Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-20

tnan their sons; and when they framed this
article, providing that "the legislature are
authorized, and it shall be their duty to re-
quire the several towns to make suitable pro.
Vls,on' at the1r orn expense, for the support
and maintenance of public Schools" they did
what was eminently proper, wise and
necessary to be done; for we all know that
money which is expended by those who do
not raise it is often wasted and diverted from
its legitimate channels. Must we not recos.
nize the fact that diminution of local taxation,
and enlarged contribution by the State are
not, IN any way, calculated to foster the cause
ana interests of education among the people?
by so much as we contribute from the State,
ana diminish local taxation, by so much may
we not reasonably say that we diminish the
interest in our public schools on the part Of
those who enjoy and should directly suppor,
them?
And now come 10 another point which has
been suggested by the State Supt. do not
suppose that any of us believe that the school
revenue is largely misapplied or wasted.
But the last report Of the Superintendent In.
dicates that there is something not entirely
right in this matter. He tells US that over $75,.
600 of the school revenue of 1872, which should
nave been appropriated to the payment Of
teachers and to other legitimate school ex.
penditures, has been used for s.repairs, for
fuel, for insurance, and other items"
That is not as it should be. It Is not right.
On page So of the same report, he states that
two instances have been brought to his notice
where the towns take their school money not
tor school purposes, but to liquidate their tax
Indebtedness. | will not ask you to rest upon
even these statements of the Superintendent Of
Schools as to abuses Of the school revenue
contributed by the State. l hold in my hand
letter giving direct testimony on this point,
which has been received by a State cficial
within short time. 1t bears date January
20, 1873, and reads thus, omitting names and
localities: II am informed that the treasurer
OF - is irresponsible, and that he is con-
verting the school money to private uses
Also that his bondsmen are entirely irrespon.
sible." This indicates something altogether
wrong, wrong which should not Be al
lowed to exist.
If it is urged that the burden of the
support of schools be borne by the State and
taken away from the towns and cities, then,
of course, the State will insist upon supervi-
sion. The two must 60 hand in hand. We
all acknowledge that every town has in it
men well qualified to manage its own
school affairs. and the local authority be-
lieve to be legitimately there. But gentlemen,
understand, that if you insist upon the one,
the other must naturally follow. Our excel.
lent, energetic, and persistent State Superin-
tendent has marked out policy, and with
silent, but earnest vigor he is holding to 1t,
and State supervision, as well As other meas.
ures, are in the line of his purposes. AsI
said before, if local taxation is diminished
and contributions of the State increased, ~
now proposed, in the same ratio, State super
vision must supersede local supervision.
That, it seems to me, is self-evident.
There is a Misrepresentation as to the fnan-
cial condition and the taxes and burdens Of
many of our cities and larger towns. An cpin-
ion seems to exist, on the part of some, that
most the residents of cities roll in wealth,
and that general opulence prevails. But every
city in this State is laboring to-day under
load of taxation, by reason of its support and
aid Of public enterprises and for municipal
necessities, to an extent which is not fully un-
derstood. We have calls upon us from one
source and another, which are imperative. but
which are none the less oppressive. Then,
too, there are large charitable claims made
upon wealth in our great centres, which, from
the very nature Of the case, DO not reach the
interior districts. Take also the item of val
uation. In the city Of Portland our taxes are
assessed upon the full cash value of real and
personal property, as have it from the chair.
man of our board of assessors. We know
that in very many towns in the State the rate
of valuation for the purposes of taxation is
much less than this. These are not fancies,
but facts, and they should have weight with
men of candor. | know that the expense of
your children bears hard upon some
of you, and l sympathize with you. But,
it is not all a burden. The child
rem which are given you are the herita2es Of
The Lord, and while now they may be bur
den and care, by-and-by they shall be pow
er to help and support you, as they 60 from
you to take the positions of responsibility and
profit and honor which await them in other
and larger localities. The law of compensa.
ton works here as elsewhere.
Gentlemen, if this pressure is brought to
bear upon capital with so much impotence
and haste, as indicated by the proposition
now before this House, may it not induce that
very antagonism of property with the public
schools which our Superintendent says in his
report lie desires to avoid? And If 90, will it
not operate disastrously against our school
system and the causebf education? l do not
discuss the constitutionali,y of the proposi-
tion now, but put it upon the basis of equity,
and justice; and also put it upon the ground
of the present and future good of the cause of
education, taken as q whole in our State. IL
may be if this pressure upon property is too
hasty and severe, and put it rather A. n
statement than as a threat, that it will bring
unexpected results and embarass rather than
advance the cause which it claims to pro.
mote.
Even under more favorable conditions than
now exist in cur schools, the cities and large
towns are doing their full proportion Of this
work and should not be asked to do more.
We have in this State IA cities, repre-
seating II per cent. Of the population Of our
State, and 20 per cent. Of the school popula-
ton. Out of the 1924 900, resulting from the
present mill tax, they pay little over $685.
900, thirty eight per cent l have not been
able to secure figures from the Savings Banks
to the extent which 1 desired, but those
which have, are official, and have received
them from direct communication with the
banks. l have reports from nine of the Atty
FIVE Savings Banks in the State, and and
that those nine Saving Banks will contribute
for the year 1878, $4,000, which is over 80
per cent. of the Sl20, 900, the whole amount
paid by Saving Banks into the State Treasury
for the support of common schools. Now
what are the facts in regard to the deposits in
these banks? dnd that seventy Ave per
cent. of the deposits in these nine banks which
pay fifty eight per cent. of this tax, are made
by residents of cities and towns which would
be untavorably affected by the proposed lsgis-
lation. Were able to complete this record