Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-22
Legislative Proceedings.
Confined from first page. J
AFTERNOON SESSION.

/ nouhceu MS opposition 10 tIils system OF
schools.
Mr.. FERausoS urged his amendment to
make the amount given by the State $3.50.
/ instead of $500. lie said that in no way
could the poor children of the State get a
higher education better than through the free
high schools.
Mr.. LINN of Somerset, was opposed to
the amendment and to the system, for the
reason that it injured the home schools,
Mr. PATrEN of PenObscot, also opposed the
hill.
The question being on the amendment OF
Mr.. FERGUsos, the vote was us follows:
YEAS - Messrs. Andrews, Bradford,
Coombs, Ferguson, Harris, Halves, Madigan,
! Morrison, Prince. Redlon, Rogers (Sagada-
( hoe, Smith, Thomas, Wait-li.
NAYs-Messrs. Atwell, Barker, Chase,
/ Cobb, Duran, Ellis. Linn, Mayhem, Moody,
/ Parlin, Pattcn. Roberts, Rogers (Penobscot}
| Thompson, Vinton-lj.
SO the amendment was not adopted.
The House amendments being agreed to.
! the question was on the engrossment of the
/ bill. The vote was rs follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Atwell, Barker. Chase,
| Cobb, Duran, Ellis, Linn, Mayhem, Moody.
! Parlin. Patten, Roberts, Rogers CPenobscot
! Thompson, Ninton-l5
NAYS - Messrs. Andrews. Bradford.
! Coombs, Ferguson, Harris, IIawcs. Haynes,
Madgan, Morrison, Prince RedIon, Rogers
Sagadahoc), Smith, Thomas. Wa.t-lj.
So the bill was not engrossed.
The bill for the aboishn ent of the mill
! tax for one wear. being called up by Mr..
RoGERs of Sagadahoc, the question was on
the amendment of Mr.. TnoMAs of Cumber-
! land, that one-half of this tax he taken from
! the schools.
Mr.. THOMAS urged this amendment. lie
thought some portion of the 'mil tax
should go towards the running expenses OF
! the State to prevent an extensive running III
debt. 1t was not advisable to increase the
State tax, and the Constitution prevented
debts beyond certain limit.
Mr.. BARKER of Penobscot, was afraid
| that they were getting too aristocratic no ions
in sustaining free high schools, which were
for the benefit of the richer children, and
reducing the ''mil tax" which was to aid the
common schools He always advocated
these schools of the people.
Mr.. ViNroN of Cumberland, said that some
thing must be done to relieve the treasury.
One of two things was necessary Either to
cut off the draft on the treasury or to increase
taxation. He thtn considered the heavy bur
dens upon the State caused by educational
expenses They amounted to nearly 10 per
cent. more than all the running expenses OF
| the State. No other State or country could
present anything like that They had been
| like martyrs to the cause of education. He
then considered the action of tie Senate on
the free high school matter. These school,
were aristocratic and could be touched with
the least harm. These they refused to tam
per with. This was the right end to begin at
Now it was proposed to cut down some por.
ton of the ''mill tax" which went to every
| part of the State to educate your children
| lie would not vote TO suspend! one-halt of the
mill tax but would vote for one fourth of it pro
vided the free high schools were wholly cut of.
He would sit and freeze on his seat b, fore he
would vote one dollar to support single
high school in Maine on such terms as tn sc
Mr.. ROGERS of Sagadahoc, looked it the
mill tax as the most feasible to cut into, and
the free high schools as the best not to touch
He might be convinced that he was in the
wrong. 1t was imperative to divert some
portion of the school monies. He SHOW ed
that at the close of the year ending April,
1877. there was left in the treasury S9i 0 0,
and at the end of April |, 1873, there remained
100000 unused school money. Ie
showed by figures that it was not So
hard as it appeared to divert the mi
tax. The small places opposed the touching
of the mill tax because by it they gathered
from the larger towns and cities money to be
used for school and other purposes He cited
able to do without the mill tax than the larg
err places to pay it.
| Mr.. BRADFORD of Washington, In lugh'
| that it was sorry thing to predict the bank
ruptcy of the State within five years wher
there were so many men in the State able ant
willing to labor. He was in favor of the fire,
high schools believing they were doing al
immense good. He pleaded earnestly TO,
| their maintenance.
Mr.. BARKER of Penobscot, again spoke fol
the schools of the people.
Mr. PATrEN of Penobscot, said that hi.
home (Bangor) paid out for schools 5000
more than it received, but he was willing tha
amount should go to aid the poor children in
Aroostook county to get an education.
Mr. ELLIS of Waldo, stood by the mill ia,
in his remarks, but opposed the free higi
schools. If there was any way to defeat tn,
high schools he would sit here till next Sep
TENDER. But if they would abolish the high
school system for one year he would be vii
ling to take off one-half the mill tax.
Mr.. MADIGAN of Aroostook, said that i
was inconsistent to sustain the free schools
and then cut down the mill tax. He argued
earnestly for the support of the common
schools.
On motion of Mr.. Conn of Andr6scoggin
the whole matter was tabled.
On motion of Mr.. VINToN of Cumberland
the reports of the Committee on Mercantil,
Affairs and Insurance on bill an act reatin,
to life insurance were taken from the table
The majority of the committee reporte,
Fought not to pass" on the bill, and a minor
ity report took the opposite ground.
Mr.. BRADFORD of Washington spoke a.
follows upon the matter
| Mr.. PRESIDENT:
The question of life insurance is one o
great interest and Importance to the people o
our State. The policies 50 held approximate
s25,000,000. The amount is as so much in
vested captal-due and returnable to oul
citizens 1t is a well known fact that ever,
year increases its volume and shortcns tn,
returnable space of time. Why should We
not continue to protect the inhabitants of GU,
State, and legisate so that no act of our!
shall endanger their interests?
This bill proposes that application for if,
insurance shall be held as representation
only, not as warranties, thus offering pre-
MUM for mistaements and encouragin.
frauds upon the thousands holding life roll
cics that have paid many years premiums
that their families may have that left then
which will administer to their wants through