The Portland daily press., 1875-02-18
FIFTY-FOURTH LEGISL AZURE

Especial to the Pressl
AUGUSTA, Feb. IL.
SENATE. .
The Senate was called to order by the Clerk
and Hon. w. j. Corthell called to the chair,
the President being absent. .
The House papers were passed in concur
renee. ~ .. -t
Senator Kimball presented bill to incorporate
the Maine Unitarian Association, which was
referred to the Committee on Judiciary under a
suspension of the rules.
The Committee on Judiciary reported bill
to incorporate the Rockport Ice Company, and
the Committee on Towns bill allowing the
inhabitants of Hurricane Island to vote on the
island, which were read and assigned.
The Committee on Judiciary reported bill
providing for grand jury only for the March
and September terms of the Supreme Court in
Oxford county. Ordered printed. .
The fiual reports of the Committees on Man
ufactures and Towns were received and the
committees discharged.
Senator Atwood moved to take the resolve to
appropriate 1924, 900 for the Agricultural College
from the table, and there was short debate as
to whether the matter should he laid over till
tomorrow, but it was decided not to postpone.
Senator Swasey came to is feet as soon as
this decision was announced, and opposed the
appropriation on the ground that he did not
see the benefit which the College has given to
the agricultural interests of the state. lie
thought the people demanded the strlctest
economy. The agricultural Institution has new
er, in his opinion, benefited the agricultural
interest one iota. The people who graduated
from it rarely if ever become farmers, but go
for the professions where they can get living
easy. He thought the college did not need the
money. 1t has an income of $4,000. There are
125 students who pay So week for board, and
there is the income of the stock and farm, and
this ought, if the institution is economically
managed, to be paying concern.
Senator Atwood came TO his feet as chairman
of the Agricultural Committee, and stated the
history of the foundation of the college and Its
progress to the present time, speaking OF the
grant of tae United States and the endowment
by the state of Maine, and thought the faith OF
the state required the institution should be kept
If the state breaks its faith what will be the
result? The boys who are now there will be
donations would be wronged. 1t would be bet
ter to keep the college along till private dona-
tions put it upon sound footing. Either the
college should receive the full appropriation
asked for or rot dollar should be given, and
commission to settle with the appontedl gov
eminent and the private citizens who have
made grants to the institution
Senator Swasey offered an amendment to the
resolve making the appropriation $4,000.
Senator Atwood said the committee had made
a full examination of the case and decided the
whole amount was fully needed. He moved
the yeas and nays upon the amendment which
resulted, yeas 5, nays "a, and the amendment
was lost Messrs. Emery, Haskell, Foster,
Russell and Swasey voted yea.
Senator Foster then moved to amend to make
the appropriation $4,000
Senator Cross moved to amend the amend
ment and make the sum $4,000.
Senator Foster made small speech. He
took up the items as asked for and criticised
each, He thought the items for brick, $5O0O,new
farm house, 5000, outstanding bills, $4,000,
gradi-g, $500, ETC., should be fully scanned be-
fore voting. The farm expenses are set at
$4,000. The two best farms of the state do not
nav expenses. He was willing to give all that
was necessary, taking out these items, ana SlO,-
600 is all that is needed.
Senator Corthell hoped neither amendment
would prevail. There is no middle ground to
take. We should give them all they need and
mt them in good condition or give them moth
ing.
Senator Cross withdrew his amendment.
The yeas and nays were called on Fosters
amendment.
Senator Swasey chara cterized the institution
as an Agricultural College humbug.
Senator Corthell though the establishment of
the institution as separate institution, mis-
take. 1t should have been appended to Bow
doin. But as it is it has done its work so far
IT should be confined to its work; it should not
90 into classical instruction, neither should it
be confined to teaching boys how to plant cab
baces or dig potatos. But it should be made to
teach those practical sciences which underlie
success in the mechanic arts. The institution
is as vet in it's infancy 1t has increased from
four students the first year to 125 the present
year. There is such a thing as false economy,
and he characterized the cutting down of this
appropriation as such.
The vote was then taken on Mr.. Fosters
amendment and it was lost, yeas, % nays.
Senator Corthel offered an amendment that
classical studies shall not be pursued at the
college, but subsequently withdrew it,
The vote upon the motion was then taken,
and resulted "a yeas to nays. Foster Has
kell, Rounds and Swasey voting no, and the re-
solve was passed to be engrossed.
A resolve was reported that the valuation of
the town of Berwick be assessed for state and
county taxes-polls 412; estates 5000, 102; No.
Berwick, polls 376; estates $60S, l54. Adjourn
ed.
Afternoon Session.
Amendment No. 9, submitted by the Consti-
tutional Commission, came up by assignment
on its passage to be engrossed. 1t is IN relation
to removal of State Treasurer, Attorney Gene
raj aad any Sheriff, County Attorney, County