Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-03-06
END Of SESSION NEAR 7
Prohibition Lac to be amended !

AUGUSTA. Mar. Sd. lS6S.
EDITOR ELLSWORTH AMERIeAN:-The
last week has witnessed the transaction Of
some Of the most important business of
the session. The railroad bills have been
under consideration. while TIE education
bills and resolves are virtually dpos.
"a OF.
The bill to increase the amount of mon
ey towns shall raise for the support Of pub
lie schools from seventy-iive cents to one
dollar. passed the House Friday, and to-
day in the Sena' { it was passed TO be Ell
acted in concurrence. The bill to cstub
lish State Board OF education WAS de-
feated some time ago /; but Il, there seemed
desire TO = tain that part of 1t which pro-
,des ioi a uniformity OF textbooks, the
bin Was rtcammttcd with the understand
lng thata Ne. bill should be matared with
the sa ne featnrcs as the old bill. except
that part whieh established county super
lnteudeuts Vita al aggregate cost Oh nine
Thousand dollars. The bin so pre- pared
passed the House by vote of 81 to 81.
Although this last bill was warmly sup
ported by the friends OF education, and
advocated by Mcssrs. Herrick aud Dinghy
of the committee, it fails Of what was de
sired to he accomplished. 1t does not
bridge the chasm between the committees
of the rural towns aud the State Superin-
,endcnt, aud that part which woud effect
uniformity of teyt-books. viii, to great
extent prove ahortive. Comparatively few
committees will take the responsibility Of
eil'ecting the change in accordance with
the recommendation OF an officer who new
er can visit their schools. Could it be
made effective throughout the State. the
advantages would doubtless outweigh the
evident injustice it will do the cities of
Portland, Rockland, Lewiston and Bangor
and the large towns which have able com
nlttees aud eminently successful schools,
with well selected books though they may
not be uniform.
The other bill will scnsibly effect every
school district of the State increasing one
third their echool tax. On the same day
in which this law passed "a resolve Tor the
appropriation of one thousand dulars in
aid of Hebron Academy came up before
. the House. 1t was we'll inown that this
, was at the head of list of resolves for IA
like sun for Brighton, Wilton and Bel
grade Academies, while five OF six thous
and was asked for the Maine Wesleyan
) Seminary at Kcnt's Hill. The friends OF
each OF these schools evidently consider
ed Hebron the most deserving subject. both
as to its own character and reputation, III.
8 men who were present to support its de-
mands, and the peculiar circumstances
0 under which 1t presented its claims upon
! the public generosity. Should she sue
b coed, half the hattie would he fought fol
/ each of the others. Mr.. Herrck, its
4 principal, one Of the leading members Of
: the committee on education and one wht
advocated with ability the various educa.
y ton bills, ably presented its claims. i
: had been in active operation sixty-thre,
j. years. had given instruction to more thar
d ten thousand students and had never re
celved aid from the State. At the time O
Its incorporation it had received half
township of land from Massachusetts. hu
: the land was poor and at that time cheap
= The fund aocruing from it was SMALL
o From time to time 1t had received hel,
u from its friends and had worn out thre
: school buildings. Last year, forty town
were represented among its students, on,