Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-18
Remarks of Hon. James Morrison, Jr.,

IN THE SENATE, FEB. Is, IN OPPOSITION To THE
BILL TO ABOLISH THE SCHOOL MILL TAX.
The law passed in 1872, creating a school mill
tax for the support OF common schools, was based
upon the principle that the citizen being required
to protect and defend the property of the md in
time of public danger therefore the properly, 10
time of peace, should he taxed to educate the
citizen. | have considered the act of 1872 a very
wise measure, and | see reason now to change
my mind 1t is claimed by some that we have too
much school money, aud that the money now
raised for the support OF schools Is not judlcousy
expended. This may be so in some local. les, for
Iu.tance, where vast amount Of property aud
large population are concentrated upon sma II
tracts OF md bat ia the rural districts it is quite
the reverse | can conceive case where people
mig hit put in the plea of too much school. Per-
hHps Portland, Ihomaston, Bath or Bangor might,
but can ana do also realize that there are hun
dlcds Of other places which are suffering tJr the
want of more school money and better facilities
for educating the children. The law of 1872
made to apply to ilst this coalition of things,
aud it draws money from places where they have
s;hooliug in abundance aud To spare, and places 1t
where it will do good, aud where it is
actually needed. The result IS. the city schools
have been carried on just as well a before and
the schools IN the couutry have been pushed for
ward to n higher degree of excellence. Ia other
words this law has placed tne schools in the cOun-
try nearer the standard Of MS cousin in the city.
am aware that the cry goes up from some Of
cities that they are paving thousands OF dollars
more for the support of schools than their own
schools cost, and that they ought not to be taxed
to support schools in the country, from VIII ch they
derive no benefit Many in the cities claim that the
is no community Of interest lying between the
city and the county regards common sCho lis.
nave always believed that the int rests of the two
very closely allied III a thousand things, and
IN many clearly identical, Where, ask, do your
bus ness men come from who build up yonr cities
and cause them to prosper? From what source
come your mechanics, your cont actors, aud your
ship builders Where do your merchants come
from, those men of business capacities, the medi-
ums Tor the interchange of commodities with the
nations! In great majority OF the cases they
come from the country, and in nine cases out Of
ten, those coming from the country obtained
their education IN the very school houses, the doors
of which you now propose to shut, There Is clos
Ell alliance than people imagine, between the city
aud the county. There are obligations both
ways undoubtedly, but shall attempt to show that
when you come to strike the balance, the account
is largely our favor, and that if the cities do
pay few thousand dollars to support the schools
IN the country. they have no cause for oompl amt.
The principal business OF city Is the manuiac-
tpre OF certain goods and tho purchasing of other
goods from foreign counties and selling IN the
interior; in other words, the principal business
is manufacturing, trade and traffic Now how
long would youI business flourish ii the people IN
the country should decide 20 back to tue custom
OF "yc,olden time" and live on their own resources
This has been done in days gone by, and could be
done again. And how long before you would
close your warehouses, and shut down your man
uiactories' How long before your business would