Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-03
as been to take the management out Of

their schools as they ever had. He com
plains that higher branches of learning
have been added to the studies taught in
the common schools in truth osly history
and physiology haye been added, since
1857. He says an exclusive class of teach
ers is being educated by the State to take
charge of the schools. How the small
number OF teachers graduated at the nor
NAL schools can take charge OF 1000
schools is problem that nobody but Mr.
Rust can solve. In 1857 the aggregate
amount expended Tor schools was $685.
79S; in 1877 The amount expended was
S95l 81; the average length OF schools
in 1857 was ~ weeks days in 1873, II
weeks , days. The percentage on the dol
lar OF the State valuation OF 1850 expended
for schools in 1857 was &c mills the per-
centage on the valuation of 1870 expend-
ed in 1877 was 4.3 mills. More money
was raised in proportion to the valuation
in 1857 than in 1877 In winding up his
statements about the schools he says:
The almost unanimous verdict OF the
people of the towns is that with all this
enhanced expense there has been no per-
ceptible Improvement in the average COM
mon school" This is pure assertion. One
fact like the following discloses the feel
ings OF the people about their schools: In
1857 the amount of money more than re-
oured by law, voluntarily raised by the
towns for the support of schools was $54,-
066; in 1877 the amount so raised was
1852 ,I95 three times as much in 1877
as in 1857, although the times have
been hard, taxes heavy, and the wall OF
the greenbacker has been heard in the
land. Would people who have no conf
fence in their schools voluntarily tax
themselves in this way to support them ?
It shows that the people Of Maine have
confidence in the school system of the
State, and will not look with favor upon
efforts to make them the football of dem
agogues and destroy their efficiency.
In regard to the agricultural system Mr..
Rust is as crazy or dishonest as in relation
to education. Does he advise giving up
the Agricultural College, losing what was
for its establishment and what has since
been paid by the state in building it upP
That is the question, which no ranting
about it answers or touches. There has
never been legislature in which the far
mers were not able to control this matter,
and all other things in State matters per-
tanning to their interests. They WELD
more power in the legislature than any
other class of-men in that body, aud to say
that they are bulldozed or led against
their interests by any other set OF men
outside or inside of the legislature is tt
gross Insult 10 the aChole farming conanaa-
nttV Of The State. The remarks OF Mr..
Rust in regard to horse racing and agri-
cultural fairs are no less insulting. The
farmers are capable OF managing their
own affairs, their festivals as well as their
crops This year they devote large part
Vi Tue DOuulN VI tHC olutC W iuCu W pre-
miums for raising corn and other crops :;
very likely Mr. Rust " i'll be displeased at
this, thinking they should have devoted 1t
TO some other purpose.
OF the Beet Sugar project he says: IAN
appropriation OF 81 900 has already been
made for it, and those who have under
taken the business are preparing to ask
further appropriations" The facts con-
corning this matter are that an appropria,
ton OF 81 900 has been made by the legis-
lature, but not dollar of it has been paid
out, and it is provided that not dollar OF
it shall be paid until the enterprise has
proved successful, and on no account is
this appropriation to be increased, Ii Mr..
Rust consulted the statute before making
his statement he wilfully misrepresented
the facts; II he did not consult the statute
he attempted to instruct his readers upon
matters OF which he was utterly ignorant
| himself
Mr. Rust endeavors to make it appear
that Gov. Dingley agrees with him in his
notions about the State administration
This attempt to put Gov. Dingley in false
position is OF piece with the rest of his
article. The proper answer to this SANDER
is found in the following article, from the
pen of Gov. Dingley, which appeared in
the columns of the Lewiston journal
few weeks since, in reply to an article 10
the Maine Standard assailing the republi-
can party for its management of State
affairs
The Maine Standard appeals to the PEG.
pie Of Maine to put this State under dem
ocratic control in order To reduce taxation.
Considering that all the extra burdens of
| taxation arise from a rebellion inaugural.
ed by Southern democrats, who are now
in actual control OF the national democra-
cy, this appeal is AS cool as a January
morning. The Standard reminds us thai
he State tax in 1886 was only one mill.
while the present. year it is four mills. But
The Standard should remember that the
State expenditures in 1856 were abont two