Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-31
MINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from first page
HOUSE.
TUESDAY, Jan. 80.

fapers from tie Senate disposed OF IN con-
currence.
Secretary of State transmitting the county
estimates for the years 1898 and 1884, which
were referred to the Committee on County
Estimates.
On motion of Mr.. Fisher of Charlotte.
Ordered, That the Committee on the Ju-
dietary be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency of so amending the law relating t.
marriage that all residents of this State in
tending to be Joined in marriage shall be re-
quired TO give more public NOTICE thereof.
On motion Of Mr. Hale of Portland,
Ordered, That the Committee on the Ju-
dietary be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency of amending chap. 6 sec 66 of the
revised statutes AS to secure return of
the tax lists in the month Of April.
On motion of Mr.. Rogers Of Bath.
Ordered That the Committee on Legal
Affairs examine the laws OF 1871 in regard TO
FIRE inquests and the amendment of said law
made in 1873 and ascertain what additional
amendment is needed to made them complete.
Mr. Eaton from the Committee on Tenn
perance, on petitions representing over 10000
citizens, and resolve for an amendment to
the constitution. forever prohibiting the man
ufacturing of intoxicating liquors and the sale
mechanical purposes, and the arts, reported
that the resolve ought to pass. On motion
of Mr.. Eaton the report was laid on the table
and Thursday next assigned for its consider
ton.
Mr.. Ives from the Committee on Temper
ance. OH order, reported that the business of
the State liquor agency, so far as submitted to
the committee, had not been conducted in ac-
cordance with the requirements of law, and
recommended a rigid inquiry into the affairs
of the agency bv the Governor and Council.
Mr. Wilson from the Committee on Towns.
on petition, reported bill an act to annex the
town of Mayfieldt to the town of Pressure Isle;
read and assigned.
Mr. Luce from the Committee on Claims
reported ought to pass on a resolve in favor OF
the town of Mattamiscontis; printed under
rule
Mr. Thatcher from the Committee on FL
nance, on petition, reported resolve to cor
rect clerical error in Township No. I,
Range / Piscataquis county, for rebatement
and r9funding of tax assessed thereon printed
under rule.
On motion of Mr. Ives of Castine, resolve
d"clarative of principle in the matter of tax
alton for educational purposes. was taken up,
and the same gentleman moved suspension
of the rules and that the measure be put up
on its passage.
Mr.. Ives said:
How far the State should go in educating
the whole people, or providing means for 1t,
is subject on which there are different
opinions States differ in their principles
and in their policy. Seventeen States of the
Union provide Collegiate and professional
education for all who will avail themselves
of the means so provided. But only few can
oh IN this higher pinratinp The
and the poor in proportion, are thus taxed
for the benefit of the few. This higher
education of portion is Indispensable to the
general welfare. and therefore should ever be
encouraged, and if necessary assisted, by
special grants, in special and extreme cases.
But more than this is unnecessary and wrong
in principle and unwise in policy. The need
ful means, without State support, have been
and will again be supplied by the necessities
of the case and by private benevolence. The
direct avowal of the State of the limit of its
duty, will tend strongly to draw out needed
private munifcence for the endowment of
higher institutions of learning. That line Of
the States duty is drawn at the point beyond
which the education is not for all. but for a
favored few. The education of the whole
community up to this line. has a real and
common relation to every condition and every
class in the community, viz. that education
given in the common school, carried up to the
highest practicable point. This is for all.
and reaches all, and is necessary for all.
Every one is a gamer by it. Every one is a
loser without it. and his loss is also a loss to
the State,-so that common school education
for all should not only be provided, but in
sisted on and certainly secured by the State
for performing in the best manner the common
duties of life and the duties of a citizen of a
free State, such an education is necessity.
The State College of Agriculture and Me-
chanic Arts was established under peculiar
circumstances, which make a special appeal
for assistance. for a time by the State. and
which tended to draw somewhat aside the leg
islation of the State from the line of its true
policy. The fact also that much benefit to
our farming interest was expected from the
college, commended it to a favorable regard.
since agriculture is the predominant interest
of the State. and should to the utmost be en-
couraged. But the common expectation that
the college would raise up an advanced
class of practical farmers, has not been real
lied OF the graduates of the college, from
1872 to 1881 inclusive. only twelve of the
whole are practical farmers in Maine, ac
cor1ing to the catalogue. This is not
fault of the college. but natural result.
The course of education there prepares the
graduates for other useful and more lucrative
employments. The tendency is not toward
practical farming but awav from it. The
faithful ltbors OF the teachers of that institu
ton are sure to produce that result To some
extent a general influence favorable to the
farmer goes forth from the teachings of the
college. The influence of the experimental
farm is directly beneficial to that great inter-
est II it he claimed, as it some times is that the
State ought to support college for the edu-
cation of the sons of farmers of more limited
means. it may be said in reply, that this ap-
peals to private benevolence and should meet
with warm response; while the legislature
has no right to tax the whole community for
the special education OF a few, whether sons
of farmers. or mechanics, or seamen. or
worthy f4therless boys. Such boys, without
State aid. have found their way into all our
colleges, graduating with honor, made strong
bv their efforts at self support, and carried BY
the habits and momentum and acquired
strength Of those efforts TO the highest posi-
tons which appeal to human ambition. The
State College. without depending on the State
for regular grants, making the most of its
present means, though restricted perhaps for
A time in these, as most of our higher instltu-
lions of learning have been in their early
history, will show that it deserves to live,
will find friends rally to its support, its use
ing fulness increasing with its growing years.
Mr.. Moore of Thomaston moved to indie
finitely postpone.