Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-10

amended.
On motion of Mr.. Holman of Franklin
bill an act TO smeDl the charter of th
Camden an Rocklani banking and Trus
CO. was taken from the table and the Sen
ate reconsilerea the vote whereby the hil
vas passed 10 be engrossei. Mr.. Holms,
then offered Senate amendment A. whicl
was adopted and the bill passed - BE- en-
crossed as amended.
On motion of Mr.. Wicgin of Aroosteol
senate document No. IL, resolve in faval
Of the State College of Agriculture anO
Mechaaic Arts. was taken from the table
Mr.. Holman of Franklin moved tina, ths
Senate Reconsider the ,ute whereby the re
solve was passed 10 bc eugrossel. as he
had an amendment to offer to 1t,
Mr.. Wiggin of Aroostook think ths
Senate will agree with me that during thu
discussions of the session have trcspasse,
very little upon the time of this body, but
wish to say few words on tins matter.
am particularly interested in il from The
fac, that have been intimately acquainted
with the workings of this institution for a
great many years. and am convinced of it
excellence as State institution. think
that any opposition thas there may be on
the part of any members of this Senate
may perhaps arise from the fact that the
condition of the institution and the obligs.
tons under which the State stands to il
may not be fully understood. The endow.
ment act of the United States Congress uu'
der which this college was esiab
iished gave land TO be used fol
the establishment of IL college OF
agriculture and the mechanic arts. This il
not purely an agricultural college, but .
college also for the study of the mechani,
arts. No part of the fund thus granted b,
the United States Congress was to be used
for bnilimes The State of Maine by tfs
law of ls65 accepted this gift and accepted
the conditions prescribed in the endowment
act. Therefore the State accepted the obi
CATION TO provide for the needs of this col
lege.
1t has been said that this college has ar
ample endowment and ample funds. The
facts are these The land appor,ioned b.,
the endowment act was sold for SllS,0o0
which was invested in State bond yielding
per cent. interest. of course, only thi,
interest is available for the needs OF
the college, and it is provided that
none of this shall be used foi
building or repairing buildings o,
any kindred purpose. There is besides this
the Coburn fund, Sl00, 900 invested in State
of Maine bonds at per cent. The annual
revenue from these two sources is $40. .395,
no part of which is used for building or
repairing purposes.
Alusion has been made TO me personally
in regard TO the experiment station. These
stations are practically distinct from the
colleges, although located in connection
with them. 1t is a separate thing, and no
part of the fund for it can be used for the
college.
The committee has reported this bill in
items, so that it can be scrutinized. The
committee on State college and the con-
mittee on agriculture went all over that col
lege, and made as thorough an examination
of all its workings as could be done
in day. The committee was unsn-
imous in declaring that the modest request
of the trustees and faculty of this college
should be granted. Now Mr.. President, i con
slider that this is not an extravagant appro-
priaton. The State appropriations for the
past % years have averaged Sl2 900 year,
the sum asked for here. Out of total APP
preparation Of something over $500, 900,
$3.50 900 at a moderate estimate is now on
hand in plant. buildings and fixtures, which
shows how economically the money has
been expended,
| submit. Mr.. President, that the State
in accepting the gift of the general govern
ment in under obligation to support this
college as it should be supported. | move
that this resolve be given its final passage,
and hope i. will be passed in its entirety
and that it will be passed checrfully and
not grudgngly.
Mr.. Peaks of Piscataquis pointed ont
the fact that there was no statement of
facts accompanying the resolve and moved
that the resolve lie upon the table until a
statement of facts is presented with it.
Mr.. Wisgin pointed out that the state
inent of facts was referred to and was con.
aimed in the report of the trustees of the col
lege, which had been printed and was in the
hands of every member of the Legisla.
ture.
Mr. Holman of Franklin: When this
matter came up and saw the resolve il
struck ne that there were matters in con
neciiou with il that ne eied explanation be-
fore the Legislature voted to assess the tax.
payers of the State Sl2 900 for this college
The thing that strikes me is, il
it expedient in the present state
of finances to pass such an appropriation
My judgment was that if we granted $500
We would he using the college well and
they conllut find any fault. One item in
this resolve is s25oo for Improvement oi
the campus. | understand that this is fol-
the purpose of 1evcling and making the
campus smooth. Does that effect the
scholars down there in their education:
Are you willing to tax the people of this
State for that reason? Then there is $500
for an cmbankment for target practice
This seems to me an extravagant sum, ant
think that could be Gu. down.
Mr.. Wiggin sail that the campus was a
large strip of land adjoining the college
buildings which bad a clay soil, and was ar
cyesore not only to the students but to al
who visited the college. Owing to the ma
ture of the soil this land is no
available for lrill or for athletic purposes
in the spring or any wet seasons. He ex
,!slned that ii is proposed to inaugurate 4
thorough system of understanding there
and to make the land dry and smooth. -
In regard to the embankment for targe
practice, he pointed out that this practice il
necessary under the conditions upon which
the college is endowed by the general gov
ernment aud that there is at present nc
place where the uicnts can have thii
practice with safety to the people of ths
place.
In regard to the item for desks settees
etc he POINTED ont that Wngatc hall, tlis
new addition to the college, had to be fur.
nisIted TO make il of any use, and this par
of the appropriation was absolutely neces
sary.
In reply to questions from
Messrs. Holman of Franklin an'
Hersey ~ ovforl a. to how thii
sam was made up Mr.. wiggin said that th'
committee ha'l carefully gone over the col
lege and had formed their ideas of how
nuci was required, but they had mo
,honght tliat sn i,emized statement of thes,
estimates woul,i he asked for in the Senate
Mr.. winslow of Somerset: 1t seems Il
me that il couil hardly be expected that al
temzed account should be submitted Il
the Senate. il,a, is generally done in com
naittee. This committee is very earefu
and economical one, but notwithstanding
their disposition to cconomize they reported
that they could not cut dow
any of the appropriations in thi
resolve. a college requires
grea. deal Of money to run it. and al
though j. might seem as If this college wer
we'll of. vet it must be remembered tba
they are not allowed to expend one dollsl
of the ruen.y they have for the purpose
for which this appropriation is asked. W
must make up our minds either to abando
this college altogether or else to appropriate
from time to time money to meet its eontin
gent running expenses.
In regard to the matter Of the campus
portion of the ground to be improved vii
be used for agricultural purposes and vii
prove a source of profit to the college.
h.vo y1,, sotihs that in year or two Il will b