Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-19
Debate on the School Mil Tax,
n the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, Feb. 6.

MR. hEEGAS advocated the minority report,
because he believed it to be his duty to pro.
test against anything so unequal, unjust, and
oppressive, as the present system Of school
taxation. But little by little the burdens are
being equalized, and placed on the state,
where they belong. The gentleman from
Portland (Mr. Thomas) had complained Of it,
and had told what burdens the cities have to
bear. So then the rural districts have bur-
dens to bear; however poor they may be, they
have their roads to keep in repair, and are re-
sponsible for any damage which may occur
on them through any defect. The gentleman
(Mr. Thomas) had gone into calculations,
which would save him (Mr. Keegan) the
trouble. 1t had been shown that thero are
towns which by this one mill tax, - il now
stands, draw more from the State Treasury
than they pay into it in state taxes. This
proves that they pay but very small amount
OF taxes to the state, while they have q large
number of children, in whom the state, a.
whole, is interested, to be educated, and very
little means wherewith to do it with. The
present burdens imposed upon them are bur
dens which the whole state should bear. In
the town of Frenchville, which had been men,
toned, If no mill tax were imposed upon Il,
it twould pay, accordingto the laws Of the state
requiring par capita tax of BLOC to be
raised for each inhabitant, from % to "a mills
on every dollar of its valuation, and the city
Of Portland very little more than one mill.
Where the equality? Is not such . Law q
this. in the language of the gentleman, s'uu-
just and oppressive? The gentleman from
Portland (Mr. Thomas) had made = point
that this law is tending toward centralizxtion.
1t is the present system that is bringing about
the most dangerous of all Capitalization, the
Capitalization of everything in the cities, lay-
ing waste the population of the country
places, and drawing capital from the country.
Why should he (Mr. keegan) if possessed Of
wealth, because he lived in the midst of
poor population, be taxed twenty or moro
mills on every dollar he had, to educate ehil.
dren, whenlhe had no children himself? while
the gentleman who lives in the city at his ease
and in the best of society, only pays one or
two mills? This was the danger which he
would advise gentlemen to avoid. He next
referred to the argument that the "School
Mill Tax" is unconstitutional, and contendsd
that it was not in conflict with the provisions
of the constitution. No judge of the Su-
preme Court would give his opinion against
the constitutionality Of the mill tax. We
have right to do almost anything which is
not expressly forbidden by the constitution.
The gentlemen opposed to this measure do
not believe or rely upon this point, and he
would be exceedingly surprised If they tested
the matter. The longer they could hold up
this scare crow, over the heads Of unassum-
ing country members like himself, making
them believe that the measure is unconstitu-
tional, the longer they would keep them
from equalizing the burdens of education.
1t is admitted on all hands, that the State
as whole is interested in the elevation Of
its children. Where is the justice in saying
portion shall pay certain amount towards
doing this work of the State, when that
amount is so unequal and oppressive?
Frenchville, referred to, has valuation Of
$4,000 to educate l66 children, whilst Port
land has a valuation of some thirty millions
of dollars. with eleven or twelve thousand
children TO educate. Where the equality, or
justice Of it? 1t had been said that the towns
should be made to raise more money, but he
contended that the poorer sections of the
State were not able to do this, and that the
State should bear the burdens Of education,
inasmuch as it is confessed on all hands
that the State is interested, and the perpetuity
of our free institutions depend upon the en-
lightenment of our people.
Mr.. LoRING of Portland, addressed the
House in opposition to the measure. Re-
marks to- morrow.
Mr.. ALLEY regarded the question under
consideration as one of much importance,
and he believed that the good judgment Of
the House would decide it upon its merits, and
not upon the ground of their being addressed
as gentlemen from the rural Districts" or
gentlemen from the Cities" or any other
consideration of that kind. The gentleman,
(Mr. Loring,) who has just taken his seat
regarded the question as one of equality and
justice. That was precisely his, Mr. Alley's)
position, and his object in introducing the Or
der which had been referred TO, was not es.
pecially to increase the school revenue, but
to put it upon a basis of justice and equality.
1t had been said that if the expenses Of
education are equalized, that all the taxes Of
the State should be equalized. In this con-
nection he called attention to tine Reform
school. During its existence there have been
admitted to it trihe over 1900 pupils. The
yearly appropriation for that institution, has
been some $l5 200, in addition to the original
outlay, for farm stock, etc. One-fourth of
the whole number that ever entered that in.
stitution came from the city Of Portland.
Take the yearly appropriation also; admitting
that Portland pays one-eighth Of the whole
expense, and she pays 81, 900 per year, when
facts and figures say she should pay $4,000
year. Why did not the gentleman from
Portland mention this fact, and say that they
are doing the country towns wrong? Take
the statistics of the State prison ever since
1t has been In operation, ana what do you
find? Still it is assessed by direct taxation
upon the valuation of the State. Some Of
the largest cities in the State send over two
thirds of the whole number of scholars sent
TO the Reform school, still they are ready to
say to the country towns, educate your own
scholars within your own town lines"
The gentleman from Portland Mr.. Lor-
ing) had said that so per cent. of the scholars
in some localities do not attend school. Was
this any reason why means ofeducation should
be removed from them? The argument used
that portion of the school money is used
for insurance, fuel etc., was no argument, for
the law he contended, authorized that a Ger.
tain per cent. may be used for such purposes.
And if town could be found which has i'm
properly appropriated the school fund, he
did not deem it any argument why the school
revenue should be removed from the child
rem of the State. Mr.. A. continued, in reply
to arguments advanced by the opponents OF
the minority report.
Mr.. MoRrLAND opposed the minority re-
port. We are all here on an equal, each rep
resenting the interests of the whole state, ana
in deciding this question, we should throw
away any local feeling we may have, and
consider what is right, and what is wrong,
and endeavor to be on the right side, whether