Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-16

whatever rate we establish now will be a
perpetual appropriation, for after the
State has gone on for one, two, five or ten
years, and has fixed an amount to be
given to the State College, it never will be
in the power of any man or body of men
to change that amount for q lesser; so
that whatever we do today will practically
fix the amount forever.
Surprising for q moment that we grant
them the appropriation they ask for, and
grant it to them for the period of ten
years. What will they do with the money?
suppose likely enough some senator can
tell me what they intend to do with the
money this year. and perhaps next year
But what arc they going to do with it
two years from now? Who can tell what
they will do with it four years from now,
or six years from now, or eight years
from now? How is it to be spent? / most
heartily concur in all that has been said
in regard to the excellent character of
the men that constitute the board of
trustees and faculty of the State College
They are gentlemen of ability, and have
no doubt the interests of the college at
heart; but | for one am not willing to
subscribe to the doctrine that State in
created, and which is responsible to the
State and makes reports to the State, is
to put large sums of money in the hands
of any board whatever which is to ex-
pend that money without the State hav-
ing anything to say about how it shall be
expended. | do not want the State of
Maine to commit itself to the doctrine
now that any sums of money of any con
siderable amount for more than one year
shall be placed in the hands of any board
to be expended by that board ut their own
sweet will and pleasure. What are we
here for? If it is to be the policy of the
State that we are to put large sums OF
money in the hands of the State boards
for them to spend, then let us take all
our State boards and give them all the
money they want for the next ten years
let us assess a tax for the next ten years and
go home, We have no moral right to in
any way mortgage the succeeding Legis-
latures in regard to the policy of the
State, | grant that it would be much more
comfortable probably for the board of
trustees and faculty for them to know
that they were to have S25, 600 a year for
ter years. | have not any doubt that 1t
would be easier. But are the members of
this Senate willing that a board which
may exist eight years from now, and you
do not know who they may be, are you
willing now TO say that $50, 900 shall be
spent at the pleasure of the men who
shall eight years hence compose that
boards Can they tell now what they are
going to do with the money eight years
hence? 1t has been said that it has been
the policy of the State to fix certain
things in the way of appropriations in adj
vance. A great many years ago we did
fix the mill tax, but that is money which
comes right back to the people, and is
spent by them, and not by boards. 1t
is said that this very Legislature has
committed itself by voting one tenth of
a mill annually for the militia. The
Legislature of two years ago was the one
that established that policy; by giving
one twelfth of mill to the militia.
There may be reasons why this policy
might be right and proper in the case of
the militia, and yet not be right and pro-
per in the case of another State institu
ton. The expenses of the militia are
exact, and can be calculated in advance at
any time they know exactly what they
are going to do with the money. But
here we are aSkeu 10 CoiiSeIb W an euOiEe-
ly different proposition. We are asked to
put money into the hands of gentlemen
who may do anything they please with it.
They are to determine the policy Of the
college, and not we.
have heard this argument suggested,
that for good many years we have been
giving to academies stipends and gratui-
ties for the term of ten years, and it has
been argued that because the State has
been giving its money to academies,
therefore it should also give its mopey to
the State College. think there are two
answers to that. In the first place, the
State has changed its policy in regard to
academies. Our resolves in favor of
academies are now limited to two years.
In the second place, what we give to the
struggling academies of the State are
gifts, gratuities; they are not responsible
to us for the manner in which the money
is expended But here is our own child,
carrying on its work under our own eyes
We want to say to them, what are you
going to do with this moneys How are
you going to spend it? Then we shall
know, and the people will know what we
are doing with their money But when
we go home to our people. to those who
sent us here and invested us with the
power of taxation, and tell them that we