Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-24
MINE LEGISLATURE.
Senate.

PRAYER hy Rev, Mr.. IAsTF OF UaT0lncr'
Records read and arfrtyed,
Papers frtn the lIcusc disposed of in con-
cSrrcncc.
On motion of Mr.. BUrruM, bill an act to
abolish capital punishment, which came up
hv assignment, was laid the table.
On motion of Mr.. LANG, the vote of yestcr-
dav whereby it was refused to suspend the
rule whereby the time for receiving petitions
was limited to Feb. -, was reconsidercd,
and the rule WAS suspended.
Mr.. LANE, presented bill an act to lcgalize
the acts of L. w. Hcrrick, a Justice of Peace
in Kenncbec county, which was referred to
the Judiciary under a suspension OF rules.
On motion of same Senator the vote where
by the petition for bill an act to incorporate
the Masonic Trustees of Lewiston. was re-
considered and on his motion it was referred
to the Judiciary. sss4,s4 A.
Mr.. TALBor, from The Committee on In
terror Waters, reported leave to withdraw on
petition of Edward Benner ct ais, for bridge
across tide waters at Belfast.
Mr.. LINDSEY, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported legislation inexpedient on order
instructing the committee to inquire into the
cxpcdiency of authorizing towns to deduct
from Communication votes outstanding against
them.
On motion of Mr. Reed. bill an act to
abolish capital punishment was taken from
the table and on his motion ii was amended
by striking out sec. I'd.
The bill then came up on its passage to be
cnprosscd as amended and on motion of Mr..
GUSHING the note was taken by yeas and
nays with the following result:
YEAs-Messrs. Bartlett, Buck, Bnffhm,
Caryil, Cleavcs, Collins, Gushing, Fuller.
Garcelon, Gray, Hanson, Holland, Kingsbury,
Lang, Lindsey, Minot, Morse, Reed, Roberts,
Rolfe, Torrey--2l.
NAYs-Mcssrs. Bolster, French, Gibbs,
Mayo, Metcalf, Talbot, Webs.
ABsEyr-Carleton, Lame So the bill
passed to be cngrosscd. 49, tI
Mr. RopERrs gave notice that tomorrow
he should move for reconsideration of the
foregoing vote
Bill an act to establish State uniformity of
school books, came up on its passage TO be
cngrosscd, by assignment
Mr.. MINoT said:
Mr.. President Senators will bear me
witness that have not trespassed, thus
far, upon the patience of this Senate. but
| beg your indulgence while submit a
few remarks. why think that this bill
should receive passage. ito not in-
tend to discuss this bill in all its details,
but to rive II few of the reasons which in
duce me to give it my hearty support.
Every educator agrees that it is desirable
TO have uniformity of Textbooks in school,
orwithout it, in our ungraded schools. there
must inevitably be ii great waste OF time
and of money. Town uniformity has been
tried, and proved to be u complete failure
from various causes. As town uniformity
has not accomplished its object is it desir-
able that we adopt state uniformity? IL
was somewhat forcibly struck with the re-
mark which was made by one OF the gen
tlemen that appeared for the remonstrants
from the city of Portland; that lnitorml-
~ was neither practicable nor desirable,
and this is the first instance that ever
heard the remark, that uniformity was
not to be desired The oppoaents of this
measure generally admit that town uni
formity is conducive to the advancement
and progress OF all our schools; but if we
should have it in one town, why not have
it in all OF the towns in this State? 1t must
be admitted by every one that is thorough
" acquainted with our schools through
out the length and breadth Of this State,
that the towns are few in which there Is Il
uniform series of textbooks in use in the
schools of that town, and that the work
ing force of that teacher is largely wasted
from the effects of this evil: and the ques-
ton presents itself most forcibly for
our consideration, what method can be
devised to remedy those existing ,evilsP
Our able and eiiicientStat Superintendent,
after careful inspection and examination
of many schools in different sections Of
the State and from an inquiry into their
wants. has been led to the opinion that
one of the great evils from which we have
been suffering in the past arises from the
multiplicity of textbooks with which our
t,, 1ax hat IN
other method will produce the desired
result except by the adoption of uniform
system Of textbooks 10 be used in all the
schools throughout the State. Fifteen ont
of sixteen, of the County Supervisors IA
vor the same plan, and they are led to
adopt these views from Il careful inspec
ton of the schools in their respective
counties, and is not their nearly unani-
nous opinion entitled to some weight, for
who have had better opportunity to
Judge than they have had the past year?
From the circulars sent out from the
State superintendent office to the Super
intending School Committees Of the diff
ferent towns in the State, in 1868, asking
whether they were favored or opposed to
State uniformity of textbooks, out of 2O5
towns that made answers To the inquiries,
ia answered yes, and II answered no.
and IA doubtful; and this was at Il time
when there was no excitement in regard
to the question, and every one was answer
ed from a calm and deliberate considera-
ton of the matter. ! have no doubt that
if every town throughout the State had
answered the inquiry made, that the pro-
portion would have been in the same ratio
us those which did return an answer.
And think that ii to-day the School Com
mittees of all the towns in this State could
vote directly upon the bill before us, that
the majority would be overwhelmingly
in favor of its adoption, and every one
must admit that they, from the oppoituni-
ties which they possess of lndging,, are
entitled to strong weight, and should not
be slightly regarded by us in detcrmin-
ing our decision upon this question 1t
has been said that by the adoption of
State uniformity that we are taking an
..ancient and honorable privilege" from
the School Committees. which they have
so long exercised. the privilege OF Sc
lecting the books to be used in the schools