The Portland daily press., 1875-02-04
Especial to the PREss.l


AUGUsTA, Feb. 8. GO
In the Constitutional Commission to-day the
resolve of DR.. Robins relating to the amend
ment of sec. of the constitution so as to COM
pei the towns to afford means of general edu-
cation, and to authorize the Legislature 10
raise money for this purpose, but prohibiting
appropriations for colleges, etc., and also
looking TO a system of compulsory education,
was referred to a committee consisting OF
Messrs Gilbert, Robins and LIBBY MI.
Rust offered resolve which provides that De-
fore citizen can vote in any town he must tirst
have paid a tax therein 1t was referred to the
Committee having the subject of the qualltica-
ton of electors under consideration.
Mr.. Talbot offered proposition to the effect
that Municipal judges and Judges of Probate
be appointed by the Governor, which was re-
ferred to Messrs. Gilbert, Haines and Libby.
The proposition of Mr.. Libby to the effect
that railroads, ETC., be compelled to connect,
transport each others cars, etc, without dis
elimination, was voted down as follows:
Yeas-Gibert, Libby Robins and Talbot.
Nays-Haines. KeEt, Klmball, Madigan, Pike
and Rust.
The resolve of Mr.. Madigan empowering the
Legislature to authorize towns to exempt manu-
featuring capital from taxation, was voted
down. yeas, 6 nays. -
The afternoon was devoted to the preparation
of reports. Members of the Commission state
that they will complete their work on Friday.
Til, Committee on Education gave hearing
to the petitioners for the establishment OF
Normal School at North Bridgton. Among the
gentlemen present representing the petitioners
were Messrs. E. w. Woodbury. of Sweden,
P. Tolman of Harrison, and j. T. Perley,
Luke Brown, G. E. Chadbourne and Major
Shorey of Bridgton. The case was opened by
Mr., Woodbury., who stated that the trustees OF
Bridgton Academy found through the opera
ton of the free high school law that the acad-
emies which did so much for the state in years
passed were no longer so efficient, and having
a finely located building, with ample grounds,
in good condition, valued at $4,000, and fund
of $4,000 invested in Government and Port
land bonds, these they proposed to turn over
to the state OH condition that Normal School
was there maintained. He then proceeded to
show that the western portion of the state de-
rived but little benefit from the two existing
normal schools. Somerset, Franklin and An"
droscoggin, with population of 1924 and a
valuation of So, 1885, 900 furnished nearly all
the students for the Western school; and Han
cock, Washington and Waldo, with popula-
ton of 113 36Oand valuation of ST., 100000 fur
nished those fer the Eastern. He held that
Cumberland York and Oxford, with poppla-
ton of 1886 and a valuation OF ISL ,Z79,00o,
had good grounds upon which to base claim
Mr.. Woodbury. further presented the adVan-
tages of the locality.
Superintendent johnson said that the state
employs 1000 teachers and in order to get the
best service from these they should be trained
for the calling The Normal school was the
best means of getting good teachers. The state
needs normal school TO each 1000 teachers In
the counties which could easily 90 to BridgSon,
1862 teachers are employed. Thinks the de-
mands of that section as urgent as any other.
The fact that Bridgton was off the railroads
was no disadvantage. Castine has grown fast
er and is larger school than Pennington.
Would not have them located in cities and larg-
er towns, and regards Bridgton as an admira-
Bile place for such school.
Phineas Tolman, Esq, followed, showing the
plan of the building, and showing that less
than $4,000 would put the buildingstn condition
to accommodate $50 teachers. In the course of
the hearing it was stated that no appropriation
would be required the present year. The dele
cation made favorable impression and hope
to carry the proposition upon its merits, which
ara undisputed.
The statement concerning the bill TO enforce
the railroad tax should have been that the
property seized for taxes could only be replev-
led by the company and its assigns.
The Committee on Education will report ad-
verseIy on the enactment of general law to
provide for the election of school committees
in cities aud towns and on the proposition to
set apart a portion of the school money for free
high schools.
The Judiciary Committee will report simple
bill to abolish capital punishment.
The same Committee will report bills allow
ing the Cobb Lime Co. to increase its capital
stock to $S00,0OO; and bill to establish
Municipal Court in the city of Auburn.
The Montville people have gone home. The
Committee on Towns have decided unanimously
against the division of the town, and five to
four against setting off a part of Liberty
The Railroad Committee gave a hearing OF
the petition of the Pr nobscot Bay & River
Railroad Company for extension of time to
build their road, and locates the bridge across
the bay at Belfast A. G. Jewett and W. ID.
Mcclellan appeared for petitioners, Judge
Williamson and S. L. Milliken for remon-
straits; President Morrill, and j. w. Bradbury
for the Maine Central Railroad interests The
purpose of the remonstrants is to prevent the
building of bridge across the har5or below
the wharves at Belfast, on the ground that it
would offer serious obstruction to commercial
interests and depreciation Of property. No
decision was reached. 1t was low comedy en-
tertainment, the STAR being Hon. A. G.
Jewett Of Belfast AS a contortonst, both in
voice and figure, Mr.. Jewett has no rival in
Maine