Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-17

the act to amend the section of the
revised statutes relating to the at
torney general by adding the words.
while away from home,' SO that it
will provide that the salary of the
attorney general shall be $4,000 a
year. also the actual expenses in
| CURED in the performance of his
duties while away from home.
The State auditor requested that
this act be passed to settle a ques-
| ton that came up since he went into
office as to the attorney generals
! expense account being correctly
paid" stated Mr.. Shaw.
He said that the Governor had
| raised the question if the attorney
general is entitled to expenses while
| IN Augusta. Explaining the matter.
Mr.. Shaw said that previous to 1905
the attorney general had $1,000 and
the fees paid in by corporations, but
some member of the legislature
then discovered that the attorney
general was getting rich too fast,
/ que TO the increase in corporations,
I SO that in 1905 the law was amend
cd to provide that these fees should
be turned over to the State treas
urer and that the attorney general
should receive $1,000 and actual cash
expenses while engaged in his Off
clal duties. Z Beginning in 1905. the
attorney general was always allow
ca MS expenses while away from
lhome -. n.
Attorney General Shaw asserted
that Roy T.. Wardwell, former State
auditor, had got the opinion of a
former attorney general that the
law was intended to give the attor-
neE general his expenses while
away from home. He pointed out
that his residence is not in Augusta.
! Questioned by a member Of the
| committee. he stated that he STAYS
| IN Augusta all the time that Legis-
! azure is in session and about half
! or the time when there is no ses-
SION. planning to be in Augusta then
] three or four days each week-long
enough to do his work. The princi-
pal part of his time is engaged in
| trial work. he said. his department
having been engaged in 70 trials
| since he became attorney general.
| Inc measure was unopposed
salary OF Forest Commissioner and
Land Agent
! Inere was no appearance in favor
i OF the act providing that the salary
or the State forest commissioner.
the deputy, all clerks, agents and
! employees of the forest commission
er. whose work pertains to the for
| estry district. shall be paid out of
the special taxes assessed and COL
| lected on the forestry district and
! that the salary of the land agent
| and all employees whose work per
| tains to the duties of the State land
| agent. shall be paid out of the funds
| of the State
| 1he act was opposed by Samuel T.
| Dana, State land agent and forest
commissioner. who stated that it
seemed to him. that the bin intended
something different from what it
says and is based ON a misunder-
standing of the situation. He pointed
| out that the bill draws a distinction
between the offices of State land
| agent and forest commissioner and
that there had been no distinction
between the two Offices since 1905
when the duties ofAthe two officers
We're merged into one appointee by
an act. In 1919 an act was passed
providing that the land agent shall
| be trained forester and a skilled
WoOdsman.
| He said that this bill under con-
sideration apparently tries to sepa-
rate the two as to duties and salary
and Scents to be unnecessary and I'M
wise. lie spoke of the work of his
| Office outside of that pertaining to
forestry district. He suggested that
the wise tthing to do, if there is any
| confusion, would be to abolish the
title of land agent, making the office
that of forest commissioner. for the
| public lands are 80 per cent. timber
| lands
In reply to question by a member
of the committee regarding the
amount of the forestry district funds.
Commissioner Dana said that it
amounts to $157.O0O. year and at the
present time all of the salaries of
employees whose work pertains en-.
tirely to the district and half of the
! salaries of the forest commissioner
and his deputy are paid from this
/ fund.
Opposition to Repeal of Appropria-
ton for Health Officers
No one appeared for the bill to stop
the State appropriation for fun time
! health officers. but ex-State Treasur-
err Joseph w. Simpson and Rep. Ed
ward G. Moody Of York and Health
Commissioner Clarence +. Kendall
spoke against the repeal Of the law.
DR.. Kendall told the committee
that there We're now 10 full time
health officers. the State making an
appropriation of $500 year for the
officer and the city or town making
up the balance of the officers salary.
1.-THE State pays out $4,000 year
for these health officers and think
that the amount is small when the
benefits derived are considered" said
Commissioner Kendall.
Rep. Moody of York said that his
town was the first in the State and
the first in this section of the coun-
try TO have full time health officer.
Z 1.-THE law has worked wonders and