Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-23

GIN and Franhlln, as proposed IN the present
bill, he was afraid he would be made little .
thin. We have no petitions coming from the /
country towns for this measure, and from his |
inquiries he had learned that the cities do not
care for it. If the cities do not want it does
the country want it? lie thought not. But /
he thought TIE State should do something
for the cause of education. lie believed in a
State Superintendent, and thought that it I
would be well for the Committee on Educa.
ton to inquire into his duties and make GER /
tain what he shall do
He referred to school committees, and said /
the changes had been rung so much upon |
their incomretency that some might believe |
it to be so, but he did not, for there were
men in his town as we'll qualified to be super
in.endents of schools as any that could be
brought, and who had made great improve
ments in the school system. He did not be-
lieve intermediate supervision was needed, |
and he thought that when the matter was
finally passed upon by the House, that it
would be found to take his view of the mat
ter.
Mr.. MATTHEWS trusted that the matter
would receive the candid consideration which
it merits. The interest involved, transcends
all pecuniary considerations, and yet one
million dollars or more is annually expended
in the support Of our school system The
involved, he thought should be looked after.
He started with the assumption tha: any system
of supervision Should be able to reach the in
diyilual people, and that is thu reason why
the county suptryi sOr system was So Gnpopu-
lar-it failed to attain this object. They were
extended over large territory, and their IN
tlueuce was not fel. as it should have been.
| His own people. in the county Of penobscot,
he presumed. are o-day opposed to any sys-
tenn approaching county superyisorship. but
ne believed ii was because they do not I'M
derstand this measure, and have no faith tia.
il can be made efficient. But he thought i.
l'the number Of supervisors could be increased
so as to reach the towns. and be brought 10
the knowledge and appreciation of the people,
that they would soon be educated up TO that
standard where they would discover is bene-
| fits, and appreciate it as the system merits.
| In those towns. as had been stated where
able men were obtained, the old system had
given satisfaction, as in the case Of Washing
ton county, which was fortunate in securing
the services of the gentleman from Calais Mr..
C0rthelD. For people there, generally, are
in favor Of a return to the old system of SUI
pervisors. SO Of other sections of the State.
| His objection to the bill the other day was
that seven men were inadequate for the
| large expanse of territory. His district was
composed OF 90 towns and one city. lie re-
garded the duties prescribed in the bill as to
great for these men to perform, but if or
more could be added he believed that the
system could be made efficient and result in
great good.
Mr.. TREwoRGY did not rise to make 4
speech, but to say that he was as much in IA
vor of education rs any gentleman upon the
floor of the House. He was surprised to find
that he was not living under republican
form Of government. He had always sup
posed that the people within themselves con-
stituted a republican form of government.
He was told that he was mistaken. 1t is stat
ed here that the State is paying out so much
money, and he would inquire of that gentle
man, who furnished this money; whether the
people did not furnish it whether when we
| left our homes and come here, we are q part
and parcel of the people, or Z set OF educated
autocrats, come together to govern the peo-
pie. Although he came from the rural dis.
tricts, he would assure the gentlemen that
his section was competent TO take care of
their common schools without this system of
State aid. He had been instructed by his
constituents and urged by letters to oppose
everything in the direction of county super
visorship. and he intended to comply with
their wishes.
Mr., DINGHY moved that the bill be laid on
the table.
| Mr.. BIsDEE opposed, and said there were
various important matters before the educa-
tional committee, which would not be acted
upon until this bone of contention was finally
disposed of.
Mr.. CoRTHELL would not discuss the mer-
its of the bill at the present time, but urged
fair consideration of the bill upon its merits,
aside from prejudice born of our experience
in the past, and aside from local influence,
vl,; Job ha hr1,x ka, no
members. AS had been said, important mat
tiers were before the Committee on Education
to be passed upon, but the committee did not
propose to let this "bone of contention" inter-
fere at all with their immediate consideration
He suggested that we have tried the prop
osition to approach the gradual abolition of
the school district. Although there is not an
educational man in Maine who does not know
that the district system lies like an impassa-
BILE barrier against every attempt to make
real progress, yet this idea of democratic
necessity of self-government is brought up,
and it is an impossibility to carry
that through, or has been. How is this
obstacle to be removed? By creating
public sentiment that shall see that the me-
cessity of the case demands it. Who shall
create it? Some district agency, which shall
be between the experimenting committee and
state superintendent We approached the
abolition of the school districts gradually, and
did you hear the howl that went up over the
State, of decentralization" and 'taking away
of vested rightsf" What is the result? The
poor districts of our State, to-day are having
day by day and year by year shorter and
poorer schools, while Capitalization of popu-
lation is going on at our business centers, and
in our cities, and the rural parts are being
depleted, and depleted until the question
comes, shall our whole country be given back
to make up wilderness for the bears and
wolves? And it is a question we have got to
meet, and upon its upon its merits. Mr.. c.
continued briefly.
Pending the motion to indefinitely post
pone the bill, the House adjourned, on motion
of Mr.. MoRrLASp.
PEr1TIoSs, BILLS, &c, PRESENTED AND Re-
FERRED.
BY Mr.. MoFFITT: Petition of the Mayor
of Rockland in behalf of the city in aid of the
petition of the corporators of the Lime Rock
Railroad. Referred to the Committee on
Railroads.
By Mr.. GREEN: Petition of s. l.. Tobey
and 4S others for amendment of the charter
of the Kennebec & Wiscasset Railroad Co.,