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Employment It was intended originally to use the convicts largely in mining the limestone in the quarry on the property of the prison but that proved unprofitable. A shoe shop was maintained for a
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THE MAINE STATE PRISON
time. At present there is a broom department, a harness department, and a carriage department. Two farms in Warren have been bought and are extensively operated.
Expense The prison has never been self-supporting. The cost of feeding the prisoners has varied from six and a half cents to the present amount of twenty-seven cents a day. Naturally a building nearly one hundred years old is far from conforming to modern prison requirements.
Management There seems to be no record of the cruel and abusive treat- ment often inflicted on helpless prisoners in the prisons of other states. The parole system is in use and seems to work well. The prison has a physician, a resident chaplain who is preacher, teacher and librarian. Church services are held every Sunday and convicts who desire to read are furnished with two books and a magazine. Over fifty news- papers are received daily by men who have subscribed for them. The governing board is a prison commission, appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, for six year terms. They are required to make an annual inspection.
CHAPTER LXIV
MAINE INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND
History The Maine Institution for the Blind is located in Portland. The legislature of 1907 appropriated the sum of $20,000 for the year 1907 and a like sum for the year 1908 for its support. The board of trustees organized during the year 1908 and began the erection of buildings. The institution has been in active operation since 1909.
Purpose The purpose of the institution is, in the language of the resolves of 1907, to give "to every blind or partially blind person over eighteen years of age, who is a resident of the state, practical instruction for a period not exceeding three years, in some useful occu- pation conducive to his or her self-support. The officers of said institu- tion in furtherance of the purposes of this resolve, may provide or pay for temporary lodgings and temporary support for workmen or pupils received at any industrial school or workshop established by them, and may ameliorate the condition of the blind by devising means to facilitate the circulation of books, by promoting visits among the aged or helpless blind in their homes, and by such other methods as they may deem expe- dient; provided, that they shall not undertake the permanent support or maintenance of any blind person at the expense of the state".
Equipment There are three brick buildings, one of which serves as a school and workshop, one as the home of the superin- tendent, and the third as a dormitory for the women. The men pupils are boarded near the institution at a building rented for the purpose.
Finances The legislatures of 1909, 1913, 1915 and 1917 appropriated fifteen thousand dollars annually for the institution. The legislature of 1911 appropriated ten thousand dollars per year for the years 1911 and 1912. The legislature of 1919 appropriated the sum of sixteen thousand dollars per year for the two years 1919 and 1920, the expenditures of the institution not to exceed the sum of seven dollars per week per pupil. It is expected that the industries taught at the school will furnish a source of income. The industries now being taught are mattress making, chair reseating, broom making, basketry and rug making.
300
CHAPTER LXV HEALTH
The State Department of Health was created by the Seventy-eighth Legislature. Its official existence dates from July 7, 1917. This depart- ment takes the place of the former State Board of Health which was cre- ated in 1885.
The board consisted of six members appointed by the governor. For thirty-two years, during the entire existence of the former board, Dr. A. G. Young served as the secretary. The reorganization
History of the public health work of the State of Maine was brought about in 1917 because of a feeling on the part of the medical pro- fession and the people at large that the work should be considerably wid- ened in scope and should be more up-to-date in organization and equipment. Organization In the newly organized department, the Commissioner of Health is the administrative head, and also Chairman of the Public Health Council which consists of five members. The state is divided into three health districts, each under the supervision of a full- time officer who represents the Health Commissioner. The three health districts are as follows: the northern district, comprising the country north of the Canadian Pacific Railroad; the southeastern district, includ- ing territory south of the Canadian Pacific and east of the Kennebec; the southwestern district, comprising the country south of the Canadian Pacific and west of the Kennebec. The State Department of Health has established six central divisions, all of which are viewed as co-operating agencies for the use of local health officials and the general public. These six divisions are as follows: Administration, Communicable Diseases, Sanitary Engi- neering, Diagnostic Laboratories, Vital Statistics and Public Health Edu- cation.
The chief work of the Division of Administration is to administer the public health laws of the state, and the rules of the department; to prepare regulations for the consideration of the Public Health Council and to organize and have a supervisory interest over the work of the other divisions of the department.
Communicable Diseases
The Division of Communicable Diseases has as its first duty the study of epidemics and individual cases of the so-called infectious and contagious diseases; it also co-operates with local boards of health in the diagnosis and control of such dis- eases.
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THE MAINE BOOK
The Division of Sanitary Engineering at the present time has as its chief duties the chemical and bacteriological examination of water and
Sanitary sewage from public and private sources. In addition to
Engineering this the division co-operates with cities, towns or individ-
uals in the field investigation of problems relating to water supplies and sewage disposal.
The Division of Diagnostic Laboratories takes over and enlarges the work formerly done in the so-called Laboratory of Hygiene. Free exam- Division of inations are made for tuberculosis, diphtheria, typhoid Diagnostic fever, syphilis, gonorrhea, meningitis, infantile paralysis, Laboratories rabies, cancer, etc. Special examinations of milk, urine, feces, stomach contents, etc., are made for special fees. Typhoid prophylactic or "vaccine" is made and distributed, and the Pasteur "treatment" or prophylactic is administered without charge to citizens of the state. So-called autogenous vaccines are also made on special request for small fees. Such biologic products as diphtheria antitoxin, tetanus antitoxin, smallpox vaccine virus, gonococcus vaccine, etc., are distributed under the direction of the State Department of Health at cost. Arsphena- mine (Salvarsan or 606) for the treatment of syphilis is also furnished at a very low price.
The Division of Vital Statistics, or human bookkeeping, has to do with the recording of births, deaths, diseases, marriages and divorces.
Division of The State of Maine is at present in the United States
Vital Statistics registration areas for births and deaths, which indicates that the United States Census Bureau has found that over 90% of births and deaths in Maine are being properly reported.
One of the most important divisions of the department is that of Public Public Health Education. Through the agency of the press, Health special bulletins, lecturers, lantern demonstrations, exhib- Education its, personal correspondence, etc., the people of the state are told how disease may be prevented and health con- served.
Expense
The state employs seventeen persons in the work of caring for the health of her people and expends about seventeen thousand dollars annually for the work.
CHAPTER LXVI
INSURANCE
The legislature of 1868 authorized the appointment of a Commissioner of Insurance and Banking whose duty it was to investigate the condition pertaining to these branches of industry and report to the next legisla- ture whether or not legislation governing the conditions prevailing in these respective fields was desirable. As a result of the report two depart- History ments were created, known as the Banking and the Insur- ance Departments. Since 1870 the Insurance Department has operated as an independent office and from that date has been charged with the supervision of insurance companies and agents.
Only safe and reliable companies are permitted to do business. The department is further charged with duties performed in other states by a fire marshal.
Purpose These duties include the investigation of questionable fires, inspection of property within the state and supervision of local fire inspectors and fire departments. This part of the work was added to the duties of the commissioner of insurance in 1895.
Under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act the Insur- ance Commissioner is a member of the Industrial Accident Commission and is charged with the duty of approving policy forms for compensation before they are filed with the Industrial Accident Commission and with the approval of adequate rates for compensation. The Insurance Com- missioner has supervision of all insurance companies including fire, marine, life, casualty, liability, plate glass, surety, bonding companies and various other lines, also fraternal beneficiary associations, and, under the pro- visions of the law passed by the legislature of 1915, he is charged with supervision of lightning rod manufacturers and the installation of light- ning rods within the state.
Total insurance in force December 31, 1918. $150,943,546.57
Ordinary
Total insurance written in 1918. 21,713,344.47
Life Insurance
Total premiums paid to companies 5,289,918.88
Total losses paid by companies
2,944,930.12
Industrial
Total insurance in force December 31, 1918. $31,775,723.00
Insurance
Total premiums paid to companies 1,102,314.01
Total losses paid by companies.
429,489.58
Total insurance written in 1918
6,629,571.00
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THE MAINE BOOK
Fraternal
Total insurance in force December 31, 1918.
$44,810,365.00
Total insurance written in 1918. 4,365,650.00
Insurance
Total premiums paid to companies. 712,846.16
Total losses paid by companies.
551,598.19
Fire
Total insurance written in 1918. $448,370,086.40
Insurance Total premiums paid to companies 6,377,873.00
Total losses paid by companies. 2,520,240.38
Fires in 1918-2,040; damage. 3,068,923.00
The Insurance Department of the state employs in its office and field work eight persons, at a total cost to the state of $14,945.57. The state received in 1916 from the insurance companies as fees and taxes $202,- 013.37.
CHAPTER LXVII
WORKMEN'S INSURANCE
History The Workmen's Compensation Act of Maine was passed by the legislature of 1915, and became operative for organ- ization purposes upon the first day of October, 1915. For administration purposes, the act took effect on January 1, 1916, prescribing the compensa- tion to be paid when workmen sustained injury or death in the course of their employment. Administration of the law is supervised by a com- mission consisting of four members; a chairman and associate legal member who are appointed by the governor, the commissioner of labor and industry and the commissioner of insurance.
System Elective The system provided for is elective, except as to state, counties, cities, water districts and other quasi municipal corporations. All other employers have the right to elect whether or not to adopt the compensation features of the act, such elec- tion being evidenced by a signed written acceptance filed in the office of the Commission, together with copy of compensation policy. Every employee and employer who has elected to become subject to the act is presumed to be also subject to its provisions in the absence of written notice to the employer of a contrary intention at the time of his contract of hire, and within ten days thereafter having filed a copy thereof with the Commission.
Employers Liable An employer who elects not to come under the provisions of the act remains liable in an action at common law for damages for personal injuries sustained by an employee in the course of his employment, and in such action unless by an employee of an employer, exempt under sections 3 and 4, of the act, he is deprived of his customary common law defences of contributory negligence, that the injury was caused by the negligence of a fellow employee, that the employee assumed the risk of the injury.
Compensation Received by Employees Compensation is payable for every injury arising out of and in the course of employment, and is payable on a three- fifths basis of the average weekly wage, as provided in paragraph IX of section 1 of the act, with a fixed maximum amount of $15.00 per week and a minimum of $6.00 per week and for varying periods of time, depending upon the nature of the disability but
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THE MAINE BOOK
in no case to exceed a period of five hundred weeks or more than $4,200 in amount. In certain cases, as loss of an eye, hand, etc., a special com- pensation is paid.
Compensation If death arises from the injury the employer pays the Received by dependent of the employee weekly payments of three-fifths Dependents of his average weekly wages, but not more than $15.00 nor less than $6.00 a week for a period of three hundred weeks from the date of the injury, and in no case exceeding $3,500.
Medical Aid Reasonable medical, surgical and hospital services, nursing, medicines and mechanical surgical aids shall be furnished by the employer when needed during the first thirty days after the acci- dent to the extent of $100, unless a longer period or a greater sum is allowed by the Commission.
Methods of Payment Every employer electing to pay compensation under the act has the right to specify, subject to the approval of the Industrial Accident Commission, which of the follow- ing methods of payment of such compensation he desires to adopt: (1) Upon furnishing satisfactory proof of solvency and financial ability to pay the compensation provided, to make such payment directly to employees ; or (2) to insure liability in any approved liability company ; or (3) subject to the approval of the Commission, any employer might continue the system of compensation, benefit or insurance which was in use by such employer on the first day of January, A. D. 1915. No such substitute system shall be approved unless it confers benefits upon employ- ers at least equivalent to those given under the act.
Nature of Work The statute requires evidence of the acceptance of the act by each employer. A written acceptance together with a copy of the insurance policy is filed with the Commission and properly indexed. All industrial accident policies filed must bear the approval of the Insurance Commissioner. He requires that each com- pany shall file with him a copy of the form of its policy and its classifica- tion of risks and premiums.
Reporting Accidents All assenting employers are required to make prompt report to the Commission of all accidents to their employees arising out of and in the course of employment. Such first reports are duly indexed and filed. Reports of the attending physician and supplemental reports of the employer when the injured employee resumes work are later received and filed.
Reporting Agreements Such accidents as from their nature or duration of dis- ability entitle the employee or his dependents to receive compensation, are as far as possible adjusted by agree- ment between the employer and employee. A memorandum of every such agreement must be filed with the Commission and to be effective must be
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WORKMEN'S INSURANCE
approved by the Commissioner of Labor. Such agreement provides for weekly payments to the employee or his dependents, and to insure a proper execution of the same the Commission requires that receipts for such weekly payments shall be filed with it, and upon final settlement a copy of the final receipt stating total amount of money paid to the employee shall be so filed.
If the employer and employee fail to reach an agreement, or an agree- ment filed is not approved, upon petition, notice to the parties and answer, the chairman or associate legal member, fixes a time for the hearing and upon evidence, in a summary manner, decides the merits of the controversy.
The decision of the chairman upon all questions of fact in the absence of fraud is final. Appeal lies to the supreme judicial court on questions of law.
Payments Future payments may be commuted to a lump sum by the commission upon petition, notice and hearing, in those cases where weekly payments have continued for not less than six months, and it is shown that such commutation will be for the best interest of the person receiving same, or that the continuance of weekly payments entail undue expense or hardship upon the employer, or that the person entitled to compensation has removed or is about to remove from the United States.
1916
1917
1918
Statistics 1916-17-18
Number of accidents reported.
12,560
14,800
16,632
Fatal accidents
56
63
83
Number of agreements approved.
2,759
4,170
3,350
Number of claims on which hearings were held.
72
99
95
Total amount of compensation paid 1916.
$78,154.30
Medical bills and hospital services 1916.
$61,655.58
Total amount of compensation paid by insurance companies for the year 1918 (approximate)
$221,769.83
Medical bills and hospital services paid by insurance companies for 1918 (approximate)
$93,180.20
Number of industrial policies filed from January 1st, 1918, to January 1st, 1919
3,788
Number of self-insurers for year 1918
19
Expense
The department employs seventeen persons. It has an appropriation of $28,200 per year for all expenses.
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CHAPTER LXVIII
THE WORK OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
History The Secretary of State's office was designed by the framers of the constitution primarily as an office of record in which were to be "preserved the records of all the official acts of the Gov- ernor and Council, the Senate and the House of Representatives". So rapid has been the advance of the state's business, however, and so various the changes in its government that this department has become a great business office.
Income The revenue received by the Secretary of State in 1917 was $557,607.04. In addition to this sum the deposits pro- duced in interest alone nearly fifteen hundred dollars. This money was derived from the following sources:
1917
1918
Registration of automobiles and licensing of drivers.
$488,075.76
$570,171.00
Corporation changes
23,160.00
. 9,025.00
New Corporations
39,285.00
18,005.00
Fees of office
6,892.46
4,997.13
Itinerant Vendors
193.82
.300.00
Work of The duties of the Secretary of State and his force are as Secretary follows: Attending as secretary the meetings of the gov- ernor and council and preserving records of all their official acts; preparing, recording and delivering commissions to all persons appointed by the governor; engrossing all acts and resolves of the legis- lature including the preservation and filing of the original papers and signed copies of all laws; publication of the official copies of the acts and resolves of each succeeding legislature including the annotation and index- ing of these volumes; recording of the acts of incorporation of Maine formed corporations together with the annual return, sending out notices of the annual franchise tax, recording changes, etc .; registration of auto- mobiles and the licensing of drivers of the same; preparation and distri- bution of all ballots used in state, county and national elections and pri- maries and the filing of the returns of votes of such elections.
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THE WORK OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Employees The first Secretary of State was Ashur Ware of Portland, elected June 3rd, 1820. There have been in all, including the present incumbent, thirty-one different secretaries. The secretary appoints his deputies, who serve during the pleasure of the secretary. During the late summer and fall months the office force averages about ten in number, this being increased to twenty or twenty-five during the busy season. The total expense of this office is $33,281.57.
CHAPTER LXIX
VALUATION OF MAINE
The Board of State Assessors was created by the legislature of 1891. The act provided that the members of this board should be elected by . the legislature.
In 1909 the law was so amended that the Board was thereafter to be appointed by the governor, not more than two of whom can be taken from the same political party, the governor to designate the member who shall serve as chairman.
Work of The Board of State Assessors constitute a board of equal- ization, whose duty it is to equalize state and county taxes
State among the several towns and unorganized townships. For
Assessors this purpose they may summon before them and examine under oath any town assessor or other officer, or any officer of any cor- poration, and shall also have access to books, records and documents relat- ing to any matter which the board has authority to investigate.
They are required by law to visit officially every county in the state at least once each year, for the purpose of conferring with local assessors, and inquiring into the methods of assessment and taxation in the several cities and towns. Public notice of these meetings must be given.
They must annually, before the first day of December, make a report to the governor and council of their proceedings and include therein a tabular statement derived from the returns from local assessors, and such statistics concerning revenue and taxation as may be deemed of public interest.
Work of Local assessors are required to return to the State Assess- Local ors annually, on or before the first day of August, such Assessors information as said Board of State Assessors may require to enable them to equalize property values between towns, and they may add to or deduct from the amounts so furnished.
They must file with the secretary of state, biennially, the assessed valuation for each town and township in the state. The aggregate amount for each county and for the entire state shall be certified by said board. This valuation shall be the basis for the computation and apportionment of the state and county taxes, until the next biennial assessment and equalization.
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VALUATION OF MAINE
The state valuation for the years 1919 and 1920 is $577,- 442,529.
Year
Valuation
State Tax
Rate of Taxation
1820
$ 20,962,778
$ 50,000.00
.0019
1830
28,807,687
50,000.00
.0019
1840
69,246,288
101,075.88
.0029
1850
100,157,573
201,377.13
.002
1860
164,714,168
207,181.70
.00125
1870
224,812,900
1,350,413.00
.006
1880
235,978,716
1,124,261.27
.005
1890
309,096,041
531,697.17
.00225
1900
336,699,649
907,950.98
.00275
Real estate of cities, towns and plantations
$389,987,250
Personal estate of cities, towns and plantations
125,531,712
Real estate in unorganized townships
59,953,719
Growth on public lots
1,969,848
$577,442,529
This represents an increase above the state valuation of 1916 amounting to $56,- 039,596 as follows:
Real estate of cities, towns and plantations
$25,193,497
Personal estate of cities, towns and plantations
22,571,594
Real estate in unorganized townships
8,002,442
Growth on public lots
272,063
$56,039,596
Value of taxable live stock, 1918
$20,624,468
Value of exempt live stock, 1918
2,314,241
$22,938,709
Number of cows, 1918
149,905
Number of oxen, 1918
7,351
Number of three-year-olds, 1918
27,195
Number of two-year-olds, 1918
41,394
Number of year-olds, 1918
57,737
Total number of cattle of all kinds
283,582
Number of taxable sheep, 1918
12,208
Number of exempt sheep, 1918
94,567
Total number of sheep, 1918
106,775
Number of horses, 1918
110,447
Number of colts, 1918
9,688
State Valuation
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THE MAINE BOOK
Value of automobiles, 1918
$10,806,980
Value of real estate, 1918
383,104,462
Value of personal estate, 1918
120,332,581
Division of Real Estate Between Land and Buildings
Value of land, 1918
$154,948,492
Value of buildings, 1918
228,155,970
Number of polls taxed, 1918
203,680
Number of polls not taxed, 1918
13,803
217,483
1
CHAPTER LXX
STATE FINANCES
History The first money that was received in the treasurer's department was in the year 1820, June 15th, from Daniel Sargent, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, conformatory to a resolve that was passed by the legislature of Massachusetts amounting to $8,000. This amount was paid over to Joseph C. Boyd of Portland, the first Treasurer of the State of Maine. The total resources received in that year from June 15th to December 31st amounted to $34,386.96. The dis- bursements for that period amounted to $23,253.69.
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