Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-02-22


to depend on this as the source from ~hirh
the larger portion of their school fund should
be raised. II seems TO me that We cannot
afford to go back to our towns and say that
we are intending at this time 10 change the
policy of the State. The appropriations
which have been and will be made. Il tai. q
from the school mill fund, would redu n
that fund the coming year and the year fol-
lowing not less than one-fifth, and it mre
reach sum larger than dat, from what :
otherwise would be. The large ecnteIs
from which this money comes can well az
ford to furnish this contribution to the in
terror of the State. These cities depend
on the interior of the State for
their prosperity; i, is from the interior of
the State that they get their men. | trust
that we here shall take no measures that
will impair this fund, which has been set
aside SO many years for the benefit of our
schools. have no objections To these APP
preparations TO these academies, but let us
make the appropriations like men, and bet
us not steal the money from these small
districts. move that this amendment be
indefinitely postponed.
NJ. Shaw of Portland The gentleman
from Deering has made some errors in hi
statement, not Intentionally, of course. |
have here the schedule of the ex-
penditures as they existed in 1882.
BY this statement find that
outside of what we call the
school unds,appropriations made 10 the cx-
tent of ISL 800. In addition to that there
is appropriated by the State S5li, 4o3 As.
Now to take from that large sum ISL 800
we have left S433, l05. As. That sum is
quite large amount to provide for our
common schools. The estimated increase
for 1898, on very conservative basis is
Sl2 900. Adding that it would make
Siij, i03.4s to be appropriated To the com
mon schools In 1889 there WAS paid
$3.50. 767 So. The scholars then numbered
2ll,3l2. In 1880 the amount increased
Sl4 900. The scholars increased 60. In
1891 the amount Increased to SILT
lS0 and III s"haltrs decreased
to 1888 900 ant the number of
scholars still decreased to 2l0, 59f, making
it something like us scholars less than in
1889. That has been the course for the
last four years. The number of scholars
has been decreasing and the appropriation
increasing. Taking out all appropriations
for school purposes, high AMI normal
schools. academies, interest on the Mala-
waska fund, expenses of superintendent of
common schools and we have Si45, loj for
the common schools II is something Ike
~65 900 more than IT WAS in lsS9. | do
not think that this decrease will amount tn
one-iifth, as the gentleman stated. We
are doing too we'll, if we continue in this
wav. | know that some towns i'll the State
of Maine are receiving, to the extent of
over s2010 for school purposes, more than
they pay the State, AMI are virtually living
On the appropriation which is intended for
the common schools.
Mr. Sprague of Monsoon: am com
PEELED to take sides with some of those
whom | believe have been on the wrong
side regarding t'tc main question of this
appropriation. am utterly opposed to
this proposed amendment. The amend
mcnt virtually says, 1--WE of the cities are
willing TO como here aud vote away the
States money for almost every conceivable
kind of State institution, If they benefit
our localities, but when the interests OF the
country are at stake We take an entirely
different view" The system of raising our
school money has believe dated from the
earliest history of the State. | believe
that this system is an entirely fair
and just one. 1t compels n
man Of means to aid in making
good citizens of the humblest children in
the remotest part of our State. 1t gives
the child of poverty fair chance with the
son of wealth in the battle of life. Many
believe that il is a uise policy TO give APP
preparations to these poor, struggling
academies back in these country places, in
addition 10 what We give the common
schools and free high schools Whether
that is a wise policy OF. not. the ques-
ton now is, whether we shall invade This
common school fund and open wide His
door II we do so, il We vote this appru-
priation, the matter does not end here. In
the end every dollar of this money will be
taken from our common school fnpi.
And those who will suffer the most viii he
the boys and girls OF the Inferior. This
amendment is not a new idea. The Stslc
treasurer in his last report echoed tue
editorials of the city newspapers, and he
advised this because he had figured out that
there was 81 decrease in the numhcr of
scholars Suppose there is slight decrease
in the number of scholars, is there any evil
lence that the number of schools has
INCREASED. Every bitt bfpNs tilNL IL tp@iN
inst MS much 10 carry on a school with 30
scholars as it does with 80. There Is no
evidence of decrease in The namhcr of
schools. II there has not been we need
just as much money in the country IS
we ever did. Our common school funl i.
. sacred one to ali the people regardless
Of class or condition of life. sacred alike tn
thc ragged boys in the streets of my fiienIs
city OF Portland. as veil as to the offspring
OF the backwoo1sman, who with his OIL
fashioned trous5 rs AMI cowhiIe boots
tru iges over the hills TO the oil weather
beaten schooibouse. | appeal 10 you in
behalf of the children of the poor, interior
towns. not TO modest tltis school fund.
Mr. Roberts of Norway: wish to enter
my protest against the spirit that has shown
itself here today. of eiicroaching upon the
common school fund fund that Was SIT
asj,lt to be he'll sacred for the common
schools OF this State. Originally the law
required that town in the State should
raise 3 per capita for the support of their
schools. The people Of the State believed
that that was working unjustly toward enc
smaller towns, AMI they changed the law
50 that the towns should be required 20
raise 50 cents per capita, and the STAT
undertook To make up the ~
cents by the enactment of the
mill tax. And now We are mt by
the proposition 10 invade that mill tax. to
take from that fund which up to this time
has been hcii sacred for the common
s,,,sools-to tske away nearly one-fifth of
that anil give Il 10 the academies ;llai are
scattered over ti, State, and to The norm;I
schools. ! am III favor of sustaining ,h,.
academies and normal schools: hut tho
cities of the Stde and the larger viiiag,,s
have .x-ellent schools. They have 80
week Of school through the year. They
are Il gtai,d. But u hea YOU 20 into the
0ack districts. ,l,err YOU tin1 ~ weeks of
schooling daring the year. you fed
the sfi,o,,i- migrated AMI = change
of tc.s.''r r. almost every tsrn, I'M
Her system of schools that We
hope Aill he, changed at this Legislature. /
believe that is-tcai of deere isigts tliis fun
il world BE- i,Ster To Increase H. ! tz.llr,e
that there i not enough monev nov Sf.eat
for our cpn I;'u stlaDls. sld ! believe, fur
illr that f.ae carrying oBs of Ibis idea, tn.
taking ftops ihts faiI .ar the benefit u the
iirsie;ifis and norma! sehoels. will work
in tie eui 70 the telripent If those seliopIs.
Tht,ss. Interested in lhe common ssFlUois
v Ill send men here vhs will change tbs.
and Tho will n-e tlseir votes anil their if-
fUenee against the academies AM; ;.is NOR.
NAL s.ho9ls. II reiitcln5er rightly Here
vas a tiisle when il was tii!ieuli to gel sui
Z