Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-11-14


Mr.. Kirkland moved to amend sec. 10
so as to provide that town superinten
dents be paid out of the town treasury
instead of the state treasury.
Mr.. Bradford favored the amendment
1t was stated that the state paid two thou
sand dollars year to town snperinten
dents. There seemed to be a perfec
swindle upon the state treasury for mer
would present a bill to the auditor Of ac
counts that they would not dare presen
to the town treasurer, because as it was
a great way off il would not be noticed
Let the towns appoint and pay their su.
perntendents, and there would be nc
such swindle.
Mr.. Stevens said that the joint com
mittee Of both houses had received 9
great many suggestions from those unfa-
vorable to the general provisions of this
bill, and also from those who were unfa-
vora5le to striking out some particular
provisions, especially the one IN regard
to the duties and continuance of the office
of town superintendent. Il had been
urged upon the committee to strike out
the provision altogether which related to
the office, but they had not felt them
selves authorized SO to do. They had
felt that the present system of common
schools was as perfect as the state would
be likely to arrive at. Six years ago, he
had been a member Of the house com
mittee On education who bad reported the
substance of this bill. In preparing The
bill, they had consulted men of expert
ence both in colleges and among those
more acquainted with common schools
Hearing their suggestions, and acting
upon them, they had reported the bill, Of
which the provisions relating to town su-
perintendents were a most important fea-
ture. Unjust bills had doubtless been
presented for services as superintendent,
but their accounts had been, on the whole.
as moderate as could be expected from
an equal number of individuals. Ii
mode very H,,lo difference whether lhC
people paid the superintendent by a towr
or state tax. in one instance where the
office was obnoxious, the people had ap
pointed a pauper, and in another, a ne
gro. This showed how much importance
they attached to the Office. He felt a
though if this provision were stricke
out, the next steps would be to strike ou
the whole section as far as related to th
office Of town superintendent, and he wa
therefore very unwilling that the amend
ment should pass.
Mr.. Cree said he was not prepared +
wish that this Office should be abolishe,
ia toto. So far as be was acquainted will
the action of the towns around him they
had either appointed no superintendent
or else appointed inefficient persOns.-
The bills Of the superintendents through
out the state ranged from $50 to so
He would suggest the proPriety Of limit
ing the sum for which they should draw
upon the state to some definite amount as
for instance S2j,0O or $4,000. This
course was pursued in relation to county
aud it might be advisable
here.
Mr.. Kirkland said be knew the ex-
rene risk which person must run, who
any amendments in this matter,
nasmuch as he would thereby be pro-
laimed an opponent Of the general sys
EN- of common schools. 1t might not
e broadly asserted, but it would be in
He denied any such insinua-
ions. He was warm friend of the
ommon school system, bat feared that
be continual tinkering of this matter and
emovlng it from the control OF the peo-
le, would endanger and destroy the
hole system. For this reason he bad /
roposed the amendment. He noticed |
rat the farther anything was removed !
ON the direct control of the people, the
,ss interest they took in it. 1t was the I
esigned effect of this bill to take the
latter from the hands of the people, con-
dering them incompetent to act upon it.
he argument of the senator from Frank
D, (Mr. Stevens) was against the bill as
stood. If the towns appointed and
aid their own superintendents, and thus
ED them responsible for their labor,
ere would be no negroes or town pau
,rs appointed. 1t had been said that it
ade no difference whether these officers
ere paid by town or state tax. He
ought it better to raise money near at
md than to have it go to the state trea.
nv and hack. Toll was always taken
the latter case. Il
Mr.. Stoughton said if be understood
e present law, it was that each town
ected its own superintendent, and thus {