan. 1. 1920, are herewith referred to
the Legislature.
The bill of Harry s. Coombs. of
Lewiston is for plans for a nurses
home at the Augusta State Hospital.
The request for an appropriation for
a nurses home at the Augusta State
Hospital was made to the Legisla-
ture OF 1919. but was unfavorably re-
ported from committee. The Legisla-
ture, however, authorized a dorrni.
tory, or "a building to accommodate
one hundred patients" as provided by
Chapter 66. of the Resolves of 1919.
f'he bill for plans for nurses home
was incurred without my knowledee
and when presented was refused pay
ment, there having been not only no
appropriation for same. but definite
refusal by the Legislature to appro-
PIRATE money for that purpose.
II favorable action is taken. upon
The bills from towns for destruction
OF domestic animals by dogs and wild
animals. / suggest that the resolve be
So worded that the required amount
oe charged to the current appropria-
lion' as payments on all such claims
are NOT Charged to money raised in
the ordinary course of taxation, but
are paid from licenses on dogs.
Likewise if the bills incurred by the
Board of Registration of Medicine
and the Commissioners Of Pharmacy
are allowed. authority SHOULD be
granted to pay them from the current
appropriation, as these boards have
no authority to expend any more
than they collect in fees.
Referring to the two bills for aid to
soldiers dependents. authority to pay.
II granted. should state that these
Z may be taken from the current ac-
count for war purposes.
TIE bills. aftidavits and corzes-
poadencc relative to these naftars
are on file In the once of the ststa
Auditor and win he furnished. ~ -
|. Cotnuiltes o. ~ i(s l1loI sa'x lIs;3iS;j