Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-02-17


in that ceuter of wealth. understand that
ex.Gevernor Cobarn has already given this
school = large smeans Of money. l say
that this proposition that we shall h. taxed
TO support that school is simply absurd a.,.
ridiculous and outrageous. want to eater
my protest against this sort of thing,
Mr.. Lane of Augusta; 4 petition in
faver of school ia augusta. equally merit |
orious as this, was reported adversely by |
the committee on education. We presented |
that petition. hut believe that report was
right. And hclieve the same repor, |
do not believe in fsvoring any of these |
schools. and therefore hope this resolve |
will be indefinitely postponed,
Mr.. Marston of Skowhegan: Skowte- |
gan is not here begging for assistance 10 |
educate her scholars. These scholars come |
to this school from the surrounding towns. I
Governor Calbun left small legacy 10 the |
old Bloomfield Academy. and the conditions |
of the legacy were thar the doors of that |
school should be thrown open free of
tuition, to anyboiy's children and every
body's children, no matteI where they came
from. That legacy did not effect the chill |
dren of Skowhegan, but it WAS to
give free education 10 the scholars
which he bad in miad at that time from the
rural districts that surround Skowhegan.
Were ii not for an institution of this kind,
many of those scholars would not 90 to
school at all. except to the common schools.
| Gov Coburn said: II will donate that
| school in such manner that those scholars
, shall have the benefit OF II good, free edu-
cation" But when he made that btquest
| hc I'D not take into consideration the future
| and the number of scholars that were liable
| 10 apply. The first few years we got along
| nicely, but the number of scholars has in
creased to such an extent that We have now
| in that Bloomfield Academy over 50 per
cent. more scholars than the laws of the
State allow in any schoolroom as
| To air space, they are jammcd round every
where SO there is no passing between the
teachers desks and the scholars, setteesa
have been put IN, and something has got to
be done. Skowhegan has ample room for
her scholars. Something must be done, OF
the trustees of that academy will reconsider
the vote whereby they accepted that be-
quest and let il revert back to the heirs of
Gov. Coburn, and these scholars will have
to seek elsewhere for an education. and
those that cannot afford it, 20 without il,
The whole matter comes to this whether
the State will aid us TO the amount of $500
a year, or whether We will abandon that be-
quest and send these scholars elsewhere.
Our only alternative is to take care of our
scholars and let others take care of theirs.
The gentlemen from Monson spoke on
this being sectarian institution. There is
not particle of sectarianism in the school
in any shape or manner, and defy him or
any other man to prove that there is. Be
cause Gov. Coburn was Baptist, | don't
know that it is any proof that that ins,itu-
ton is a Baptist institution. Our teachers
are of all denominations, and the trustees
belong to the different churches of the
town.
Mr. Higgins of Limerick ! would ask
the amount of the legacy from Gov. Coburn:
Mr.. Marston; $500.
Mr.. Higgins; | would also ask if within
IA radius of ten miles of Skowhegan, there
are not five other academies?
Mr.. Marston: Yes SIR there are. Those
academies charge tuition and we draw n
large number of pupils from those rural
districts who are too poor TO go to town and
pay tuition. We draw from Arson where
there is an academy, we draw from Canaan
and from the town of Fairfield, even
From those various districts around within
X
tuition. we draw these poor scholars and
give them their schooling free.
Mr. Twitchell of Bath do not think
the reasons for indefinitely postponing are
sufficient. My friend from Augusta has
said that the committee on education Iepor-
ted adversely on a matter which had as good
right to an appropriation as this That
bill called for $500 year for 10 years to
assist the Dirigo college to bull suitable
building, but what was to
become of that $4,000 if
the principal and his assistants were To go
over the other side of the river? Whom
would it belong to: Would it belong
to the heirs of the principal or those inter
ested with him? Would it revert back to
the State? There was no provision for
that, and SO that bill was not considered so
favorabiy as this. The committee on eiu-
cation is made up of good men, with doc
tors and lawyers and merchants among
them, and they have taken pains to look
into this matter, and hope the motion to
postpone will not prevail.
The question being on the motion to in
definitely postpone, a division was called
for and the motion was lost by vote of 50
for to 10 against.
Mr.. Bird of Portland offered TO amend
House document No. - by adding amend
mant B after the words leach year" in the
l1ih line the words provided that all sums
appropriated under this resolve shall be
paid from the school mill fund
On motion of Mr.. Woodbury. of Deering
the bill and amendment was laid on the ta-
Bile and Tues lay of next week was as
signed for its further consideration.
On motion of Mr.. Twitchell of Bath
House document No l07 was taken from
the table and Thursday of next week was
assigned for its further consideration.
On motion of Mr.. Woodbury. of Deering
| House document No. loG was taken from
the table and reassigned for Thursday of
| next week.
Dn motion of Mr.. Higgins of Limerick
House document No. ~ was taken from the
table and passed to he cngrossed.
ON motion of Mr.. Higgins House do"a-
ment No. los was taken from the table an
recommittcd to tue judiciary committee.
On motion of Mr.. Bellcau of Lewiston
House document No. 100 was taken from
the table and reassigned for Thursiay of
next week.
On motion of Mr.. Pratt of Turner
| Ahipurnpd