Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-20
Remarks OF Prentiss L0ring, ESQ.,, OF
Portland

in HOUSE OF OFREPRESESTAT1VES,F Feb. 18th, Of
the expediency of increasing the school Mii
Tax.
Mr.. LoR1sG of Portland said:
M. Speaker and Gentlemen Of the Hous
Of Representatives.:
confess to feeling Of some diffidence ir
rising upon this floor for the first time; and
the delicacy of my position is somewhat en-.
/ HANGED by the very fattering terms in which
the gentleman (Mr. keegan) who has just
/, taken his scat has been pleased to allude to
those who, fortunately or unfortunately, have
made their residence in cities.
Mr.. Spe aker believe that in examining this
question which relates to one of the broadest
ard most vital interests of our State, we
should, as far as possible, separate ourselves
from the influence of mere local advantage
or disadvantage, and discuss it upon its mer-
its. do not believe that those who would
be benefited by this measure, desire that its
success should be secured upon any other
than equitable grounds and by proper meth
DDS. Reared in the country, I am not un-
familiar with the conditions, duties and trials
OF those who in our agricultural districts, by
severe and constant toll, work out the sup.
port and education Of their families; and
yield to no man upon this floor, in sympathet-
ic appreciation Of the discouragements under
which many of them labor; and know that
as body they are men of sound judgment,
of integrity of purpose, and rare independ.
ence in thought and action; these are the
men to whom, as jurors, we look largely for
righteous verdicts," and am confident that
they will not insist upon advantages which
can be obtained only by ungenerous and un
just enactments. On the other hand, do
not believe that the wealth which is accumu-
lated in our cities and larger towns desires to
shirk any burdens which may justly be impos-
ed upon it, especially if the general welfare
of the community ard the State is to be pro.
NOTED thereby. Therefore, Mr.. Speaker,
with such parties in interest, do not believe
that it is necessary, or wise, for US to discuss
this question, relating as it does to the cause
of education, the importance of which we all
allow, and in which We are all vitality inter.
ested, in any other than spirit OF impartial
ity land candor, without appeals to selfish
interest on the one hand or prejudice On the
other. am confident that its discussion in
any other spirit in body constituted as is
this, will be without avail.
And now, Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen, I
desire, first to call your attention to the fact
that in the year 1871, the money contributed
from the State Treasury for the support of
public schools was SIS 5,444. BY act of the
Legislature of 1872, the amount authorized
to be expended from the State Treasury for
schools for the school year of 1872 was
little more than $500, 900, and for the year
1878 it will be little over S363, 900. This
largely increased contribution by the State,
for the school year of 1872, has not yet been
entirely paid from the State Treasury into
the hands of the towns and cities which are to
receive it, and no returns have yet come to
us indicating the success or failure of the leg
islation of oflastyear. The experiment has hard
been entered upon, much less the results
reached. And now comes the proposition for
the State to add to this already liberal expen-
diture a quarter of a million dollars, and the
question which / have to put to you is this /:
Is this the way you assess taxes? Is this the
way you expend money in your municipal
affairs? Having voted thousand dollars
from your town treasury, doyou vote to expend
another thousand for the same purpose, be-
fore you know what has been the result of
your first expenditure? may safely answer
that you do not. And will you, under the
solemnities of your official obligations, do
less in this matter of the State than you would
as citizens of your own localities? In sup
port of this position, call to the stand as q
witness the State Superintendent of schools,
who in his report for 1872 says:
cit does not seem to me advisable to
change at present the existing rstes-nsmely,
State tax of one mill and the municipal tax of
eighty cents for each inhabitant. 1t is proper
that we wait one year at least in order that
we may ascertain the results, beneficial or
otherwise, of this benefaction by property to
public education. We wish to know whether
the towns have devoted this gift wisely and
completely to the object for which it was
made"
''lt is eminently proper and judicious to
wait for the expected Improvement If it
then will ho tho O fino IN, cOpsiIar rbotb
er the new policy shall be further expanded.
BY no means would we startle properly to an
antagonism with public schools"
And say further, that the condition of our
schools, and the public sentiment in re-
gard 20 them, in very many localities do
not warrant any such increased expend-
iture as is here asked. Money is not rhat is
notc most nssded. There must be culti-
waited in our communities q higher and
more watchful regard for the cause and inter-
ests of education. Look at the records of our
schools in the report Of your superintendent.
They indicate that nearly so per cent. of our
school population are in the streets or away
from the scheol room. l call your attention
to the fact, that out Of sixty supervisors of
public schools in different parts Of the State
making their reports to the State Superintend-
ent in 1871, 40 make the burden of their COM
plant, that the great deficiencies and failures
in the schools are largely caused by the apa-
thy and neglec. of parents, from which there
result non-attendance, irregularity and tardi.
ness, thus injuring the schools, discouraging
teachers and obstructing discipline. The
same is true of SO out of IS statements of town
supervisors, found in the State Superintend-
ent's report Of 1872. The Superintendent of
schools also intimates that in some towns the
the committees are instructed "not TO visit
schools unless they are summoned" Is there
not some deficiency, some wrong in the man
agement of affairs here?
The following extract taken from the report
of the supervisor of certain town, and con-
tanned in the State Superintendent's Report of
1872, is but sample of many others which
sustain this position. After stating that the
average number attending the winter school
was only a little over 25 per cent. of the
whole number, and the attendance upon the
summer school was less than so per cent,
the supervisor says "This non-attend-
ance represents waste during the sum-
mer months of one-half of the money
which was expended for school purposes,
and during the winter, ee-quarters. Or,
of the amount paid TO teachers, consider
ably more than one-half was for instructing
unoccupied benches, instead of the minds of
the pupils. There is need enough of a more
generous school policy on the part of the State
IL