48 MAINE STATE SOCIETY. 



Amendment to the Constitution. Having the general super- 

 vision of the affairs of the Society, contracting all bills and 

 auditing the same, it would facilitate the labors of the Trustees, 

 by amending section five of the constitution, so that the Treas- 

 urer shall be authorized to disburse the money of the Society 

 on the order of the Trustees, without the signature of the 

 President and Secretary. The Trustees should be required to 

 procure and keep an order-book, with marginal records, so that 

 it may readily appear for what purposes the funds of the Society 

 have been paid. 



Art. 2. Of the Rules and Regulations. Considerable loss 

 accrued to the funds of the Society, and no little confusion in 

 the halls, requiring an extra amount of police force, frooi the 

 abuse of membership tickets. It is suggested that hereafter, 

 no annual membership tickets be issued ; that the tickets, as 

 checks, be of uniform appearance and price ; that members be 

 furnished with a certain number of tickets, to be specified by 

 the Trustees, in consideration of their^ having united with the 

 Society; and that all persons on entering the grounds, or halls 

 of the Society, during the hours of exhibition, be required to 

 deliver their tickets to the door-keeper. 



Aet. 3. Much confusion and delay is occasioned by the neg- 

 lect of contributors to enter their articles in proper season* It 

 is recommended that hereafter, the provisions of Article three, 

 of the general Rules and Regulations, be strictly adhered to, 

 and that premiums be withheld from all those articles or ani- 

 mals not entered according to the rules; but a gratuity of less 

 amount than the premium offered, may be awarded on such 

 article or animal as would have been entitled to a premium 

 if entered in due form. 



During the past year, following the examples of "Societies of 

 high standing and of more experience than ourselves, and for 

 the purpose of increasing our receipts, comparatively high pre- 

 miums have been offered on horses — excelling only in speed. 

 The expediency of continuing to offer such premiums on speed 

 alone, may be considered doubtful; for, while thus replenishing 

 our Trcasur}^ we may alienate froui the Society the good will 

 of some of our best citizens. The subject is worthy the care- 

 ful consideration of the Society. 



