Year: 1877

ueNtiopmtnt OF the industrial resources and Ca
paollltes OF the State. The State would thus
realize a substantial profit from the OUTLAY it has
already made in assisting to establish and main
tain the college. and the college would by so
clear a manifestation of its usefulness command
grateful and more general appreciation, and a
liberal and urquestioning support.


OTHER INSTITUTIONS.


The reports of the STATE PRIsoN and REFORM
SCHOOL will be laid before you. l have no rec
ommendation to give in regard to these insttu-
tons. On the several visits have made to them
IN company with the Council, have been most
iavoraoly impressed with the manner in which
they are conducted.


The Orphan Asylum at Bath and the Industrial
school al HalloweIl well deserve the care of the
State.


The INDIAN TRIBES.


The lessces Of the shores of the Penobscot river
belonging to the Penobscot tribe of Indians, have
declined to pay the annual rent due under the
terms OF the lease, and the agent Of the tribe has
brought suit to compel payment. The lessees
allege that the shores are less valuable than when
the contract OF lease was entered into by them.
Ii appcation shall be made to the legislature for
rehei, by the delinquent parties, trust you will
consider the honor of the State in its character as
guardian of the Indians, and take care that what
ever relief from the obligations of the contract
may be granted, it shall not be done at the ex-
pense of the tribe.


The appropriation of last year for the poor Of
the Passamaquoddy tribe was not sufficient to pro-
vide for the pressing needs of the aged SICK and
helpless of the tribe small increase of the ap-
preparation for the present year is necessary to
'enaole the agent to prevent want and suffering
among them.


RAILROADS.


Twenty miles of railroad have been built the
past year; eight miles, by the Piscataquis com
pany in extension of their line from Abbot TO
Blanchard, and twelve miles, from Fort Fairfield
to Caribou in the town of Lyndon, by the Aroos-
took rver company. The railroad commissioners
report that the roads in the State have continued
to improve In condition and management, as
evnced by their remarkable exemption from acci-
dents.


concur in the request of the commissioners for
legislation requiring railroad companies to adopt
the system of accounts recommen nded by q con.
ventlon OF The railroad commissioners of New
England, aud already made obligatory by Of
least one state. The system does not differ mate
rally from that now in use by the principal COM
pauies in the State. A uniform method of keep
ing them would greatly facilitate investigation
into the complicated accounts OF these companies.
The COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES.
The report Of the Commissioners of Fisheries
contains AN interesting account of the measures
which have been taken the past year to re-stock
our rivers with salmon and interior waters with
land-locked salmon and black bass, and Of the
good results of the work performed by them in
former years The Commissioners foIciby pre-
sent the disadvantages under which they prosecute
their enterprise, and appeal to you to remove
some OF the obstacles that stand in the way OF the
full success of their labors. The justice and good
policy of some OF the legislation asked tor by
them seems evident.


In regard to closing for term of years to
all fishing, except with hook and line the vers to
be re stocked, am not informed as to the extent
of the hardships such an enactment would cause
TO those engaged in fishing in the waters of those
rivers near the mouths, but, whatever their tempo
rary loss or inconvenience, they would be amply
compensated in the future by the increa ,ed value
OF their fisheries, and it is certainly unjust to per-
init them TO neutralze the efforts being made to
benefit the people along the whole length OF those
rivers.


Many citizens of the State are deeply interested
| in the stocking of our lakes and ponds with game
and food fishes, and assist in carry ing out the laws
relating to the subject by distributing copies OF
them and procuring the appointment of wsrdens
to be paid by themselves.


| In view OF the public interest in thls undertak-
ing, and of the many advantages that will result
| to the State from its thorough prosecution, rec
ommcnd that sufficient appropriation be made
to enable the Commissioners to continue their
work effectively ami to protect the interests COM
mitted TO their care.


NEW SWEDEN.


The Swedish settlement in Aroostook county
was organized into u plantation under the name
OF New Sweden, in April, and fifty two of its in
habltants have been naturahzed. Good school
houses have been built, and four schools are now
taught by competent teachers. Fourteen substan-
tal buildings, either framed or built OF hewn tim
Der, have been erected the past season; abundant
crops have been harvested, and but four families
have received assistance as paupers. The success
OF this enterprise vIndicates the wisdom of its
conception and attests the faithfulness of the SER
vices of all entrusted with the management OF it.
ELECTION LAWS.
| respectfully suggest an amendment to Sec.
80, of chapter of the Revised Statutes requiring
the Governor TO issue certificate of election to
every person who has been dec ared elected q
Representative in Congress. A law Of the United
States requiies the executive of each State to
certify the election of any United States Senator
who has been chosen by the State, and the laws
OF tins State provide for giving to all State
and county officers, official notification OF
| their election. have not been able to discover
any law of the United States, or of this State
providing in express terms for furnishing Ger
| tiicate Of his election to Representative-elec lect
or to any person in his behalf. The amendment
would conduce to uniformity.


The second and third clauses of Section 80 OF
Chapter of the Revised Statutes, are as follows:
"Blank pieces OF paper and votes for persons moi
eligible to the office shall not be counted as votes
but the number of such blanks and the mum
Der and names on ballots for persons not elig
ible shall be recorded and return made there.
of. In case of Representatives to Congress, and
TO the State Legislature, Registers of Deeds
county and State officers, except where a differ
ent rule is prescribed in the Constitution, the
person or persons to be voted for at anv one
time, for any such office, having the highest mum
Der Of votes given at such election, shall be de-
cared to be elected 1t appears, therefore that the
final determination of the eligibility of person.
voted for, so far as the declaration of the elec
| ton of the officers mentioned in the extract
have quoted, and other officers WELL is affected
rests with the officers Of municipalities who
count the ballots and make up the returns
since the Governor and Council have suthorit,
to connt the votes only which are recorded a.
such in the returns. do not regard it as judic
ious to permit question of such importance
oftentimes involving testimony and nice points o
law, TO be decided by the unaided judgment o.
municipal officers in the brief period afforded
them by the necessity of making and sealing the
returns at or within fixed time.


In my Judgment, the authority to determine
eligibility should be transferred to the Governor
and Council, inasmuch as they have ample time
! for deliberation in examining the returns and il


is in their power to obtain the opinion of the
| Court.


| recommend that the authority conferred upon
the Governor and Council by the amendment OF


Sec. ), of Chapter IS of the Revised Statutes


made by the act approved February lst, 1876, tC
count and declare for any person all votes inten


tionslly cast for such person for a county office


although his name upon the ballot is misspee,